Dorothy FarrarBirch
The birch has been considered a sacred tree for centuries. The leaves of the birch are used in conventional medicine and in naturopathy for diseases of the kidneys and bladder.
Definition and Occurrence
The birch (Betula) is a plant of the birch family. It is one of the fast growing trees. After only six years of growth, it can reach a height of seven meters. The birch grows up to thirty meters high when fully grown. The trees can get very old.
Individual specimens are even up to 150 years old. The bark of the birch is particularly striking. The color palette varies from dark brown to light brown to black or white. Initially, the bark is still very smooth. Later, individual pieces come off until the bark tears completely.
Birch wood is white to reddish-brown and has a fine grain. The leaves of the birch are arranged alternately on short shoots. They are between four and seven centimeters long and triangular to diamond-shaped. The tip is long. The flowering period of the birch is from April to May. The seeds ripen in August and September.
The birch was already used for medicinal purposes in ancient Greece. In many cultures it is still considered a symbol of love and a herald of spring.
Ingredients, effect and dosage
The leaves of the birch species Betula pendula (weeping birch) and Betula pubescens (downy birch) are used medicinally. The leaves are usually dried and sold as a tea drug. They are then available under the name Betulae folium. The main active ingredients in birch leaves are flavonoids . Quercetin is particularly noteworthy here.Other important flavonoids found in birch are hyperoside and avicularin. In addition to flavonoids, birch leaves also contain triterpenes, phenolic acids, essential oils and small amounts of vitamin C.
The flavonoids are responsible for the diuretic effect of birch leaves. They increase urine production and thus ensure that the urinary tract is flushed out. Presumably, this happens by influencing the so-called renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. Part of this system is the angiotensin converting enzyme . It initiates a series of mechanisms that result in contraction of the small vessels and reabsorption of water from the renal corpuscles . The consequences are rising blood pressure and reduced urine production.
Birch flavonoids inhibit the angiotensin converting enzyme, disrupting the entire renin-angiotensin-aldosterone cascade and stimulating urination. With this increased water excretion, the urinary tract is freed from pathogens. However, flavonoids also have an anti-inflammatory effect . The birch leaves ensure faster filtration of the blood , so that inflammation-causing substances in particular can be flushed out more quickly.
As a rule, the birch leaves are administered as a tea. Simply pour 200 milliliters of hot water over two teaspoons of dried leaves and leave covered for a quarter of an hour. Birch leaf tea can be drunk as a cure over a period of one to two weeks. Three to four cups a day are recommended. Birch leaf extracts are also available in oil form. The sweet birch sap can also be extracted from the silver birch.
What does birch help against?
- kidney semolina
- reduced hair growth
importance to health
Because of its diuretic effect, birch leaf tea is mainly used for inflammatory diseases of the urinary tract. The leaves can also be used as a flushing therapy for kidney semolina. In the case of infections of the urinary tract, a combination with rest harrow and goldenrod is recommended . Because of their anti-inflammatory properties, birch leaves are also often used as an accompanying therapy for rheumatic complaints. A combination with marigold blossoms or nettle leaves makes sense here.
Applied externally, the ingredients of birch can alleviate the symptoms of psoriasis and actinic keratosis. Many creams and lotions with the active ingredient betulin are available in pharmacies or on the Internet. Stubborn skin diseases can also be treated with regular washes with birch infusion. Birch sap is also effective for skin diseases. It is simply applied to the affected skin areas. The sap of the birch is also said to promote hair growth. Birch sap is said to relieve rheumatic complaints when taken internally.
Birch oil is mainly used to tighten the skin and treat cellulite. Birch charcoal can also be obtained from the wood of the birch. Birch charcoal is used for gastrointestinal diseases. Typical indications for charcoal are acute digestive disorders with flatulence, intestinal cramps and diarrhea. Birch tar is a tar-like distillate obtained from birch bark by distillation. The tar is said to alleviate the symptoms of skin diseases such as psoriasis (psoriasis).In some parts of Europe, the fresh branches of the birch are also used. After the sauna session, the sauna-goers are “hit” with the fresh twigs. This stimulates the blood circulation and the body can eliminate harmful substances better.
Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.