Tincture of Benzoin (Friar's Balsam) Uses and Benefits

| Modified on May 05, 2023
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Bronchitis and Pleurisy
Posted by Sue (KwaZulu-Natal) on 04/10/2022
★★★★★

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I thought I had contracted Covid 19, I had all the symptoms including not being able to breathe, which turned out negative. Then I remembered that when I was about 5 years old and my brother was a baby, he used to get croup very badly, so much so that the Dr. wanted to make a hole in his throat.

I am talking about 75 years ago, then that was unheard of. My mother refused and asked my father to go and get her some Friar's Balsem, put blankets over the kitchen table, and put a little saucepan with water on the primus stove under the table for her in which she had added some Friar's Balsem.

There my mother sat with my little brother for as long as I can remember, until he could breathe normally again. It happened a few times more, until he was about 4 years old, then he seemed to outgrow it.

Well to cut a long story short, I asked my children to buy me some at the chemist and that is what I did. It worked wonders, and when my daughter got Covid last year, she did the same. I was not at home at the time visiting my eldest daughter. My youngest, that was ill said that it saved her life, because her sister in law that is the same age, as he 46years died a week after she was admitted with Covid from heart failure, although she had never had heart problems before.

I also said to my children, God forbid, but if I should get ill again they must not take me to hospital. In the mean time I have been diagnosed with COPD. needless to say, the Friar's Balsem is been used in a steamer daily, which helps with the breathing.

Bronchitis and Pleurisy
Posted by JJ (FL) on 02/07/2022
★★★★★

Tincture of Benzoin (Friar's Balsam) for Bronchitis and pleurisy

Used this remedy for years from my dad. Boil approximately 1 qt water and pour in approximately 1 Teaspoon of tincture of benzoin. Turn heat down, put towel over your head and inhale the steam for several minutes, taking deep breath's and holding it. Do this several times a day as needed. (I use an old metal coffee can because the tincture will leave a sticky residue on on your good pots. )

The healing properties are amazing! Got rid of my pleurisy in 1 day!

Also used it for my son's milder asthma issues.

Bandage Adhesion
Posted by Jon Mccroy (Ireland) on 07/07/2020
★★★★★

Tincture of Benzoin - I have used this product for many years to increase the adhesion of bandages. Helps keep bandages on for a number of days. Very inexpensive and can be found at the local apothecary.


Chronic Coughs, Wounds
Posted by Jane (Seattle, WA) on 01/22/2013
★★★★★

Growing up in England in the 1930s, I remember that we used to use Friar's Balsam for cuts and minor wounds. It was also used for lingering coughs by inhaling a few drops in boiling water.

EC: Friar's Balsam is an ages-old herbal variation on tincture of benzoin.