The herbal and health information provided in this Web Site is intended as historical information only. The historical uses are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Nothing listed within this Web Site should be considered as medical advice for dealing with a given problem. You should consult your health care professional for individual guidance for specific health problems. Persons with serious medical conditions should always seek professional care.
Birch Bark, from the plant Betula alba, is also commonly known as White Birch, canoe birch, and paper birch. The medicinal parts include the young leaves and the bark. White birch is a tree found growing to a height of 65 feet in the northern US, Canada, and northern Europe. It has white bark which can be peeled off in horizontal strips. Its leaves are cordate, with bright green above and lighter beneath, serrate, and glabrous or minutely hairy. The flowers are borne in male and female catkins, with the female developing into seed cones.
Birch bark has been used as an astringent, diuretic, and diaphoretic. The leaf tea made by infusion is said to eliminate gravel, and dissolve kidney stones when taken daily for a period of time (1-1 1/2 cups per day). It can also be used as a wash or bath additive for skin problems.
A decoction of the leaves is sometimes recommended for baldness. For problems with sleeping, a decoction can be used before going to bed as a mild sedative. For chronic or severe skin conditions, use a decoction of birch bark as a wash or bath additive.
The inner bark contains an oil which is sometimes substituted for wintergreen in liniments.
