Scientific name: Betula papyrifera
Common names: Silver Birch, White Birch, Paper Birch, Canoe Birch
Ayurvedic names:
Chinese names:
Bangladesh names:
Arabic names: البتولا الثؤلولية (abatula ath-thu’elooliah)
Rain Forest names:
Family: Fabaceae?
Approximate number of species known:
Common parts used: Bark, leaf
Collection:
Annual/Perennial: Perennial
Height: 60 to 130 feet
Actions: Aromatic, anthelmintic, diaphoretic, stimulant
Known Constituents: Bark sometimes standardized to betulin and betulinic acid Betulin, betulinic acid and ursolic acid are sometimes considered anti-inflammatorys and used externally for warts.
“The leaves of birch contain: At least 3% flavonoids including hyperoside, quercitrin, myricetin galactoside, kaempferol, myricetin and quercetin glycosides; in the buds, lipophilic flavone methyl esters; up to 1% essential oil and possibly saponins. The bark of white birch contains several terpenoids and triterpenes including betulin, betulinic acid, a pentacyclic triterpene, and ursolic acid. The bark also contains salicylate and methyl salicylate (natural aspirin). “ reword
Usually >1.5% flavanoids expressed as hyperoside (C21,H20,O12)
Constituents Explained:
Description:
Considered closely related to Beech or Oak.
Leaves are pointed usually with teeth down the side. They are alternate, petiolate and stiuplate (pictures).
Flowers are monoecious.
Traditional Use:
Bentula lenta is generally considered the common birch, and has a high number of uses.
Generally considered a herb with an agreeable taste that has been compared to Wintergeen.
The bark has been used to make paper, the trunk to make canoes and buckets.
The leaves have been used as a kidney tonic. Like most herbs that allow the kidneys to begin to release waste products from the human body, it may ease the joints from excessive stiffness and soreness, and may also assist poor urine flow and fluid retention.
In addition to this it appears to contain salicylic acid, a compound known for its ability ease aches and pains and which is used to make aspirin.
The leaf has been used as a blood purifier, and to prevent hair loss.
Externally it has been used for skin complaints such as boils and sores.1
The twigs have been used in Scandinavia in steam baths and saunas to promote sweating and provide relief for aching muscles.
The oil extracted from the twigs or sometimes the leaves has been used in Europe to apply externally to the skin for aches and acne treatments.
Clinical Studies:
The hepatoprotective effect of birch bark extract (BBE) in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) was studied. Forty-two patients with serologically confirmed chronic hepatitis C were treated for 12 weeks with 160 mg standardized BBE per day.
The primary outcome parameter measured was the rate of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) normalization after 12 weeks. Secondary parameters included the course of ALT, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels, quantitative HCV RNA levels, subjective symptoms associated with CHC (fatigue, abdominal discomfort, depression, and dyspepsia), safety and compliance.
The qualitative-quantitative analysis of BBE was made using high performance liquid chromatography to confirm the presence of 75% betulin and 3.5% betulinic acid. Significant differences in the mean ALT and HCV RNA levels were observed after 12 weeks of treatment.
The level of ALT was decreased in 54.0% and normalized. HCV RNA was reduced in 43.2%. After 12 weeks of treatment, reports of fatigue and abdominal discomfort were reduced by 6-fold and 3-fold, respectively.
References:
Shicov AN, Djachuk GI, Sergeev DV, Pozharitskaya ON, Esaulenko EV, Kosman VM, Makarov VG. “Birch Bark Extract As Therapy For Chonic Hepatitis C – A Pilot Study.” 2011 July http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21377854
Source material:
Herb Name: Birch
Other Names: Silver birch, white birch
Latin Name: Betula pendula ( silver Birch )
Family: Betulaceae
Common parts Used: leaves, bark, flowers
There different types of Birch. Silver birch is a tree mostly grown in central Asia, Europe and Britain. It belongs to the family Betulaceae. Its other kinds are white birch, water birch, gold birch etc.
The bark most inner bark is cooked and eaten. It is mixed with soups, flour. It is also used for making biscuits, bread and other bakery stuff. The sap of birch is used for bears, it is sweet in taste. The leaves are also cooked and are edible.
