Birch

Medicinal properties and application recipes birch

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Description birch

Birch is a tree that reaches approximately 45 meters in height, the girth of the trunk up to 150 cm. Birch belongs to the family of birch and deciduous tree species, it has more than a hundred species. This tree is more common in the Northern hemisphere. Of the many Chronicles we know that in ancient times, when the Slavs seriously believed in water, forest and sky spirits, they had only one goddess, her name was Keeper. She was the mother of all the wealth on earth and spirits, and worshipped her as the sacred white tree – it was birch. Since that time birch came to be called the tree of life. Almost all components of the birch trees find their use in the recipes of traditional medicine (buds, birch SAP, bark, young leaves, birch fungus, activated charcoal and birch tar). But I used birch bark and wood.

In the second half of March and the first half of April is the SAP of the birch, this period lasts approximately 10 days. Birch SAP is very useful, and in this period it is necessary to drink, as it rejuvenates the body, destroys urinary stones, stimulates the metabolism, removes worms. In addition, birch juice normalizes the acidity, it has an excellent diuretic effect, it will be a good option for gout, arthritis, a wonderful helper in the cold.

The roots of the birch

The root system of birch is very powerful, depending on growing conditions and species, it may be superficial, but more common birch tree with roots that go deep into the obliquely. The taproot of the seedling is very quickly dies, but the roots at the sides, are surging ahead and have a rich and subtle pochkovidnye roots.

The roots of the birches, located superficially, at the expense of what they need periodic watering. Often on a tree trunk or root collar of the cap is formed, it can appear on all breeds of wood, for example aspen, alder, pine, oak, but most often it can be found on the birch. Cap is a growth with a dense wood, even thicker than the wood of the tree.

Once the water gets to the roots of birch, starch reserves, which are formed in the stem and roots turn into sugar, then in water it dissolves and wood vessels ascends to the kidneys. Before began to blossom sticky leaves, birch SAP appears which is called the "weeping birch".

Medicinal properties of birch

As we have said, birch SAP, collected in early spring, is very useful: it has a tonic effect. In food it is used three times per day 1-2 cups for 1.5 months. Birch buds contain essential oil, flavonoids, resinous substances, phytoncides. The kidneys have a diaphoretic, diuretic, cholagogue, expectorant, antiseptic, antiviral, anti-inflammatory and antifungal activity.

In folk medicine, birch buds are used as krovoochishchajushchee and diaphoretic, used for baths, poultices and compresses for rheumatism, joint pain, gout, acne and skin rashes, bedsores, burns and eczema. For upset stomach and cramps helps the infusion of birch buds.

Planting birch

When planting birch trees distance between trees should be at least four meters. Birch likes the depth of the root collar. Soil mix should consist of peat, leaf soil and sand. But the best option would be drainage of sand with a thickness of about 15 centimeters.

Planting is done in early spring in the age of the plant not older than seven years, and more adults are planted in the winter time with frozen lumpy. Before the leaves appeared, that is, in the early spring and in late spring, birch, feed in one bucket, take one pound of mullein, ten grams of urea, and about 15 grams of ammonium nitrate. Birch needs watering during planting and four days after.

The use of birch in folk medicine

For medical purposes using young leaves, bark, coal, buds, birch SAP, tar. To dry the buds as possible in the open air and in a dryer, but at temperatures above 30 degrees, use them within two years. The leaves should be collected only in may, during the flowering period of birch when they're sticky and fragrant. As well as the buds to dry them to the outdoors, but only in the shade, period of use, too, is two years. Birch SAP is harvested only those trees which are subject to cutting down, as all manner of violations of the bark hurt the tree. Coal and tar produced from wood. Also used propolis is a substance that bees get, processing of allocating the kidneys of the tree.

Recipes from birch

A decoction of birch buds can be prepared from 10 grams of product in 200 milliliters of water, on low heat it should be boiled for 30 minutes, cool 10 minutes and strain through a strainer. To use inside the toolrecommended 3-4 times daily for one big spoon. Resin and essential oil, contained in birch buds, have not only diuretic, but also disinfectant, expectorant action.

Of birch leaves, too, can make a decoction. For that 30 grams of leaves need to be dipped in 400 milliliters of water and put for 15 minutes on low heat after you need to add a quarter teaspoon of baking soda. To apply the medication three to four times a day half a Cup. This decoction used as a diuretic and choleretic funds. And a decoction of the leaves is used as lotion for cuts and sores. For the treatment of chronic and acute eczema create a hot bath from broth of birch kidneys.

The infusion of young birch leaves is prepared as follows: 400 milliliters of chilled to 45 degrees of boiled water insist of approximately 50 grams of raw for about 5 hours. This solution is poured, squeezed leaves, then pour water and insist 6 hours. After that, the composition is required to strain and combine with the first solution. This infusion should apply 3-4 times a day half a Cup. The young leaves, but rather an infusion of them is used as a stimulating drug, it is prescribed for disorders of the nervous system, jaundice, kidney colic, as a vitamin and anti-inflammatory.

Contraindications to the use of birch

Various decoctions of the kidneys and birch leaves may not be used in food for pregnant women. Resinous substances, which are in birch buds in a certain way can irritate the renal parenchyma, so such drugs should be used with extreme caution and periodically monitor urine tests.