Some scholars have proposed that manna is cognate with the Egyptian term mennu, meaning "food". Menu? manna's as a source is still undefined and uses varied bur one popular view is Manna being as word of God’s provision and not of labor and harvest. In this sense many plants and desert wildlife became new food, medicine and sustenance for those raised in opulence of Egypt alien to the wastelands.
Many references may have referred to sweet aromatic resins of desert plants.
Bible History show medical uses 3-4 millennia, Use in India and China older. Spice ~ Oils ~ Resins were the origin of commerce before the Bronze Age in oldest routes of trade from Africa to Asia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bdellium
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commiphora_wightii
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commiphora_gileadensis
Ancient trade Routes~ this tale about 2000BC( 4000yrs)
Balm (balsam) ~ a species similar to Myrrh had become a word for Medicine and Healing
as referred by Jeremiah and continued popularity and trade in Greek and Roman Medicine
"a company of Ishmaelite came from Gilead with their camels bearing
spicery and balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt." Genesis 37:25 KJV
"Go up into Gilead, and take balm, O virgin, the daughter of Egypt: in vain shalt thou use many medicines; for thou shalt not be cured." Jeremiah 46:11 KJV
"Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? Why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered? Jeremiah 8:22 KJV
"Balm in Gilead", referring to the balm or balsam carried from Gilead by the caravan of merchants to whom Joseph was sold by his brothers (Genesis 37) In likelihood, this ancient trade was what is now known as balsam of Mecca
An early record showing greatest hospitality, in best of house treasures.
“Put some of the best products of the land in your bags and take them down to the man as a gift
— a little balm and a little honey, some spices and myrrh, some pistachio nuts and almonds”.Genesis 43:11 TNIV
German American author Kurt Vonnegut adapted the term
"Manna From Heaven" to mean
Heavenly gifts from God in a general, philosophical sense.
However, he was nowhere near the first to do so.
He attributed Manna From Heaven as the
"Heavenly" actions of fate that operate to effect people
So we have Food, Medicine, and God bringing us Experience to Grow from.
How much more can Creator provide and still invisible to our earthly eyes?
Manna ~ Our Provision ~ All Things!