Pour simmering water over a handful of freshly picked needles and let steep for about ten minutes, covered. Strain before consuming, traditionally used during seasonal colds. One tablespoon of chopped fresh needles per cup of water, one to two cups per day.
Resin harvested from the bark is gently melted with a vegetable oil to obtain a smooth balm, applied in a thin layer to minor wounds or irritated areas. Allow the mixture to rest away from direct heat before use. Dosage to be validated with a healthcare professional or recognized pharmacopoeia before use.
Roots cut into pieces are simmered gently for about twenty minutes, then the cooled liquid is used as an external application on tired muscles. A professional should be consulted before any regular use of this preparation. Dosage to be validated with a healthcare professional or recognized pharmacopoeia before use.
Balsam Fir grows wild in the cold, humid forests of northeastern North America; its resin and needles are also available in specialized herbalist shops as balms or essential oils.
The needles are preferably picked in spring and summer, while the resin flows and is harvested from the bark during the warmer months.