Balsam fir is a North American fir, native to most of eastern and central Canada (Newfoundland west to central Alberta) and the northeastern United States (Minnesota east to Maine and south in the Appalachian Mountains to West Virginia).
Balsam fir is a small to medium-size evergreen tree typically 14–20 meters tall, rarely to 27 meters tall, with a narrow conic crown. The bark on young trees is smooth, grey, and with resin blisters (which tend to spray when ruptured), becoming rough and fissured or scaly on old trees. The leaves are flat needle-like, long, dark green above often with a small patch of stomata near the tip and two white stomata bands below and a slightly notched tip. They are arranged spirally on the shoot, but with the leaf bases twisted to appear in two more-or-less horizontal rows. The cones are erect, long, dark purple, ripening brown and disintegrating to release the winged seeds in September.
On mountain tops, stands of Balsam fir occasionally develop fir waves. Often found in association with Black Spruce, White Spruce and trembling aspen.
A colorless, mobile liquid with a sweet, soft balsamic, and pine scent, Fir Balsam blends well with pine, cedar wood, cypress, sandalwood, juniper, and other balsamic fragrances. It is a fragrance component in soaps, cosmetics, and perfumes. Fir Balsam is native to North America, primarily Quebec, Nova Scotia, and Maine.
Benefit & Uses:This is a bright and uplifting essential oil, yet, as with most evergreen needle oils, also grounding, Fir is a stimulating essential oil, and can be used to bring alertness to the mind, or diluted and applied typically to the adrenal areas or the body in general it may help general fatigue.
Fir oil is also indicated as an analgesic, and can be diluted in carrier oil for massage in cases of arthritis, muscular aches and pains, and rheumatism. It has been included in some cough and cold remedies, and may act as an expectorant - the essential oil has been researched for its ability to kill airborne germs and bacteria.
Fir essential oil can be blended with 1 or 2 other evergreen oils such as Pine, Spruce and Cedar wood. It also blends well with Blue Chamomile, Frankincense, Lavender, Lemon, and Myrtle essential oils.
Varieties of species are very popular as Christmas trees, particularly in the northeastern United States. The resin is used to produce Canada balsam and was traditionally used as a cold remedy and as glue for glasses, optical instrument components, and for preparing permanent mounts of microscope specimens. The wood is milled for framing lumber, siding and pulped for paper manufacture. Balsam fir oil is an EPA approved nontoxic rodent repellent. The balsam fir is also used as an air freshener and as incense.
Prior to the availability of foam rubber and air mattresses; balsam fir boughs were a preferred mattress in places where trees greatly outnumbered campers. Many fir limbs are vertically bowed from alternating periods of downward deformation from snow loading and new growth reaching upward for sunlight. Layers of inverted freshly cut limbs from small trees created a pleasantly fragrant mattress lifting bedding off the wet ground; and the bowed green limbs were springs beneath the soft needles. Upper layers of limbs were placed with the cut ends of the limbs touching the earth to avoid uncomfortably sharp spots and sap.
Balsam Fir is a strong antimicrobial agent for colds and the flu. This essential oil is an excellent decongestant. It is an excellent calming agent in cases of spastic cough.
Fir oil is also very soothing to rheumatic pain, and great for muscles (or joints and tendons) that have been overworked or are tired. Fir has been also used for back pain and, heart and chest pains.
Fir is useful for respiratory conditions (asthma, bronchitis, catarrh, chronic, coughs, sore throat, colds, flu, fever, muscular, arthritic, back and rheumatic pain, inflammation, osteoporosis).