Description of the plant:

There are two types of birch: white or birch and floral or northern birch. As mud bath treatment plants, both have the same value. Birch is 10 to 25 m tall tree with thin, slender branches and white smooth bark that can be peeled off into slices as thin as paper. The leaves on stalks are obliquely rectangular or triangular, pointed and with a double sawtooth. Flower tassels get as long as 3 to 4 inches and are developing along with the leaves.

Flowering time:

End of April and in May.

Habitat:

Widespread in the mountains and located individually or in groups. They are commonly found in marshes and on moist soil, and as a decorative tree in parks.

The medicinal part of the plant:

The healing extractions are collected from juice, tassels, leaves and the bark. The juice is extracted in late February or early March, and the leaves are harvested during the growing season. The bark is collected in spring and autumn.

Pharmaceutical use:

Birch is a natural pain reliever containing salicylate, the compound found in aspirin. Salicylate relieves the inflammation and pain associated with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, and generalized muscle pain. Salicylate deters the body’s production of certain prostaglandins that are linked to inflammation, pain, and fever among other things. An other reason birch calms arthritis and gout is it’s cleansing diuretic action that eliminates toxins and excess water. Sweet birch can have good results against cellulite. Birch bark and leaf is also used as an antibacterial diuretic in the treatment of urinary tract infections and cystitis.

Cautions:

Please be aware that herbs, although natural can interact with certain medications, and that they may be ill advised to use under certain health conditions. Please consult a qualified health practitioner for cautions pertinent to you.

No therapeutic claim is made or intended for AZENA products. Information is for educational purposes only.