Milkweed Balm

After asking my 400+ FaceBook Friends what they knew about milkweed balm, and got ZIP, Nada, Zilch, I did a little research and found that there are two very different plants using that name, plus another used in alternative medicine called milk thistle. The one used by the company I knew about grows "in the United States and Canada, the Common Milkweed (Ascelpias Syriaca), also known as silkweed and butterfly flower, and Showy Milkweed (Ascelpias speciosa). Both varieties provide food and protection for migratin.g Monarch butterflies." The company also uses volunteer pickers because the window for harvesting is very small. The company also makes other products from the fiber of the milkweed plant (the N. American variety) like pillows. The cream is used for pain. The company is in Ogallala, Nebraska.

It seems I have a memory of my mother and her sister picking the flowers in the spring and cooking them. Sort of tasted like broccoli as I recall, but I was a kid and probably said, "Yuk." Milkweed grew along all the country roads we would travel to the farm in Franklin Grove.
 
So far, I've found no definitive research on this product.  Health food and natural healing sites often refer to it, but since there is actual research on milk thistle, it would be nice to see come controlled studies.

 "Know someone going through treatment who needs relief from achy bones, joints and muscles or neuropathy? Milkweed Balm helps ease the pain. Topical, easy to apply and a money back guarantee on our smallest sizes." 

 "All natural Milkweed Balm is made with organic ingredients of jojoba oil, soybean oil, and milkweed seed oil. Cold-pressed milkweed seed oil contains antioxidants, magnesium, calcium, zinc, manganese, and high concentrations of Omega-3 and Omega-7 fatty acids. Milkweed Balm helps alleviate pain topically -- so roll it on where it hurts.

Milkweed Balm has a cumulative effect, so the more consistent you are about application, the less you need for relief. We recommend applying at least twice a day to start, before bed, and in the morning. You can use it whenever you need a boost to keep pain under control."

 http://monarchflyway.com/milkweed-balm-products.html

Other sites and testimonials:  http://www.comforthouse.com/milkweed-balm.html
http://articles.milkweedbalm.com/article/-neuropathy-know-how
http://articles.milkweedbalm.com/article/gentle-safe-effective-milkweed-balm-works-for-more-than-just-cancer-pain
http://lizzysmilez.blogspot.com/2015/05/milkweed-balm-my-answer-for-intense-leg.htm