balm

A balm is a soothing or calming substance that can help heal wounds, calm emotions, or ease pain. It's often used to describe something gentle and comforting.

When we talk about a balm, we usually mean it in one of two ways. First, we might use the word to refer to a kind of lotion or cream that helps skin feel better when it's sore or irritated. For example, "I applied some after-sun balm to my skin" – it's like a special ointment you put on to help your skin recover from the sun.

The other way we use the word balm is more figurative. In this sense, a balm can be anything that brings comfort or relief when you're feeling stressed, anxious, or overwhelmed. So if someone says "watching nature documentaries was like a balm for my frazzled nerves," it means that watching them helped calm and soothe their emotions.

It's worth noting that there is also an idiomatic expression: to be a balm to someone. This means being a source of comfort or solace, like a healing ointment. For example "your listening ear was just what I needed – you were a real balm in times of trouble."