Balms are not just a type of alcoholic product. Thanks to their herbs and spices, balms can treat various ailments and strengthen the body as a whole. In this article, we will consider what are the components of the balm, the use and contraindications, as well as the reviews of specialists and patients.
Elixir of Health
Traditionally, balsam are considered alcoholic beverages with a strength of 30-40%, with a characteristic and rich herbal smell and taste. The elixir of health balm was not nicknamed by chance. Its healing power has been known since ancient times. They were made mainly by healers and sorcerers.
In the Russian Empire, balm, or as they were called “balms” at that time, was made by pharmacists and was prescribed according to prescriptions for the treatment of fatigue and stomach diseases. It was they who possessed the secrets of combining various herbs in such a way that in certain proportions their beneficial properties were multiplied.
Due to its tart specific taste, the balm is perceived more as a medicinal medicine than an alcoholic drink. But not only the final product can be called this way. Sometimes some of the individual components are also called balsam. For example, the oil of one rare and valuable tree, Pereira microsilon, which grows only in South America, is sold separately in small containers and is called "Peruvian balm." But this is rather an exception, yet usually we understand by this term a mixture of medicinal herbs and other components.
Everyone determines the best balm for himself individually. It depends on the taste preferences of each individual person, and on what purpose the drink is taken.
Product Benefits
The use of balms today is not a very common practice. Many prefer traditional medicine, treating such drinks with distrust. Due to the fact that the consumption of balsams is not particularly popular, both the range and volume of production are not very diverse. Moreover, the undoubted medicinal properties of such herbal drinks have long been scientifically substantiated and proven in practice.
Balm is an excellent natural energetic. It helps to relieve tension in the body, harmonize the work of internal organs and tone the nervous system. This is especially true after prolonged physical exertion and mental stress. Also, thanks to the rich taste, the balm affects the taste buds, increasing salivation and stimulating appetite.
Thanks to carefully selected components, balms are sources of various vitamins and minerals, as well as organic acids and tannins.
Balm Composition
The basis of balms, of course, are medicinal plants. Moreover, the use of each component is not accidental and must be designed to relieve any disease or alleviate its symptoms.
| Component | Act | Application |
| Juniper | Diuretic Bactericidal Anti-inflammatory Restorative Painkiller | With kidney disease From edema |
| Peppermint | Painkiller Vasodilator Soothing Choleretic | Digestion problems Headaches |
| Sagebrush | Stimulating Disinfectant Cleanser | Gall bladder problems Appetite improvement |
| Yarrow | Anti-inflammatory Bactericidal Hemostatic | With diseases of the gastrointestinal tract With inflammation of the urinary tract To improve appetite |
| Oak bark | Antimicrobial Anti-inflammatory Astringent | With diarrhea For the treatment of stomatitis and periodontal disease With inflammation of the mucous membranes of the nose and larynx |
| Kalgan | Anti-inflammatory Bactericidal Astringent | Treatment of gastritis and peptic ulcer Digestive system |
| Gentian | Anti-inflammatory Expectorant Sedative | With bronchitis From temperature |
| Star anise | Anti-inflammatory Expectorant Bactericidal | With colic Against cough Fever and fever |
| Angelica | Diuretic Antispasmodic Stimulating | Stimulates the appetite Facilitates digestion |
In addition to herbs, various spices are also included in the balm.
| Title | Appointment |
| Cardamom | Appetite improvement Cough relief Headache treatment Digestion Aid |
| Cinnamon | Temperature reduction The treatment of colds Relief with severe coughing |
| Rosemary | Nervous system recovery Upper respiratory tract treatment Pressure increase |
| Turmeric | Help with exhaustion Body cleansing Recovery of intestinal microflora |
| Saffron | Blood purification Improving brain activity Tones up the nervous system |
The list of other possible components of balms:
- Deer horns.
- Nuts.
- Berries
- Honey.
- Essential oils.
Production stages
In order to make a healing drink, it is necessary to produce a complex technological process, which takes quite a long time.
First step. All components insist on alcohol from one to several months, each separately.
Second phase. Tinctures are subjected to single or double distillation.
The third stage. Repeated exposure of each component - at least a month.
The fourth stage. Mixing with the strictest proportions to reveal each component of the balm.
The fifth stage. Filtration, which is carried out before disposal of sediment and particles of raw materials.
The final stage. Pouring the finished balm into opaque or dark containers, followed by a short exposure.
Balm: instructions for use
Although balm is considered an alcoholic drink, you can drink it exclusively in dosage form. At one time, you can use no more than two tablespoons, and per day the maximum dose is only one hundred ml. It is recommended to take some particularly rich healing balms in much lower doses.
Regular and strictly dosed balm intake is a good prevention of heart and vascular diseases.
With a cold, a couple of teaspoons can be added to tea or coffee, and with a sore throat, dilute with warm water and rinse.
Balm can also be used for compresses to relieve pain in joints or muscles.
One of the most probably popular is considered Bittner's balm. It is recommended to take it with such ailments as constipation, gastritis, ulcers, and other diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
A small amount of balm consumed daily before meals helps to strengthen the nervous system and normalize metabolism.
Contraindications
Balm as a strong alcoholic drink, which includes many different components, is prohibited for pregnant and lactating women, children, people with chronic diseases of the kidneys, liver, as well as those who are allergic to its components.
Cooking use
Balms often form the basis for various cocktails and alcoholic beverages: they are added to gin, whiskey, brandy or cognac. They are also used for making sauces for meat, baking, ice cream and other desserts, for example, tiramisu or chocolate mousses. The concentration of balm in a dish is better to choose on your own, to your taste.
Pork recipe in a sauce with the addition of Riga Balsam.
- We clear the pork from veins and cut into thin slices.
- Fry in vegetable oil on both sides, salt and pepper to taste.
- Preparing the sauce: in a saucepan over low heat, bring to a boil the juice of orange or grapefruit, 50 ml of balsam and a slice of butter.
- Pour the thickened sauce into a pan with meat so that it is completely covered with it. Stew under the lid until the pork is cooked.
- Serve pork with balsamic sauce with any side dish, for example, mashed potatoes or stewed vegetables. Enjoy your meal!
Reviews of patients and specialists
Reviews about the balms of various formulations are 90% positive. The fact is repeatedly noted that, as a rule, he copes with the health problems for which this drink is purchased. Experts recommend that you consult before taking the balm and be sure to carefully study the instructions in order to avoid harm to your body.
Interesting to know…
- It is believed that the first balm was created by Riga pharmacist Abraham Kunze. The search for the perfect combination of herbs and spices was a long one, based on ancient folk recipes of herbal tinctures. The invented tart drink was later called “Kunze”. After some time, he became Riga Black Balsam. It was he who first appeared in Russia during the reign of Catherine the Second, who ordered the release of the drink on an industrial scale.
- Balm is a drink that is better to drink cold. The ideal temperature of the used balm is such that an ice coating forms on the walls of the bottle, and it becomes malleable. It is better to drink it separately from food, without having a bite.
- In the West, serving balsam with other types of alcoholic beverages is considered a traditional practice. This is done so that everyone has the opportunity to create a combination of taste and aroma on their own.