Balms are one of the most reliable topical solutions that we can conveniently use. We like to use them because their ingredients are healthy plus they are travel-friendly. No wonder it’s one of the staples in the cosmetic or medical kit of many of us.
To make it easier for us to know what balms consist of, I’ve included here the description of Squirrels Nut Butter regarding its ingredients. It says “Balms are made with oils, herbs, and beeswax.”
The benefits of using balms were also experienced and appreciated by some people in history. The Bible has documented some accounts where it has been valued repeatedly on different occasions and reasons. The word “balm” appeared six times in the King James Version + (KJV+) bible. (Note: I used the My Bible app to easily see the verses)
By reading the balm verses, you will notice that balms were considered valuable even in those times. To see how important they are, I have listed below the different verses and also included the reasons why they were considered important.
1. Balms were considered travel essentials
Whenever you travel, bringing a medicine kit is highly recommended. I, for example, make sure that my kit includes a pain reliever, a pill for fever, mosquito/ insect repellent, alcohol, and a band-aid. While you are away from home, you may experience fatigue, fever, or any reasons why you don’t feel well, hence to avoid spoiling your trip and causing inconvenience to your travel buddies, it’s best to bring these “first-aid” essentials. This will allow you to address your health concern and feel better even while you’re away from home.
Some verses in the bible show that when people travel during those times they made sure that they bring a balm. Here’s one of those verses:
“And they sat down to eat bread: and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and, behold, a company of Ishmaelites came from Gilead with their camels bearing spicery and balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt.” – Genesis 37:25
2. It’s given as a present to dignitaries
When you want to please someone, ask for a favor or want to express your gratitude, you give them a present. You don’t just give any gifts, you carefully select the present especially if the receiver is someone special to you, someone you’re fond of, someone who has shown you kindness or a dignitary. You want to give them the best gift you can give them.
In the bible, you would read in Genesis that Israel (previously called Jacob) has specifically mentioned some items. I’m concluding that maybe at that time, these items were considered valuable because they will give them to a dignitary. They will give it to Joseph who at that time was a high-ranking official in Egypt. He was serving then as the right hand of the Pharoah and his position level was next to the Pharaoh.
“And their father Israel said unto them, If it must be so now, do this; take of the best fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, nuts, and almonds:” – Genesis 43:11
3. Artisans’ source of income
If you look at your medicine cabinet you probably have a balm stored in there. If you go to drug stores, supermarkets, or department stores you’d see different brands of balm for skincare, cosmetics as well as healing. Hence, even at present, we can see the importance of balms. People repeatedly buy it so there’s a sure ongoing demand, ergo, some companies and artisans continuously produce it as their source of income.
You’d see in the bible that some of the inhabitants of Tyre, which at present is found on the Mediterranean coast of southern Lebanon (Brittanica) into balm-making for business.
“Judah, and the land of Israel, they were thy merchants: they traded in thy market wheat of Minnith, and Pannag, and honey, and oil, and balm.” -Ezekiel 27:17
4. Healing aid
At present, we continue to use balms to find relief and manage different symptoms. Some of the healing balms we have now on the market are used as a pain relievers, promote sleep, anti-inflammation, and treat nasal congestion.
Looking at some verses in the scripture, you would notice that balms were considered essential and valuable because they were used to heal illnesses.
“Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?” – Jeremiah 8:22
“Go up into Gilead, and take balm, O virgin, the daughter of Egypt: in vain shalt thou use many medicines; for thou shalt not be cured.” – Jeremiah 46:11
“Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed: howl for her; take balm for her pain, if so be she may be healed.” – Jeremiah 51:8
Balms continue to be valued because they are practical to use. Its popularity and demand lasted this long because they are effective in treating some health conditions. Whatever your reason for using the balm, whether it is part of your skincare routine or for treating some illness, it’s fascinating to think that what we are using today, is what the people in the history and bible might have probably used. Though the balms that we have now contain newer ingredients, still many of them use essential oils and herbs that were probably also used back then.
Have a happy heart 💋❤
References:
- Tyre https://www.britannica.com/place/Tyre
- King James Version + via My Bible application
- Salve vs Balm: Which Should You Choose? https://squirrelsnutbutter.com/blogs/lube-news/salve-vs-balm-which-should-you-choose
Oil Therapy 