Birch

(Betula pendula Roth, Betulaceae)

Also called: Bouleau, Common Birch, European Birch, White Birch.

Description: Tree, up to 30m (98ft) high, with white bark marked with black patches.
Branches often pendulous, when young bearing many minute rough and resinous scaly glands.
Free from hairs (in some allied species the branches are downy and not scaly).
Leaves more or less triangular, the angles of the base being somewhat rounded (distinction from allied species), 4-7cm (1.5-2.75in) long with serrately toothed margin.
Taste of leaf: bitter, slightly aromatic.

Part Used: Young dried leaves.

Habitat and Collection: Widespread in northern and central Europe and in mountainous areas of southern Europe; common in woods and copses throughout Britain.
Leaves are collected in early summer, not more than 1-2 months after they have opened.
They are dried in the shade at not greater than 40°C (104';F).

Constituents and Action: Volatile oil, resin, a saponin, a flavonoid. Used as a diuretic which does not irritate the kidneys. They have a mild antiseptic action.

Usage: Internally as a tisane (pour 1 litre (1.75 pt) of boiling water on 1-2 tablespoonfuls of chopped leaves and allow to stand -the addition of 1g (0.04 oz) of bicarbonate of soda increases the efficacy of the tisane) for all forms of urinary insufficiency, especially for dropsy.
Also used for rheumatism, gout and infections of the urinary tract.