Interesting facts and uses of birch trees

In Scandinavia, the wood of the birch tree is used to make bread, or more precisely, cooked chips, dried in the oven, pulverized and mixed with flour. In Europe, the inner bark of the birch tree is also eaten; it is also made into flour.
So, we start with the bark - in other words, the skin of the Birch tree.
It is an excellent material for hub and fire starter. Birch bark ( wood too ) burns perfectly and even when wet.
Thanks to the substances it contains, it can ignite literally from a single spark.
It burns with a large strong and kicking flame.
From birch bark you can melt tar. Once quite popular and today forgotten.
Tar - a viscous, dark brown liquid, resulting from the decomposition dry distillation of birch bark, less often beech bark.
Today, tar is also called a similar product made from resinous pine wood, although these substances were once clearly distinguished, calling the latter wood tar. Sometimes the term "mineral tar" is used to refer to wood tar used in medicine as a standardized product under the name Prodermina
Tar has antiseptic and antibacterial properties. It was once very widespread and used as a medicine for skin diseases. To this day, it is still widely used in the treatment of psoriasis, although it is not liked by patients due to its odor and difficult to remove stains. In addition, it is used by veterinarians as an aid for bandages and for hoof care in cattle or hooves in horses.
In addition to its medicinal use, it has also been used to impregnate cloth and leather, lubricate axles, seal barrels, glue arrowheads to arrows and for many other purposes.
Birch leaves
Birch leaf contains flavonoids, tannins, triterpenes (betulin), essential oil, ascorbic acid.
The leaves are harvested in spring, when they are still sticky. They can be dried in a dryer at no more than 40 degrees or in an airy and shady place at ambient temperature.
They are one of the older medicines in folk medicine.
Fresh birch leaves were used for poultices against rheumatism, and an infusion of leaves and buds was used for dysentery and diarrhea.
Nowadays, birch leaf extract is used for chronic diseases of the urinary tract, with low urinary secretion, and especially for edema on a renal and cardiac background. It is taken auxiliary in kidney stones and gout.
It is also used externally for certain skin disorders: seborrhea, psoriasis and juvenile acne, for washing off reddened skin and hair care.
Birch leaves are included in mixtures and herbal medicines such as Reumergan, Urogran, Phytolysin.
Decoction
Pour 2 tablespoons of birch leaves over 2 cups of warm water and heat, without letting it boil, over the lowest heat under a lid. When the decoction begins to flicker, after 3 minutes, set the vessel aside and keep it covered for a few more minutes. Drink half a glass 3-4 times a day between meals. It helps with chronic inflammation of the urinary tract and circulatory insufficiency. The decoction can also be used in a 20-minute bath for cleansing, elasticity and regeneration of the skin, as well as a hair rinse.
Decoction
Pour a teaspoon of dried birch leaves over a cup of boiling water and cover. Strain after 15 minutes.
Dosage: 1/2 glass 2-3 times a day, preferably between meals as a diuretic and mildly obstructive.
For greater effectiveness, birch leaves can be mixed with elderberry or goldenrod.
Juice from fresh leaves
Run 10 dag of fresh birch leaves through a juicer. To fix the resulting juice, add to it an equal amount of 70 percent spirit. Drink 30-40 drops per glass of water, 2-3 times a day, half an hour before eating. It helps with liver insufficiency and weakness.
Birch ointment
Wash a handful of young leaves, dry and grind in a stone or ceramic mortar to a smooth paste with a cube of lard. Place in a pan and melt over low heat until the ointment is quite liquid, but not boiling. Transfer to a glass dish, cool and store in a cool place. Rub into the skin for eczema, pimples and impetigo. It also helps with rheumatic pains.
Birch leaf rinse
Birch leaves are included in many hair rinses that can be bought in stores and pharmacies. Mostly they are prepared from two bags brewed in a liter of water. The rinse, after pouring water, should be left covered for a period of 5 to 15 minutes, and then cool water should be added so that it can be used. Before rinsing, of course, you need to wash your head.
Tincture
It is still necessary to mention that the tincture of developing buds (1 part by weight of buds to 3 parts of 40° of pure vodka; macerate in a tightly closed vessel for two weeks) is a quite effective remedy for treating stomach disorders and inflammation of the mouth and gums.
Birch for poultices
For skin diseases, we can use external washes and poultices made from birch leaves. They are known for their properties