Balm is a kind of resin taken from trees by cutting the bark. It was used as a perfume and was considered effective as a medicine. {Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed: howl for her; take balm for her pain, if so be she may be healed. Jeremiah 51:8} Although Gilead is mentioned together with balm {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} and { 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}, the substance was not produced in Gilead or sold there. Ancient pharmaceuticals consisted mainly of plant products recommended by tradition.