Balm of Gilead, also called balsam Mecca, is a resin that has been valued since ancient times for its fragrance and for its supposed value as a medicinal salve. It is obtained from the sap of a small evergreen tree found in Arabia and Ethiopia. It may be the balm mentioned in the Bible (Jer. 8:22; Ezek. 27:17). The name is also used for the aromatic substance taken from a variety of the balsam poplar.
