Tolu balsam

Tolu balsam

Tolu balsam or balsam of Tolu (a variant of balsam of Peru) is the resinous secretion of "Myroxylon toluifera." The resin, as well as the leaves and fruit, have been traditionally used by the people of Central America and South America to relieve coughs and asthma, and to treat wounds. Its name comes from Tolú (singular); Tolúes (plural), the name of the native precolumbian people that use to be the inhabitants at the same place where now is located Tolú, a small town and municipality in Sucre Department, northern Colombia (South America) by the Caribbean sea. Tolúes were the first reported to be using this resin in early Spanish chronicles. The resin is tapped from the trunk of the tree through incisions into the bark and collected when dry. The colour of the resin is light to reddish brown. Tolu balsam is pliable when warm and fractures in a pattern similar to flint when cold. The dry resin has a complex aroma consisting chiefly of cinnamon and vanilla notes with a slight floral character.

The resin is still used in certain cough syrup formulas. However its main use in the modern era is in perfumery, where it is valued for its warm, mellow yet somewhat spicy scent. It is also used as a natural remedy for skin rashes. Ironically, it is a well known cause of contact dermatitis, a form of skin allergy.

ee also

*Toluene
*Balsam
* Castor oil


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  • tolu balsam — n BALSAM OF TOLU * * * [USP] a balsam obtained from Myroxilon balsamum, used as an ingredient of compound benzoin tincture and as an expectorant …   Medical dictionary

  • tolu balsam — noun aromatic yellowish brown balsam from the tolu balsam tree used especially in cough syrups • Syn: ↑tolu, ↑balsam of tolu • Hypernyms: ↑balsam • Hyponyms: ↑balsam of Peru • Substance Holonyms: ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • Tolu balsam — balzaminis taukminas statusas T sritis vardynas apibrėžtis Pupinių šeimos dekoratyvinis, medieninis, prieskoninis, vaistinis augalas (Myroxylon balsamum), paplitęs Pietų Amerikoje. Iš jo gaminami maisto priedai (kvėpikliai), gaunami eterinis… …   Lithuanian dictionary (lietuvių žodynas)

  • Tolu-balsam-tree — balzaminis taukminas statusas T sritis vardynas apibrėžtis Pupinių šeimos dekoratyvinis, medieninis, prieskoninis, vaistinis augalas (Myroxylon balsamum), paplitęs Pietų Amerikoje. Iš jo gaminami maisto priedai (kvėpikliai), gaunami eterinis… …   Lithuanian dictionary (lietuvių žodynas)

  • tolu balsam tree — noun medium sized tropical American tree yielding tolu balsam and a fragrant hard wood used for high grade furniture and cabinetwork • Syn: ↑tolu tree, ↑Myroxylon balsamum, ↑Myroxylon toluiferum • Hypernyms: ↑tree • Member Holonyms: ↑Myroxylon …   Useful english dictionary

  • tolu balsam tincture — a preparation of tolu balsam in alcohol; used in expectorant mixtures and in the preparation of tolu balsam syrup …   Medical dictionary

  • Tolu-Balsam — D✓To|lu|bal|sam, To|lu Bal|sam, der; s {{link}}K 143{{/link}} <nach der Hafenstadt Tolú in Kolumbien> (ein Pflanzenbalsam) …   Die deutsche Rechtschreibung

  • balsam of Tolu — balsam of To·lu tə lü n a balsam from a tropical American leguminous tree (Myroxylon balsamum) used esp. as an expectorant and as a flavoring for cough syrups called also tolu, tolu balsam …   Medical dictionary

  • Balsam — is a term used for various pleasantly scented plant products. An oily or gummy oleoresin, usually containing benzoic acid or cinnamic acid, obtained from the exudates of various trees and shrubs and used as a base for some botanical medicines.… …   Wikipedia

  • tolu — [tō lo͞o′] n. [Sp tolú, after Tolú, Caribbean seaport in Colombia] a fragrant gum obtained from the bark of a leguminous South American tree (Myroxylon balsamum), used in cough mixtures, flavorings, perfumes, etc.: also tolu balsam or tolu …   English World dictionary

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