Discussion Groups / ESL Teaching / May 2007

I wonder the exact meaning of heart-balm used in this context, (background:
1910s America)

--
"Before you go, Bland," remarked Magee, smiling, "I want to ask about
Arabella. Where did you get her?"
"Some of it happed to a friend of mine," the ex-haberdasher answered, "a
friend that keeps a clothing store. I got this suit there. I changed the
story, here and there. He didn't write her no note, though he thought
seriously of it. and he didn't run away and hide. The last I seen of him he
was testing the effect of the heart-balm on sale behind the swinging doors."
--
Balm means "any of various aromatic resinous substances used for healing and
soothing"? So heart-balm means the balm rubbed at chest in order to soothe
the heart-break one(Bland's friend) in this context?

Thanks,

Donghoon