Birch

• Uses
• Benefits
• Cautions
• Interactions
• Other Names
• References

Uses

• Birch is used for infections of the urinary tract that affect the kidney, bladder, ureters, and urethra. It is also used as a diuretic to increase urine output. Some people take birch along with lots of fluids for “irrigation therapy” to flush out the urinary tract.
• Other uses include treating arthritis, achy joints (rheumatism), loss of hair, and skin rashes. Birch is also used in “Spring cures” for “purifying the blood.”

Benefits

• Birch leaves contain chemicals which increase water loss through the urine.
• Birch is a natural pain reliever containing salicylate
  • salicylate deters the body’s production of prostaglandins that are linked to inflammation, pain, and fever.
• Birch is antibacterial and anti-inflammatory.
• Birch contains betulin.
  • betulin displays anticancer and anti-tumor properties.

Cautions

• Birch is POSSIBLY SAFE for most adults when taken by mouth or applied to the skin for short periods of time.
• Pregnancy and breast-feeding: ‘There is not enough reliable information about the safety of taking birch if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
• Allergy to wild carrot, mugwort, celery, and other spices: Birch pollen might cause allergies in people who are sensitive to wild carrot, mugwort, and celery. This has been called the “celery-carrot-mugwort-spice syndrome.” Birch pollen might also cause allergies in people who are sensitive to certain other plants, including apples, soybeans, hazelnuts, and peanuts.
• High blood pressure: There is some concern that birch leaf might increase the amount of salt (sodium) that the body retains, and this can make high blood pressure worse.

Interactions

Minor Interaction Be watchful with this combination:

• Water pills (Diuretic drugs) interacts with BIRCH: Birch seems to work like “water pills” by causing the body to lose water. Taking birch along with other “water pills” might cause the body to lose too much water. Losing too much water can cause you to be dizzy and your blood pressure to go too low.
  • Some “water pills” include chlorothiazide (Diuril), chlorthalidone (Thalitone), furosemide (Lasix), hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ, Hydrodiuril, Microzide), and others.

Other Names

Abedul, Arbre de Sagesse, Betula, Betula alba, Betula pendula, Betula pubescens, Betula verrucosa, Betulae Folium, Biole, Bois à Balais, Boulard, Bouleau Blanc, Bouleau Odorant, Downy Birch, Sceptre des Maîtres d’École, Silver Birch, White Birch.

References

Sources:

• WebMD, “Birch”, www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/
• http://www.anniesremedy.com/herb_detail181.php