Balsam of tolu
StarMyroxylon balsamum
Synonyms: Myroxylon balsamum var. pereirae, Myroxylon balsamum var. punctatum, Myrospermum punctatum, Myroxylon balsamum var. genuinum, Myrospermum pereirae, Myroxylon punctatum, Myroxylon toluiferum, Myroxylon sonsouatense, Toluifera punctata, Toluifera balsamum var. pereirae, Toluifera balsamum, Toluifera pereirae, Myrospermum toluiferum, Myrospermum balsamiferum, Myroxylon pereirae, Myroxylon hanburyanum, Toluifera balsamum var. punctata, Myrospermum sonsonatense
Safety at a glance
No rule in our tables for this herb: pregnancy, breastfeeding, incompatible pairs (十八反 / 十九畏), herb–drug, dose ceiling. This is not a safety clearance.
Not graded — No toxicity grade is recorded. Most herbs in the catalogue carry none.
Traditionally used for
- Nose & throat
- Cough & breathing
- Skin
Western Herbalism Properties
Traditional Uses
Indigenous peoples of the Andean and Amazonian lowlands applied the aromatic balsam to wounds, ulcers, and skin parasites and used it for respiratory complaints (Schultes & Raffauf, 1990). The balsam was carried into European pharmacy from the 16th century onward and entered the United States Pharmacopoeia as Balsam of Tolu, employed by Eclectic physicians as a stimulating expectorant in chronic bronchitis and laryngitis, as a topical antiseptic dressing for indolent ulcers, and as a flavouring and excipient in syrups and lozenges (Felter & Lloyd, 1898).
Gallery
Botanical Description
Myroxylon balsamum is a large evergreen tree in the family Fabaceae, native to the lowland forests of Central and northern South America (Colombia, Venezuela, the Guianas, Brazil, Peru), and the source of Balsam of Tolu. It reaches 20–40 m tall with a straight trunk, smooth grey bark and a dense rounded crown. Leaves are pinnately compound with 5–11 alternate, leathery, ovate-oblong leaflets bearing translucent oil dots and lines visible against light. White, fragrant papilionaceous flowers are borne in axillary racemes, followed by indehiscent winged pods 7–11 cm long containing one or two seeds embedded in a balsam-rich pulp. The aromatic balsam is obtained by V-shaped incisions in the bark.
Dosage Calculator
⚖ Dosage Calculator
A weight-based mathematical estimate for Balsam of tolu. Not a prescription.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.
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