- Other Names
- Canadian Balsam, Eastern Fir, and Blister Fir
- Farming Method
- Certified Organic
- Plant Part
- Needle
- Country of Origin
- Canada
- Application Method
- Bath, Diffusion, Inhalation, Massage, and Topical
- Scientific Name
- Abies balsamica
- Extraction Method
- Steam Distilled
About the Plant:
Balsam Fir, Abies balsamea, is a small to medium-sized, conic evergreen tree with silver-white bark that begins smooth and grey, and over time bursts with resin blisters, leading to a scaly effect on older trees. The leaves are one-inch, dark green, flat, needle-like spikes arranged spirally on the shoot. The cones are 1.5 to 3 inches long and transform from dark purple to brown before breaking apart and releasing their seeds in September. On mountaintops, strands of Balsam Fir occasionally develop in swaths and frequently grow in mixed company with Black Spruce, White Spruce, and Trembling Aspen.
Balsam Fir provides food for moose, American red squirrels, crossbills, and chickadees, as well as for certain types of moths while in caterpillar-stage. It also provides shelter for moose, snowshoe hares, white-tailed deer, ruffed grouse, and other small mammals and songbirds.
Where It Grows:
Balsam Fir, Abies balsamea, is native to various mountainous regions across northern Europe and North America. In Europe, it is primarily found in countries such as Switzerland, Poland, Germany, France, Austria, and Yugoslavia. In North America, it thrives throughout eastern and central Canada, ranging from Newfoundland westward to central Alberta. Additionally, it extends into the northeastern United States, stretching from Minnesota east to Maine, and south along the Appalachian Mountains to West Virginia. Beyond its native habitats, Balsam Fir has also been successfully cultivated in other parts of the world, including certain mountainous regions of Asia.
Traditional Uses and Lore:
In Celtic tradition, the Balsam Fir symbolized birth, marking the dawn of the new year and likely serving as the origin of the yule log tradition.* Its uplifting aroma, chosen to combat winter melancholy, fostered feelings of contentment and joy during the darkest months.*
The Balsam Fir, revered by Native Americans and early American settlers, served as a potent remedy for respiratory issues, pain relief, and wound care.* Its pure oil was applied to heal coughs and respiratory ailments, and it was employed to soothe muscular discomfort and treat sores, cuts, and burns.*
During the American Civil War, Balsam Fir found its place in wound care, and in an era before chewing gum, it was even marketed as a confection. Its versatile oleoresin has endured, utilized as an adhesive for mounting microscope slides and optical lenses. Beyond its medicinal and practical applications, Balsam Fir boughs were ingeniously repurposed as camping mattresses, providing a fragrant and resilient bedding option to lift travelers off damp ground. Furthermore, these boughs adorned the floors of homes and churches, offering a clean-scented "carpet" during winter months.*
Other Facts:
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- Scent: Fresh, Woodsy, Rich, Balsamic, and Piney Aroma
- Fragrance Note: Middle Note
- Composition: Bornyl Acetate, Camphene, Carene, D-Limonene, α-Pinene, and β-Pinene
- Family: Pinaceae Family
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*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
- USDA Certified Organic
- Cultivates Prana to Help Regulate Breathing
- Combats Stress and Anxiety
- Relaxes Sore and Painful Muscles and Tissue
Fir Balsam Organic Essential Oil emits the evocative fragrance of freshly cut Christmas trees and is esteemed for its ability to invigorate the mind and spirit, mitigating stress and anxiety.* Consequently, it is a favored component in numerous formulations intended to calm the nervous system.* Additionally, it serves as an effective air purifier, augmenting its beneficial impact on users.* With its analgesic properties, it provides relief from headaches, migraines, muscle soreness, and joint pain, whether stemming from minor injuries or chronic conditions such as rheumatism.*
While many practitioners employ breathing exercises or meditation to cultivate prana and regulate breath, the inclusion of Balsam Fir can further aid in regulating and enhancing prana flow.* In terms of respiratory support, Balsam Fir showcases its soothing, decongestant, and expectorant attributes, addressing symptoms of colds and coughs, as well as those associated with chronic respiratory ailments like bronchitis and asthma.* Moreover, its antiseptic properties promote liver health and detoxification.* These same antiseptic properties facilitate the healing process for infections, boils, insect bites, wounds, and sores when applied topically, while concurrently enhancing circulation to the skin.*
Topical Application (for use on the skin):
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Diffusion / Inhalation (add a few drops to a nebulizer or nasal inhaler):
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Blends Well With:
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Safety Precautions:
- Balsam Fir Essential Oil is not appropriate for use with babies and small children.*
- Balsam Fir Essential Oil has been found to be non-irritant and non-sensitizing to the skin.*
- However, it can be poisonous if ingested, even in small amounts.*
General Safety Precautions:
- Use essential oils only in diluted form on the skin and never internally.
- Always be careful when using essential oils with children.
- Give them only low doses, or better, consult a qualified aromatherapy expert before using.
- Use essential oils with care and only under the proper guidance of an expert while pregnant or if you have liver damage, epilepsy, cancer, or other serious health problems.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
The clean, piney aroma of Balsam Fir Essential Oil delivers a purifying and deodorizing effect on the atmosphere, helping to quell stress and nervous anxiety while reviving the spirit from cases of the “doldrums.”* Its ability to quash the “winter blues” has led to Balsam Fir being the tree of choice for celebrators of Christmas century after century.* Many also find that the inhaled essence of its oil helps to encourage mental clarity as it reduces “brain fog.”* Quite simply, its aroma is pleasant to virtually anyone who encounters it, whether or not influenced by holiday nostalgia.
For the respiratory system, Balsam Fir demonstrates expectorant qualities, helping to relieve congestion, symptoms of cold and cough, and even symptoms associated with more chronic conditions such as asthma and bronchitis.* Its diffused essence also helps to clean and purify the air, leading to higher quality breathing and fewer airborne contaminants.* However, its abilities to clean and purify are not strictly limited to the air we breathe as it can also be used to clean the skin (when properly diluted) and facilitate the timely healing of cuts, scrapes, abrasions, and minor burns.*
Lastly, Balsam Fir Essential Oil has the ability to soothe pain and discomfort from a variety of sources.* Pain caused by headaches, migraines, sore muscles, aching joints, and even minor injuries like sprains, strains, and dislocations will have nowhere to hide when confronted by the naturally inherent analgesic power of this oil.* It can even help to relax the muscles, relieving or preventing the potential discomfort caused by their stiffness due to overexertion or otherwise.*
The following is a list of conditions which Balsam Fir Essential Oil addresses by category:
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*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Bottles are filled by volume. Some bottle sizes may not be filled to the top, but do contain the volume of oil specified.
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Click the link below to view GC Analysis: |
Click the link below to view CoA Analysis:
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Click the link below to view Safety Data Sheet (SDS): |
