Myroxylon balsamum has at times been treated as two distinct species (Myroxylon balsamum (L.) Harms and Myroxylon pereirae (Harms) Klotzsch), but is now more commonly treated as two varieties of the same species, a treatment we are following here. This record is for the variety Myroxylon balsamum pereirae (commonly known as Peru Balsam), see Myroxylon balsamum for the form commonly known as Tolu Balsam.

Common Name: Peru Balsam

General Information

Myroxylon balsamum pereirae is a slow-growing, slender, emergent tree of the rainforest that can reach a height of 35 metres but is usually smaller. It has a round, sometimes open, crown with dense foliage and a bole that can be up to 100cm in diameter[].
A valuable multi-purpose tree, yielding a valuable gum resin, a valuable timber and having a range of medicinal and other uses. This variety is generally considered to produce the best form of the gum. This gum has a long history of use by local people as a medicine and is also widely used in modern herbal medicine, as an incense, perfume ingredient etc[, ]. It is commonly gathered from the wild, especially in Salvador, but the tree is also sometimes cultivated for its gum, which is traded internationally[]. The tree is widely grown as an ornamental in the tropics, especially as a shade tree along the sides of roads[].

Known Hazards

At least six clinical studies published in recent years indicate that balsam can cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. Allergic reactions reported are generally skin rashes and dermatitis when the balsam comes into contact with the skin - even in small amounts found in soaps, perfumes, and other common body care products[]. These allergic reactions are attributed to the gum's benzoic acids, which some people are highly sensitive to[].

Botanical References

Range

Northern S. America - Ecuador; C. America - Costa Rica, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guatemala, north to southern Mexico

Habitat

Wet to dry, lowland forest; at elevations up to 300 metres in Guatemala[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Tree
Height	30.00 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the moist to wet lowland tropics, where it is found at elevations up to 700 metres[]. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 22 - 28°c, but can tolerate 16 - 32°c[]. When dormant, the plant can survive temperatures down to about -1°c[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 2,000 - 2,700mm, but tolerates 1,350 - 4,000mm[].
Grows best in a sunny position, tolerating some shade[]. Prefers a well-drained soil[]. Plants can succeed on poor soils if they are well-drained[]. Grows on mildly acid soils, preferring a pH in the range 5 - 8[]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 6.5, tolerating 5 - 8[].
Seedlings grow to 2.5 metres tall within 2 years[]. Trees can attain a height of 10 metres in 10 - 12 years, and 20 metres in 25 years[].
The trees are not a profitable source of balsam until about their 15th year[]. Under proper management, trees can then yield gum for 30 - 40 years[]. Gum harvesting begins on 20 - 30 year old trees with a minimum diameter of 12 - 15 cm[].
Trees commence flowering when about 5 years old[].
Twenty year old trees yield about 3 kg of gum per year[]. Wild populations are the major sources of the balsam. Gum harvesting is drastic and may cause serious tree injury or deaths[].
There are various methods used to obtain the gum:-
1). Numerous V-shaped incisions are made in the bark, being careful not to girdle the tree[]. The balsam flows through the incisions, into vases[].
2). A section of bark 15 - 25 cm in size is removed from the tree at about 30 cm above the ground[]. The wound is covered with a piece of cotton cloth to absorb the liquid. When the natural flow ceases, scorching stimulates it to flow again. The impregnated rags are then boiled in water and pressed[].
3). Trees are burned at the base. Strips of bark are pulled off, crushed and placed in hot water to soften the balsam and facilitate its flow. The cooled balsam sinks to the bottom and can be separated[].
4). Sections of the tree trunk are beaten with a wooden club and then vertical incisions 8 cm wide are made in the bark. A few days later the incisions are heated with fire to stimulate gum flow, but the incisions are not burned. Rags are placed over the incisions and removed when they are saturated. Crude presses are used to extract gum from the rags[].
This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[].

Edible Uses

The aromatic, slightly bitter gums obtained from this plant are used as a flavouring in soft drinks, confectionaries, ice cream and chewing gums[, ].

