balsam

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For more information on balsam, visit Britannica.com.

A semifluid, fragrant, resinous, vegetable juice. Balsams are resins combined with oils, used in various preparations to treat irritated or denuded areas of the skin and mucous membranes. Stains from these preparations are extremely difficult to remove. Friar's balsam, called also compound benzoin tincture, is used as a topical protectant. Balsam of Peru, or Peruvian balsam, is used as a local protectant and rubefacient. Tolu balsam is used as an ingredient in compound benzoin and as an expectorant.

• b. traumatic — see friar's balsam.

Any of many viscous, sticky, aromatic fluids derived from plants; consists of resins plus oils.

• Grooming Aids and Processes - balsam: soothing oil; balm
• Dressings and Supports - balsam: aromatic gum resin from various plants, used as balm
• Smells - balsam: fragrant or aromatic substance exuding from certain trees

Wikisource has the text of the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica article Balsam.

Balsam is a term used for various pleasantly scented plant products, and the plants which produce them. Balsams are oily or gummy oleoresins, usually containing benzoic acid or cinnamic acid, obtained from the exudates of various trees and shrubs and used as a base for some botanical medicines. They may be obtained from:

• Balsam fir (Abies balsamea), producing Canada balsam
• Balsam poplars (Populus section Tacamahaca), producing Balm of Gilead
• Commiphora gileadensis, producing Balsam of Mecca
• Myroxylon, producing Tolu balsam and Peru balsam
• Copaifera langsdorfii, producing copaiba balsam

Balsam may also refer to:

• the balsam family of flowering plants, Balsaminaceae
• the plant genus Impatiens
• Balsam (drink), an herbal liqueur
• Riga Black Balsam (Rīgas Melnais balzams), a traditional Latvian herbal liqueur
• Friar's balsam, or Tincture of benzoin

People

• Arthur Balsam (1906–1994), pianist
• Isaac Balsam (1880–1945), founder of the Balsam Dairy Farm
• Martin Balsam (1919–1996), actor
• Paul Balsam (1905–1972), New York Supreme Court Justice
• Talia Balsam (born 1959), American actress

Places

• The Balsams Grand Resort Hotel in Dixville Notch, New Hampshire
• Balsam, North Carolina, a town in the United States
• Great Balsam Mountains of North Carolina
• Balsam Lake (Wisconsin), a lake in Wisconsin

See also

• Basamum
• Balm of Gilead
• Balsamic vinegar
• Balsam pear (disambiguation)
• Balsam apple (disambiguation)

This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the same title. If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article.

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Dansk (Danish)
n. - balsamsalve

idioms:

• balsamic vinegar    balsamicoeddike

Nederlands (Dutch)
balsem, balsemboom, springzaad, dadelpruim, parfum

Français (French)
n. - baume, balsamine, (Chim) oléorésine

idioms:

• balsamic vinegar    vinaigre balsamique

Deutsch (German)
n. - Balsam

idioms:

• balsamic vinegar    Balsamessig

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - βάλσαμο, βάλσαμος, βαλσαμόδεντρο

idioms:

• balsamic vinegar    ξίδι της Βόρειας Ιταλίας

Italiano (Italian)
balsamo

idioms:

• balsamic vinegar    aceto balsamico

Português (Portuguese)
n. - bálsamo (m)

idioms:

• balsamic vinegar    vinagre (m) balsâmico

Русский (Russian)
бальзам, бальзамное дерево

idioms:

• balsamic vinegar    уксус из бальзама

Español (Spanish)
n. - bálsamo, oleorresina

idioms:

• balsamic vinegar    vinagre italiano oscuro y dulce

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - balsam

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
香油, 香膏, 产香油的树, 凤仙花

idioms:

• balsamic vinegar    香醋

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 香油, 香膏, 產香油的樹, 鳳仙花

idioms:

• balsamic vinegar    香醋

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 진통제, 향유

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - バルサム, 香膏, バルサムの木
v. - バルサムで処理する

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) بلسم, دهن البلسم‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮בושם, בלסמון‬

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