The birch, a tree with many medicinal possibilities

He birch (Betula pendula)easily identifiable by white color of its barkparticularly in the variety of Himalayan birch; although on other continents there are varieties of red and black birch, or river birch.

It has been highly appreciated in Europe since ancient times for its great medicinal properties. The European variety is known as common birch, pendulum birch, silver birch, weeping birch, or warty birch.

The birch It is a slender tree with an elongated crownthe hanging branches, the small, triangular and toothed leaves, and the tiny fruitsequipped with ailerons to facilitate their dispersion. Grows on moist soilssometimes mixed among conifers, remaining confined in our latitudes to high mountain areas.

How do you take birch?

They take advantage of the tree the leaveswhich are harvested in spring, but also the buds, the sap and the bark. They are rich in flavonoids and also contains a essential oilbetulinic acid, betulinol, potassium salts and tannins in the bark.

From these are made infusions with dry leavesbirch tea), capsules and lotions; also takes the liquid and dry extract.

Birch properties

• The essential virtue of the birch is like urine activator and general purifier of the organism. Facilitates the elimination of toxic agentslike a excess of uric acid and urea, and is used successfully for the dissolution of kidney stones. Its powerful diuretic action is mainly due to its flavonoids and potassium salts, which promote the elimination of water, chlorides, urea and uric acid.
• If we add to its diuretic strength its anti-inflammatory and antiseptic propertieswe will be faced with a very interesting natural remedy to deal with all types of urinary tract conditions, such as cystitis or urethritisdifficulty passing urine or gout.
• It is also effective to combat overweight, swelling of legs and feet caused by the fluid retention, which can occur during the menstrual period.
• It also contributes to reduce high blood pressure when it has a renal origin.
• The oil distilled from the leaves is analgesic and healing.and acts effectively to heal skin wounds and to be applied to skin impurities such as eczema and psoriasis.
• It is also anti-inflammatoryand it is recommended to alleviate joint painin cases of arthritis and osteoarthritisand to alleviate the tendonitis.
• The inner cortex is astringent and antidiarrhealand is used for difficult digestion, intermittent fevers and flu.
• Also used is a bark decoction applied as lotion to stop the hair loss

Natural remedies with birch

Very effective diuretic infusion

To prepare your decoction, pour three level tablespoons of birch leaves in one liter of water. Let it boil for half a minute and then let it rest for another ten. Once the infusion is strained, it is taken throughout the day, avoiding doing so hours before bedtime.

Birch has a slightly bitter taste, which can be corrected if combined withstar anise, mint or stevia, For example.

It combines birch with horsetail, corn beards and grassin equal parts. To promote the expulsion of grit, simply add to this formula salt suffrage (Silene saxifraga) and arenaria (Arenaria glabra) in the same proportion.

How to prepare the herbal tea: Four tablespoons of the mixture per liter of water are boiled for 1 minute, and left to rest for a further 10 minutes. After filtering, you can drink it throughout the day.

Birch detox tea: purifying infusion to eliminate toxins

Birch is combined with other detoxifying plants such as dandelion, burdock, horsetail and sarsaparilla.

How to prepare the infusion: We boil four tablespoons of the mixture of these plants for 1 minute per liter of water, and let it rest for 10 minutes. After filtering it, it is drunk throughout the day.

Birch contraindications

It is important to mention that, although in small quantities, birch contains salicylates. People who follow treatments with hemostatics or anticoagulants should consult with a specialist before taking birch.

Likewise, it is not recommended that people who follow hypertension treatments or suffer from heart disease, since there is a possibility that it causes a decompensation of tension or that it enhances the effect of cardiotonics, due to the possible elimination of potassium through the urine.

He high content in tannins makes it inadvisable in case of gastritis, ulcers or irritable colon.

Advisor: J. Mª. Teixé, herbalist from «El Manantial de Salud