Abies balsamea

Other Names : Fir balsam, Balsam fir, Canada balsam, Canada turpentine, balsam of fir

Abies balsamea or balsam fir is a North American fir, native to most of eastern and central Canada and the northeastern United States.

Precautions of Abies balsamea

Could result in skin irritation (dilution is recommended).
Avoid sunlight for 3 to 6 hours after use.
May act as a laxative and may cause nausea when taken in large doses.
Avoid in individuals who are pregnant or breastfeeding due to lack of sufficient data. Historically, Canada balsam was used to cause abortion.
may add to the effects of antibiotics and anticancer drugs.
may add to the effects of antibacterials and anticancer herbs or supplements.

Essential Oil is a strong antimicrobial agent for colds and the flu.
Analgesic
Anti-inflammatory
Antirheumatic : Balsam Fir oil has been known to prevent and/or relieve rheumatic pain and swelling
Antispasmodic
excellent calming agent in cases of spastic cough.
excellent decongestant and mucolytic.
Rubefacient
stimulates the respiratory system, adrenal glands, and circulatory system.
If experiencing hiccups try smelling the oil for a minute.
Cancer : The antitumor activity of Abies balsamea (balsam fir oil) was evaluated against the solid tumor cell lines of MCF-7 (breast), PC-3 (prostate), A-549 (lung), DLD-1 (colon), M4BEU (melanoma) and CT-26 (another colon cancer cell line). It was found to be active against all of the solid tumor cell lines tested. Specifically, balsam fir oil and alpha-humulene induced a dose- and time-dependent decrease in cellular GSH (glutathione) content and an increase in ROS (reactive oxygen species) production, which may be the mechanism behind the oils anti-tumor effect.