Meaning
A healing yard run by a balmist or 'mother' — a place of Afro-Jamaican spiritual healing where people go for herbal baths, prayer, readings, and cures for sickness or 'set' spiritual afflictions. Central to folk-religious traditions like Revival and Pocomania.
Examples
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Dem carry di sick woman go a di balm yaad fi healing.
They took the sick woman to the balm yard for healing.
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Di madda at di balm yaad give har a bush bath.
The mother at the balm yard gave her a herbal bath.
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People still visit di balm yaad wen doctor cyaa help.
People still visit the balm yard when the doctor can't help.
Origin
'Balm' (healing/anointing) plus 'yaad' (yard/premises) — the yard where a balmist practises spiritual and herbal healing, rooted in Revival and Kumina traditions.
How it’s used
A centre of Afro-Jamaican folk healing and spirituality. See [[obeah]], [[pocomania]], [[kumina]].