Birch is used for medicinal purpose. It is considered to be anti-inflammatory and used to induce perspiration. It is also used for anti-cancer drugs. The inner bark of the tree is used to treat skin diseases and eczema. The leaves are good for reducing cholesterol. The leaves are also used as infusion for dropsy and gout. Birch is also considered good for kidney stones.
Herb Name: Birch
Others names: Paper birch, White birch, and Canoe birch
Latin name: Betula Alba
Family: Betulaceae
Common part used: Leaves, Bark, Sap
Description: Birch is a tree or a shrub with drooping branches, peeling bark, oval leaves, and yellow catkins. It grows 10-25m in height.
Properties: Birch is an herb that is used in herbal medicine to treat rheumatism, arthritis, gout, kidney stones, and various skin conditions (psoriasis, eczema, etc.). Birch is a very popular Russian remedy for treating arthritis. The wood has commercial applications. This bitter, astringent, and tonic herb has the following properties: diuretic, laxative, anti-inflammatory, and pain-relieving.
Contents: Birch contains flavonoid glycosides, methyl esters, phenylpropanoids, resin, steroidal saponins, and methylsalicylate.
Internal use: Internally, it is used for arthritis, rheumatism, gout, arteriosclerosis, cystitis, water retention, kidney stones, fevers, skin eruptions and various skin problems.
External use: Externally, it is very successful for helping with eczema and psoriasis. The sap has a strong astringent effect, which helps to increase skin elasticity and to improve skin tone. It is also used in hair care products to combat greasy and oily hair. Birch acts as a good hair conditioner.
Essential oil and aromatherapy use: Not noted.
Safety precautions: Not noted.
etula alba Betula alleghaniensis – Yellow Birch (B. lutea)
- Betula cordifolia – Mountain Paper Birch
- Betula glandulosa – American Dwarf Birch
- Betula lenta – Sweet Birch, Cherry Birch, or Black Birch
- Betula lenta subsp. uber – Virginia Round-Leaf Birch (endemic, Cressy Creek, Smyth County, Virginia)
- Betula michauxii – Newfoundland Dwarf Birch
- Betula nana – Dwarf Birch or Bog Birch (also in northern Europe and Asia)
- Betula neoalaskana – Alaska Birch or Yukon Birch
- Betula nigra – River Birch or Black Birch
- Betula occidentalis – Water Birch or Red Birch (B. fontinalis)
- Betula papyrifera – Paper Birch, Canoe Birch or American White Birch
- Betula pendula – Silver Birch, a European birch commonly planted as an ornamental, becoming naturalized n most commonly used
- Betula populifolia – Gray Birch
- Betula pubescens – Downy Birch also known as White Birch, European White Birch, Hairy Birch (Greenland; also in Europe incl. Iceland, northern Asia)
- Betula pubescens subspecies tortuosa – Arctic Downy Birch (Greenland; also in subarctic Eurasia incl. Iceland)
- Betula pumila – Swamp Birch
Betula albosinensis – Chinese Red Birch
- Betula albosinensis var. septentrionalis – North Chinese Red Birch
- Betula alnoides – Alder-leaf Birch
- Betula austrosinensis – South China Birch
- Betula carpatica – Carpathian Birch
- Betula chinensis – Chinese Dwarf Birch
- Betula dalecarlica
- Betula ermanii – Erman’s Birch
- Betula grossa – Japanese Cherry Birch
- Betula jacquemontii (Betula utilis subsp. jacquemontii) – White-barked Himalayan Birch
- Betula Kamchatka – Kamchatka birch platyphylla
- Betula mandschurica – Manchurian Birch
- Betula mandschurica var. japonica – Japanese Birch
- Betula maximowiczii – Monarch Birch
- Betula medwediewii – Caucasian Birch
- Betula nana – Dwarf Birch (also in northern North America)
- Betula pendula – Silver Birch
- Betula platyphylla (Betula pendula var. platyphylla) – Siberian Silver Birch
- Betula pubescens – Downy Birch also known as White Birch, European White Birch, Hairy Birch (Europe incl. Iceland, northern Asia; also in Greenland in North America)
- Betula pubescens subspecies tortuosa – Arctic Downy Birch (subarctic Eurasia incl. Iceland; also in Greenland in North America)
- Betula szechuanica (Betula pendula var. szechuanica) – Sichuan Birch
- Betula utilis – Himalayan Birch