Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 1

Balsam, specifically balsam of Tolu or balsam of Peru, has a long history of use in traditional medicine for respiratory ailments, including cough, bronchitis, and sometimes emphysema. The resinous exudates from balsam trees were commonly included in expectorant syrups and inhalations in the 19th and early 20th centuries, believed to help loosen mucus and soothe irritated airways. However, the use of balsam for emphysema is based more on historical and empirical practice than on rigorous scientific validation. Modern clinical studies directly evaluating the efficacy of balsam in treating or supporting emphysema are lacking. Emphysema, as a chronic and progressive component of COPD, involves irreversible damage to the alveoli, and no traditional balsamic remedies have been shown to reverse or significantly alter this pathology. Most contemporary medical guidelines do not include balsam as a recommended therapy for emphysema, and its use today is rare and largely relegated to historical or alternative contexts. Any benefit noted in the past may have been due to its symptomatic relief of cough rather than any disease-modifying effect. In summary, the use of balsam for emphysema is justified by tradition rather than scientific evidence, and the strength of supporting evidence is weak.

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