Balsam Poplar (Populus balsamifera) has a history of traditional use by Indigenous peoples and herbalists in North America for treating skin ailments, including sunburn. The buds and resin of Balsam Poplar have been used in salves and ointments, often referred to as "Balm of Gilead," to soothe minor burns, wounds, and inflamed skin. This traditional application is largely based on the plant’s content of salicylates (related to aspirin) and other phenolic compounds, which may have mild anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. However, while such uses are well-documented in ethnobotanical sources and herbal medicine texts, there is a lack of modern clinical studies specifically evaluating Balsam Poplar’s effectiveness for sunburn in humans. Most available data are anecdotal or derived from in vitro or animal studies indicating anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties of the extracts. Thus, while the plant’s use for soothing sunburn is rooted in tradition and plausible based on its chemical constituents, scientific validation through robust clinical trials is lacking. Consequently, the evidence for its efficacy is low to moderate and primarily traditional in nature.