Plant Profile: Birch

Silver Birch 

(A.K.A. White Birch or Paper Birch)

(Betula pendula)

Family: BETULACEAE

Energetics: Cooling. Moistening.

Taste:

Tissue States: 

Systems Affected: 

Parts Used: Young Leaves. Sap. Bark

Key Components: Tannins. Saponins. Bitters. Glycosides. Volatile oils. Flavonoids. Bark high in potassium. 

Preparations & dosage: 

Actions: 
Foundational: Astringent. Bitter.
Primary: Diuretic.
Secondary: Antiseptic. Tonic. Anodyne.

Uses: 

Make a tea of the young leaves as an effective diuretic that wont irritate or inflame the kidneys. 

Effective diuretic for chronic nephritis. 

Dissolves kidney stones, gouty and arthritic deposits. 

Use as a hair rinse for dry thin hair. Dandruff. 



Combines well with: Bearberry. Black Willow. 

Identifying: 

Growing:

Harvesting: Be careful not to "ringbark" the tree. Meaning, don't remove the bark from around the whole circumference of a tree because this will kill the tree. Best harvesting method is to harvest from  newly fallen branches that fell from a healthy living tree. 

Contraindications: 

Sources: 

The Complete Herbs Sourcebook: David Hoffman. Pg 218.
The Earthwise Herbal: Volume 1: Matthew Wood. Pg 139-142. 

Studies: