Balsam Fir Bark

The Balsam Fir originates from the northern forests of central and eastern North America. This pyramidal-shaped conifer with its evergreen needles grows in various soils and climates. Like the Black Spruce, it is very resistant to the intense cold of the northern regions. It can reach up to 25 meters in height and live up to 150 years. It is distinguished from other conifers by its flat dark green needles, which are not prickly, but are fragrant, and which form two white rays when view from below. The bark vesicles contain a sticky, viscous resin called fir gum or Canadian white balsam or yet again Canadian turpentine.

There are many uses for conifers coming from the First Nations which are listed in literature. The First Nations, the Sisters of Providence and even the famous Hildegard von Bingen, used the Balsam Fir to treat cuts, ulcers, rheumatism, kidney pain, chronic respiratory ailments or like a tonic. This Canadian Fir is anti-scurvy. The bark was also widely used by the First Nations in a decoction or as an infusion for internal problems such as tuberculosis or diarrhea. The Ojibwa used the fir resin added to tallow or fat to make a pitch to seal their canoes. The Europeans used fir gum in optics to attach lenses because of its high quality of transparency.

Balsam Fir is the iconic Christmas tree for many Westerners. At the beginning of the Canadian winter, its slightly sweet resinous fragrance with its hint of grapefruit overflows in homes bringing warmth and happiness during the festivities of the holiday season.

Balsam Fir essential oil, like Black Spruce or Scots Pine, increases energy metabolism and stimulates the organism. It is particularly useful in stopping the evolution of a cold, to tone the adrenals (hot flashes), and to relieve rheumatism and joint pain. In diffusion, it is a good antiseptic for the air with a comforting balsamic scent. It helps to relieve stress and depression.

Rhinitis, bronchitis, dyspnea, sinusitis, aerophagia, anti-parasitic (ascaridioses), rheumatism, osteoarthritis, cellulite, cramps, fatigue, asthenia, air purifier.

None, at physiological doses. Essential conifer oils can irritate the skin if they are oxidized.

• Festy Danièle, Ma bible des huiles essentielles, Guide complet d’aromathérapie, Montréal, Éditions Caractère, 2009.
• Site officiel : Ressources naturelles Canada.
• Franchomme, P., Jollois, R,. Pénoël, D., L’aromathérapie exactement, Encyclopédie de l’utilisation thérapeutique des huiles essentielles, fondements, démonstration, illustration et applications d’une science médicale naturelle, Bayeux, Éditions Roger Jollois, 2001. Hydrosols : The Next Aromatherapy, 2001.
• http://www.wikiphyto.org
• Frère Marie-Victorin, Rouleau Ernest, Brouillet Luc et collaborateurs, Flore laurentienne 3^e édition, Gaëtan Morin Éditeur ltée, 2002.
• Moerman Daniel E., Native American Ethnobotany, Timber Press, Portland, Oregon, 1998.
• Mathieu Jacques, L’annedda, l’arbre de vie, Québec, Les Éditions du Septentrion, Les cahiers du Septentrion, 2009.
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12802719
• Composition and antibacterial activity of Abies balsamea essential oil
  André Pichette, Pierre‐Luc Larouche, Maxime Lebrun, Jean Legault
  First published:18 April 2006 https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.1863 Citations: 48
  Phytotherapy Research
  Research Article
• Abstract
  The antibacterial activity of the essential oil of Abies balsamea (balsam fir) was evaluated against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The essential oil of A. balsamea was found to be inactive against E. coli (>100 μg/mL) and active against S. aureus, with an MIC of 56 μg/mL. The oil composition was analysed by GC‐MS and the antibacterial activity of each oil constituent was determined. The essential oil of A. balsamea is essentially constituted of monoterpenes (>96%) and some sesquiterpenes. β‐pinene (29.9%), δ‐ 3‐carene (19.6%) and α‐pinene (14.6%) were the major components. β‐pinene and δ‐ 3‐carene were found inactive against both bacteria strains. However, three constituents of the essential oil were active against S. aureus: α‐pinene, β‐ caryophyllene (0.4%) and α‐humulene (0.2%) with MIC values of 13.6 μg/mL, 5.1 μg/mL and 2.6 μg/mL, respectively. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/ptr.1863