Introduction
This page is the result of the aggregation of content from 5 sources. At Phyto-info, we have indexed, assembled and synthesized all the information found to summarize it, to make it readable and easy to access. We have carefully selected our sources from recognized and reliable people.
- Pharmacist(s) 2
- Herbalist(s) 3
- Pharmacist Dr. Pauline Chalet obtained her Doctor of Pharmacy degree by defending her thesis publicly in September 2016. She currently works as a pharmacist in a pharmacy in France.
- Pharmacist Dr Jean Bruneton, honorary university professor, taught pharmacognosy at the Faculty of Pharmacy in Angers for 30 years. He is also a specialist in phytochemistry and has co-authored a hundred international scientific publications.
- Herbalist Matthew Wood has been an herbalist for over 35 years in the United States. He holds a Master of Science in the field of medicinal plants from the Scottish School of Herbal Medicine, a degree recognized by the University of Wales in Scotland.
- Herbalist Michael Moore (1941 – 2009) was an American herbalist. He wrote the Matière Médicale, which is the most widely used to date in English-speaking countries, specifying the methods of preparation and dosages of classical medicinal plants.
- Herbalist Yves Vanopdenbosch is a graduate hospital nurse trained in Belgium, he directs the École des Plantes where he teaches traditional European phytotherapy.
However, Phyto-info is not responsible for what these sources tell us. We only report them in a different format.
Practical information
Family
Betulaceae
Parts used
- Bark
- Leaf
Picking info
- Harvest sweet birch in moderation because, although it is omnipresent in North America, it is currently in decline in Canada
- Harvest the bark in spring, dry it in a well-ventilated place away from direct sunlight, then store it in a dry place in paper bags or airtight jars
- Harvest the leaves preferably in spring, dry them flat in a well-ventilated, shady place, then store them in paper bags or airtight jars
Medicine cabinet
- Dried bark
- Dried leaf
33 traditional uses
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Abscess 1
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Acne 1
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Anemia 1
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Aphtha 1
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Arteriosclerosis 1
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Arthritis 1
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Callosity 1
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Cholera 1
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Contusion 1
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Cut 1
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Cystitis 1
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Dandruff 1
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Diarrhea 1
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Dysentery 1
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Dyspepsia 1
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Ecchymosis 1
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Eczema 1
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Edema 1
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Fever 1
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Fibromyalgia 1
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Gingivitis 1
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Gout 1
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Hair care 1
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Inappetence 1
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Induration 1
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Insomnia 1
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Intestinal parasite infection 1
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Kidney stone 1
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Psoriasis 1
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Rheumatism 1
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Seborrhea 1
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Sore 1
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Stomach ulcer 1
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Dosages
External decoction
Place approx. 6 g of dried bark in 150 ml (1 teacup) of cold water, boil for 10 minutes, strain, and use lukewarm as compresses, washes, or mouthwashes up to 4 times a day 1
- Contemporary American herbalist Moore, M. (1995). Herbal materia medica [p. 10, "bark: decoction, 1-2 ounces, to 4X a day"]. Southwest school of botanical medicine.
Internal decoction
Place approx. 4 g of dried bark in 150 ml (1 teacup) of cold water, boil for 10 minutes, strain, and drink 3 to 4 cups per day between meals 1
- Contemporary American herbalist Moore, M. (1995). Herbal materia medica [p. 10, "bark: decoction, 1-2 ounces, to 4X a day"]. Southwest school of botanical medicine.
External infusion
Infuse approx. 5 g of dried leaves in 150 ml (1 teacup) of simmering water for 10 minutes off the heat, strain, and use warm in compresses, washes, or mouthwashes 1
- Contemporary American herbalist Moore, M. (1995). Herbal materia medica [p. 10, "standard infusion as needed"]. Southwest school of botanical medicine.
Internal infusion
Infuse approx. 4 g of dried leaves in 150 ml (1 teacup) of simmering water for 10 minutes off the heat. Add a very small pinch of sodium bicarbonate to help dissolve the resinous substance, strain, and drink 2 to 3 cups per day between meals 2
- Contemporary American herbalist Moore, M. (1995). Herbal materia medica [p. 10, "standard infusion as needed"]. Southwest school of botanical medicine.
- Contemporary American herbalist Wood, M. (2008). The earthwise herbal: a complete guide to old world medicinal plants (vol 1) [p. 142, "the diuretic effect is enhanced by adding a fraction of of sodium bicarbonate"]. North Atlantic Books.
5 plant properties
Anti-inflammatory 1
- Contemporary French doctor of pharmacy Chalet, P. (2016). Le bouleau : une espèce au pollen présentant un risque d’allergie respiratoire très élevé, mais aussi une espèce aux multiples usages pour l’Homme [thèse de doctorat] [p. 19, "anti-inflammatoire"]. Université de Picardie Jules Verne.
Astringent 1
- Contemporary American herbalist Wood, M. (2008). The earthwise herbal: a complete guide to old world medicinal plants (vol 1) [p. 140, "astringent"]. North Atlantic Books.
Diaphoretic 1
- Contemporary American herbalist Wood, M. (2008). The earthwise herbal: a complete guide to old world medicinal plants (vol 1) [p. 139, "diaphoretic (leaf)"]. North Atlantic Books.
