Black Birch (betula lenta) is definitely one of my Top Ten favorite herbs of all time. And luckily for me, it’s ALL OVER the place here in Northeastern Connecticut!
Black birch and it’s brother, White birch (also known as the Paper Birch) can pretty much be used interchangeably medicinally speaking, so I have been trying to only work with black birch trees because the white birch are kind of endangered due to the bronze birch borer and a condition called birch dieback (Source). Birch trees can be tapped in the early spring to collect their sap (a great drink in and of itself) in order to make birch syrup, and the inner bark can be harvested to make a flour substitute, though I would only ever try this on a recently fallen or cut tree.
It is never recommended that you harvest bark directly from the trunk of the tree, as doing so could accidentally girdle it and cause it to die. Instead, ask the plant’s permission to harvest a branch or two and simply prune them off if it tells you it’s okay. I always leave an offering for the tree, such as a pinch of tobacco or kinnickkinnick, or a few pieces of my hair in way of thanks.
Do you have arthritis? Have you ever hurt yourself and desperately sought pain relief from some Ben Gay, Tiger Balm, or some of those weird patch things you can buy in the pharmacy? Do you get migraines? Sciatica?
If you answered yes to any of that, you want to know birch!
Birch bark contains methyl-salicylates, which are basically like a minty version of the same stuff willow bark has. Similar to aspirin but with a menthol kick and way stronger (in my opinion.)
I make a tincture and an infused oil with birch bark and I often save some to make tea as well.
One time I had a really bad stomach virus and was in pain all day. I went out for a walk (this was early March) and harvested a little birch bark so I could make medicine later. I kept hearing the birch trees tell me “Make tea!” So when I got home, that’s what I did.
I drank one small cup of birch bark tea and my stomach pain was gone for nearly 6 hours!
I have applied birch to the arthritis in my knuckles and knees for the past few years and on days when I can get relief from nowhere else, it definitely saves my life. Once I rub some of the oil onto my arthritic fingers, the pain is gone in about 15 seconds.
Black birch twigs are useful as fire starters, and fresh twigs can be chewed by adults as a breath freshener and by toddlers to help relieve teething pain.
I heard from a few of my customers that it does wonders for their migraines and sciatica pain. I use birch oil on my lower back and hips on those chilly, grey sky days when my arthritis acts up.
Two amazing medicinal mushrooms that I work with, Chaga and Birch Polypore, grow exclusively on birch trees, and I find a majority of turkey tail on dead birch trees as well.
Remember that my oils are meant to be applied topically whereas tinctures are taken under the tongue (or in a glass of water) and work systemically, similar to taking an aspirin.
If you want to try some of my Birch products, click below
>>> Birch Oil
>>> Birch Tincture
I’m currently still handcrafting these herbal preparations sustainably in small batches, but I may not always be doing that as part of my business.
If you want to learn exactly how I forage for and make this wonderful healing remedy, I teach you my method in my online class, Remedies From Nature!