Our Balm of Gilead is a richly aromatic, small-batch oil crafted from the resinous buds of the black cottonwood (Populus trichocarpa), hand-harvested in early spring from wild stands in the Pacific Northwest. These sticky, fragrant buds are slow-infused into high-quality olive oil at a 1:3 ratio to extract their full medicinal potency.
Though the original Balm of Gilead referenced in the Bible was the resin of Commiphora gileadensis—a sacred and healing tree native to the Middle East—European settlers were so struck by the balsamic scent and healing qualities of North America’s balsam poplars (Populus balsamifera in the east and P. trichocarpa in the west) that they adopted the name for this Indigenous medicine.
Used traditionally to soothe aches, spasms, chronic inflammation, and tissue damage, this oil is especially effective for sore muscles, bruises, burns, aseptic wounds, and nerve pain. Its properties are both anti-inflammatory and mildly analgesic, while its exquisite scent—rich, warm, and resinous—adds an element of olfactory healing.
Crafted in small, seasonal batches with deep respect for the land and the tree’s natural cycles, this Balm of Gilead is available only in limited quantities each year.