Diuretic 1
- Contemporary American herbalist Wood, M. (2008). The earthwise herbal: a complete guide to old world medicinal plants (vol 1) [p. 139, "diuretic"]. North Atlantic Books.
Emollient 1
- Contemporary American herbalist Wood, M. (2008). The earthwise herbal: a complete guide to old world medicinal plants (vol 1) [p. 139, "emollient (bark)"]. North Atlantic Books.
6 constituents
Essential oil 2
- Contemporary French doctor of pharmacy Chalet, P. (2016). Le bouleau : une espèce au pollen présentant un risque d’allergie respiratoire très élevé, mais aussi une espèce aux multiples usages pour l’Homme [thèse de doctorat] [p. 19, "huile essentielle"]. Université de Picardie Jules Verne.
- Contemporary American herbalist Wood, M. (2008). The earthwise herbal: a complete guide to old world medicinal plants (vol 1) [p. 139, "oil of wintergreen"]. North Atlantic Books.
Methyl salicylate 2
- Contemporary French doctor of pharmacy Bruneton, J. (2016). Pharmacognosie: phytochimie, plantes médicinales (5e éd.) [p. 341, "salicylate de méthyle"]. Lavoisier.
- Contemporary French doctor of pharmacy Chalet, P. (2016). Le bouleau : une espèce au pollen présentant un risque d’allergie respiratoire très élevé, mais aussi une espèce aux multiples usages pour l’Homme [thèse de doctorat] [p. 19, "salicylate de méthyle"]. Université de Picardie Jules Verne.
Potassium 1
- Contemporary American herbalist Wood, M. (2008). The earthwise herbal: a complete guide to old world medicinal plants (vol 1) [p. 140, "high in potassium"]. North Atlantic Books.
Salicylate 1
- Contemporary American herbalist Wood, M. (2008). The earthwise herbal: a complete guide to old world medicinal plants (vol 1) [p. 139, "salicylates"]. North Atlantic Books.
Saponin 1
- Contemporary American herbalist Wood, M. (2008). The earthwise herbal: a complete guide to old world medicinal plants (vol 1) [p. 139, "saponins"]. North Atlantic Books.
Sugar 1
- Contemporary American herbalist Wood, M. (2008). The earthwise herbal: a complete guide to old world medicinal plants (vol 1) [p. 140, "sugars"]. North Atlantic Books.
2 common names
Birch (Betula lenta) 1
- Contemporary American herbalist Moore, M. (1995). Herbal materia medica [p. 10, "birch"]. Southwest school of botanical medicine.
Sweet birch 1
- Contemporary American herbalist Wood, M. (2008). The earthwise herbal: a complete guide to old world medicinal plants (vol 1) [p. 139, "sweet birch"]. North Atlantic Books.
scientific name
Betula lenta 3
- Contemporary French doctor of pharmacy Bruneton, J. (2016). Pharmacognosie: phytochimie, plantes médicinales (5e éd.) [p. 341, "Betula lenta"]. Lavoisier.
- Contemporary French doctor of pharmacy Chalet, P. (2016). Le bouleau : une espèce au pollen présentant un risque d’allergie respiratoire très élevé, mais aussi une espèce aux multiples usages pour l’Homme [thèse de doctorat] [p. 19, "Betula lenta L."]. Université de Picardie Jules Verne.
- Contemporary American herbalist Wood, M. (2008). The earthwise herbal: a complete guide to old world medicinal plants (vol 1) [p. 139, "B. lenta"]. North Atlantic Books.
Conditions of use
Contraindications
The documents reviewed did not mention any data on this subject 1
- Phyto-info note
Toxicity
The documents reviewed did not mention any data on this subject 1
- Phyto-info note
Side effects
The documents reviewed did not mention any data on this subject 1
- Phyto-info note
Drug interactions
The documents reviewed did not mention any data on this subject 1
- Phyto-info note
Precautions for use
Be careful with the leaves; they can carry pollen and trigger allergies 1
- Contemporary French doctor of pharmacy Chalet, P. (2016). Le bouleau : une espèce au pollen présentant un risque d’allergie respiratoire très élevé, mais aussi une espèce aux multiples usages pour l’Homme [thèse de doctorat] [p. 9, "[le bouleau] fait partie des essences présentant le risque allergique le plus élevé"]. Université de Picardie Jules Verne.
None known at recommended therapeutic doses 1
- Contemporary American herbalist Wood, M. (2008). The earthwise herbal: a complete guide to old world medicinal plants (vol 1) [p. 142, "regarded as safe"]. North Atlantic Books.
Children
The documents reviewed did not mention any data on this subject 1
- Phyto-info note
Pregnant or breastfeeding women
The documents reviewed did not mention any data on this subject 1
- Phyto-info note
Energetics
Tastes
Bitter 1
- Contemporary American herbalist Wood, M. (2008). The earthwise herbal: a complete guide to old world medicinal plants (vol 1) [p. 140, "bitter"]. North Atlantic Books.
Sweet 1
- Contemporary American herbalist Wood, M. (2008). The earthwise herbal: a complete guide to old world medicinal plants (vol 1) [p. 140, "sweet"]. North Atlantic Books.
Elementary energies
Warm and dry 1
- Contemporary Belgian Herbalist Vanopdenbosch, Y. (2018). Plantes médicinales et tempéraments : aux sources d’une phytothérapie traditionnelle [p. 120, "chaud et sec (leaf)"]. Editions Amyris.
