Anais De Valicourt
Investigation into the Medicinal Uses of Balsam Fir, Abies balsamea (Linn)
Abstract
Abies balsamea is a plant found in abundance in forests of Eastern Canada. The aim of this dissertation is to identify its potential role in modern herbal medicine. In order to do this, a literature review was conducted and a plant tasting was performed. The information derived from those two methods was compared and analysed using qualitative methods such as coding and triangulation.
It was found to have been historically used mostly against respiratory, infective diarrhoea, gonorrhoea, urinary infections, and rheumatism, and to promote wound healing. Traditional uses by Western Herbalists were very similar to traditional uses by Native American Tribes. The average composition of its essential oil was determined, and the properties of this essential oil were mentioned. The properties of the essential oil could explain many of the traditional uses of A. balsamea.
In many categories of use, the information derived from the plant tasting corroborated the information found in the literature research. The conclusion reached was that it was estimated to have a good potential for use internally against respiratory, digestive and urinary infection. It was found to be probably very useful in external application as wound dressing. However, more modern research is needed to confirm those uses and define more clearly in which circumstances it is the most appropriate plant.