The essential oil is used in flavouring baked goods. Its fragrance is attributed to vanillin, coumarin, cinnamic and benzoic acids[].

In the Coban region of Guatemala the seeds are added to aguardiente (presumably crude rum), to which they are said to impart a delicious flavour[].

Medicinal

The tree has a long history of use by local people, who used the leaves and fruit in the treatment of asthma, colds and flu, rheumatism, and external wounds[]. The sap is used for treating colds and lung ailments, abscesses, asthma, bronchitis, catarrh, headache, rheumatism, sores, sprains, tuberculosis, venereal diseases, and wounds[].
Many of these traditional uses have been borne out by modern research[]. The balsam of both varieties have been documented to have antiseptic, antiparasitic, and antibacterial properties as well as to promote the growth of epithelial (tissue) cells[].
In studies, the plants have been reported to inhibit Mycobacterium tuberculosis as well as the common ulcer-causing bacteria, H. Pylori in test-tube studies[].
The essential oil contains benzoic and cinnamic acid esters. These are believed to be the main active constituents of the balsam[].

Peru balsam is antibacterial, antifungal, antiseptic, parasiticide and rubefacient[, ]. It is rarely used internally as an expectorant[]. It is taken internally in the treatment of asthma and bronchitis and to generally lessen mucous secretions[]. Balsam of Peru has been in the U.S. Pharmacopeia since 1820, with documented uses for bronchitis, laryngitis, dysmenorrhoea, diarrhoea, dysentery, and leucorrhoea. Today, it is used extensively in topical preparations for the treatment of wounds, ulcers, and scabies[].
It is applied externally as an ointment, or in alcoholic solutions to treat certain skin diseases, especially those involving parasites[]. The gum is used to treat cases of scabies, eczema, ringworm, lice, superficial ulcerations, wounds, bedsores, diaper rash, and chilblains[].

The dry fruits, often much discolored and broken, are offered commonly in the Guatemalan markets for medicinal use. They are used particularly in treatment of sarna (itch), for which they are claimed to be the best remedy[].

Agroforestry Uses:

Peru Balsam is a good shade tree and also fixes atmospheric nitrogen[]. It is sometimes grown to provide shade in coffee plantations[].

Other Uses

A high quality balsam resin exudes from injuries to the trunk. Known as 'Peru balsam', it consists of 53 - 66% of a colourless, aromatic, oily liquid and around 28% of a dark resin[]. The viscid, dark reddish brown, fragrant liquid has a warm, somewhat bitter taste; it burns readily[].
The gum is used as a flavouring in cough syrups, soft drinks, confectionaries, ice cream and chewing gums[]. It is also used as a mounting medium for microscopic preparations[].
The resin has been much used in Europe in the manufacture of perfumes[]. It is widely used in church services, especially as an incense, and has been important as a component of the anointing oil used by Catholic priests since the middle of the 16th century[, ].
An extract of the balsam obtained from the trunk of the plant is used as an ingredient in commercial cosmetic preparations as a perfume[].
An essentail oil obtained from the balsam is used as an ingredient in commercial cosmetic preparations as a perfume[].

The wood is close-grained, handsomely veined, almost the colour of mahogany but redder; odour very agreeable and retained for a long time; takes an excellent polish. It is highly esteemed for cabinetwork, but little is available, since the trees are of greater value as a source of balsam[]

Propagation

Seed - it is mainly propagated through natural regeneration but seed can also be planted in a mixture of clay and organic matter to a depth of 5mm, covered with fine soil and watered daily[]. Germination beds or containers should be partially shaded[]. Seeds germinate in 15 - 30 days with a success rate of over 50%[]. Seedlings are ready for planting out in 5 months[].
Natural regeneration is abundant mainly under the crown of parent trees, where seeds attain up to 80 percent germination[]. Few of these seedlings ever reach maturity because of the low light levels in the forest[].
Fruits must be soaked in running water for 24 hours in order to soften the pericarp and facilitate seed extraction[].
The presence of high levels of coumarin in the cotyledons and embryonic axis seems to have no effect on the germination of this species, but it seems to act as an allelopathic factor[].

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