Birch trees are so widespread that many people don’t even think about their importance in our lives. Due to the special composition of the plant’s active substances and its wide range of applications in households, folk medicine, cosmetics and its value, birch raw material could be called the Lithuanian tea tree.
Birch leaves(Folia Betulae) and buds(Gemmae Betulae) are used for teas. Birch leaf tea has an astringent, bitter taste, and is therefore more palatable when other aromatic herbs are added. It combines particularly well with the cooling taste of peppermint. Birch buds contain 5-8 % essential oil, which contains betulol, betulene, betulinic acid, alkaloids (0,1 %), flavonoids (kaempferol, quercetin, apigenin, apigenin, isoramnetin, etc.), fatty acids (43,78 %), resinoids and organic acids. The leaves contain flavonoids (rutin, avicularin, hyperoside, etc.), saponins (3,2 %), butyl ester of betuloretic acid, pyrocatechins of the group of tannic substances (5 to 9 %), vitamins C, E, PP, carotene, coumarin (0,09 %), sugar, resins.
Birch leaf infusion is used to treat urine for swellings caused by heart failure. Birch bud infusion should not be used to stimulate urinary excretion in cases of kidney failure, as the resinous substances in the raw material irritate the renal parenchymal tissue. It also has a bilious, antimicrobial and expectorant effect, and is used to treat cholecystitis, bronchitis, tracheitis and pharyngitis.
Birch sap is a valuable drink. It is rich in minerals that boost metabolism. It is suitable for lung diseases such as bronchitis and pulmonary tuberculosis. Drink 1 glass 2-3 times a day. Juice is perishable, so keep it tightly sealed in a cool place.
Birch leaves are widely used medicinally. They are used to make an infusion: to stimulate urine and sweat. Folk medicine recommends using the leaves collected in spring to relieve nerve pains.
List of references used
- Butkus, V., et. al. Small forest treasures. Vilnius: Mokslas 1987.
- Čekauskaitė, L. Nature’s medicine cabinet. Kaunas: Spindulys, 2003.
- Kaunienė, V.; Kaunas, E. Medicinal plants. Handbook. Kaunas: Varpas, 1991.
- Obelevičius, K; Petkevičiūtė, S; E. Šeinauskienė, E. Handbook of spice plants and their uses. Kaunas: Lututė, 2011.
- Ragažinskienė, O.; Rimkienė, S.; Sasnauskas, V. Encyclopaedia of medicinal plants. Kaunas: Lututė, 2005.
