The balsam poplar tree, Populus Balsamifera is a native of the northern states of the western and Midwestern U.S.A. and of Canada. The poplar buds themselves are also resinous and contain a balsamic resinous substance which can be extracted by means of a hydrocarbon solvent. This produces an oleoresin. The oleoresin can be steam distilled to yield an essential oil. Most often, an alcohol extract of the oleoresin is produced or a concentrated tincture prepared directly with alcohol from the leaf buds is used. The essential oil is not commercially available, but the leafbuds are and so are various extracts from this material.