Ointment and balm (medicinal plants)

To begin properly we must deal with definitions. As we said in the introduction to this chapter, the word “balm” is potentially confusing because it is used in a general sense as any oily or resinous substance used to treat injuries or reduce pain, but also as a particular species of plant and its derived resin, found in the Arabian Peninsula. We include it here in both senses. Note the heading above and the discussion of “balm” under 4.2.3 Liquidambar (Oriental sweetgum, storax) and 4.2.4 Opobalsamum (balsam, balm) below.