Weimar Balsam
Historical document, translated for reference. It reflects medical knowledge of the 1920s–30s and is not medical advice.
Summary
Weimar Balsam is a traditional rubefacient soap liniment containing Spanish fly and turpentine. Described in the 1930s Soviet medical encyclopedia, it was used as a counter-irritant for pleurisy, joint rheumatism, and neuralgias.
Encyclopedia entry (1928–1936)
WEIMAR BALSAM, Bals. Vimariense s. Weimarense, Linimentum saponis rubefaciens, Spiritus saponis rubefaciens, is prepared according to the recipe specified in the Pharmacopoeia (VII). The balsam is transparent, yellow in color, with an ammoniacal-turpentine odor and a specific gravity of 0.920-0.925. Due to its content of Spanish flies and turpentine, it causes redness on the skin and is used as an irritating and counter-irritant remedy for pleurisy, articular rheumatism, neuralgias, etc.
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“Weimar Balsam.” Soviet Medical Encyclopedia. English translation of Bolshaya Meditsinskaya Entsiklopediya, 1st ed. (Moscow, 1928–1936), ed. N. A. Semashko. https://sovietmedicalencyclopedia.pages.dev/article/weimar-balsam/