WATERED BIRCH [(Betula verrucosa Ehrh.) Betula pendula Roth.]For medicinal purposes, buds, young leaves, birch sap, bark, chaga, as well as birch tar and activated charcoal are used. The collection of buds should be carried out only in cutting areas and in places of mass felling starting from February. It is best to collect them in early spring, during the sap flow, when the buds are swollen, but not bloomed (before the scales at the top of the bud open). Branches cut in winter are tied into bundles, heated in the sun to make the buds swell, and threshed. Dry in the open air or in dryers at a temperature of 25-30°C. If the harvesting of the kidneys is carried out during sap flow, they are torn off or threshed immediately. The shelf life of the kidneys is 2 years. Propolis is a complex biological product that is obtained by bees by processing the secretions of the axillary buds of silver birch and, to a lesser extent, aspen and poplar. The leaves are harvested in May, during the flowering of birch, when they are sticky and fragrant. Dry them outdoors in the shade. The shelf life of raw materials (leaves) is 2 years. Birch sap is harvested during sap flow from trees to be felled, since all kinds of bark disturbances harm the birch. Chaga can be harvested at any time of the year from living trees. The mushroom is cut down with an ax, a billhook under the base, the loose part is cleaned off, the bark, wood, birch bark are separated, chopped into pieces of 3-10 cm and dried in summer in attics, under a canopy, in well-ventilated rooms, spreading in a thin layer, periodically turning over, in autumn and winter in dryers, ovens, ovens at temperatures not exceeding 60°C. The dried mushroom is very hard, dark brown with small yellow veins, odorless, bitter taste. The shelf life of chaga is 2 years. Store in a ventilated area. It should be remembered that at home, raw materials often deteriorate, they must be protected from dampness. Outgrowths from dry and drying trees or large, old, crumbling, formed at the base of the trunk and having a black color throughout their thickness are unsuitable. Fr.)] oval or rounded, pitted with many cracks, black on the outside, brown or dark brown on the inside, with yellowish streaks at the base. It settles on the trunks of living birches, less often on alder, mountain ash, beech. Reaches 0.5 m in diameter and up to 2 kg of weight. If chaga spores are artificially grafted onto a birch trunk, then a fungus begins to develop inside, and after 4 years an outgrowth appears on the bark. The growth of chaga under favorable conditions can last 10-15 years or more. The real tinder fungus [Fomes fomentarius (Fr.)] is a hoof-shaped semicircle, with a wide base, flat on the underside. The surface is covered with a hard brownish or grayish crust, smooth. It is easily removed from the tree. The false tinder fungus is hoof-shaped, convex from above, the lower part is flat. The crust is hard black-brown or grayish, the surface is velvety.
PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES
Galenic forms from birch leaves have a moderate choleretic, diaphoretic and diuretic effect. In addition, birch leaves have antiseptic and antifungal properties, act on helminths, Trichomonas and Giardia. Chaga does not have a specific effect on a cancerous tumor, however, some delay in the tumor process was noted in animals. Side and toxic effects of intravenous administration of chaga products prepared in various ways were not observed.
APPLICATIONS IN MEDICINE
Wood. The birch charcoal obtained from it in the form of Karbolen tablets is used for poisoning, food intoxication, and diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, accompanied by high acidity, fermentation, and flatulence. Birch tar is part of the ointments of Wilkinson, Konkov, Vishnevsky and others for the treatment of wounds and skin diseases. In folk medicine – for rheumatism, liver diseases and women’s diseases. Essential oil extracted from tar has diuretic and anthelmintic properties (against ascariasis). The bark is used to treat malaria, dropsy, gout and lung diseases; externally (the upper film of birch bark is applied to the lesions) – as a wound healing and disinfectant, for abscesses, boils, scabies, fungal skin diseases, hyperhidrosis. In the past, birch bark was used for bone fractures, steaming it out and applying it in a similar way to gypsum. An essential oil is obtained from the bark, which is used as an aromatic agent. Kidneys. Infusion – as a choleretic, diaphoretic, diuretic, bactericidal, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory; baths for eczema. They are widely used in folk medicine in different countries in the form of decoctions, tinctures and externally in the form of lotions and baths for diseases of the liver and bladder, kidney stones, rheumatism, gout, atherosclerosis, pulmonary tuberculosis; as an expectorant for bronchitis, tracheitis; antipyretic and astringent, for all kinds of skin diseases, for the treatment of infected wounds, bedsores and skin irritations; with cancer of the skin and uterus; as an anthelmintic. Alcohol extract promotes hair growth. Propolis (bee glue) – in the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis, stomach ulcers, respiratory diseases; externally – in the treatment of burns, tonsillitis, psoriasis, chronic eczema, neurodermatitis and chronic dermatosis, with alopecia areata. Leaves. It is used similarly to the kidneys, also as an antiscorbutic agent, for the treatment of anemia, neuroses, dysentery, jaundice, bruises and burns. Drink instead of chaga. Juice – as a gentle tonic, choleretic and antiscorbutic, also for anemia, neurosis, dysentery, jaundice, diseases of the kidneys and bladder (reduces the formation of urinary stones). Decoction wash the head to strengthen the hair. In Bulgaria – as a diuretic for kidney diseases, rheumatism, atherosclerosis, eczema and ringworm. In France, infusion – as a stimulant and sedative, also with jaundice, renal colic, inflammation of the bladder. In Poland, the infusion is used for dropsy, neurosis, inflammation of the kidneys and bladder. In Austria and Germany – as a diuretic and choleretic. Birch leaves and buds are part of various collections of medicinal plants. Inflorescences (earrings). Tincture from male (staminate) inflorescences – for heart diseases, tuberculosis, stomach ulcers, gastritis and eczema, boils and anemia. Juice. The drug “Biomos” – for wound healing and treatment of burns, has an antiphlogistic and antisclerotic effect. General tonic and stimulant. It is used for vitamin deficiencies, anemia, tuberculosis, uterine cancer, colds and skin diseases, kidney stones, bladder and liver stones, scrofula, gout, arthritis, rheumatism and edema, venereal diseases, for the prevention of dental caries; as a diuretic and anthelmintic agent. Syrup. It is prescribed instead of glucose for dysentery and scarlet fever patients. Chaga. It is used mainly as a symptomatic remedy for peptic ulcer, gastritis, malignant tumors, especially for cancer of the stomach, lungs and other organs, when radiation therapy and surgery are not indicated. Chaga preparations are used in dentistry for the treatment of periodontal disease (introduced into the gum pockets, taken orally). Semi-dense chaga extract – befungin (Befunginum) – has a positive effect on metabolic processes, promotes scarring of stomach and duodenal ulcers. The drug is also used for chronic gastritis and dyskinesia of the gastrointestinal tract with symptoms of atony. It is prescribed instead of glucose for dysentery and scarlet fever patients. Chaga. It is used mainly as a symptomatic remedy for peptic ulcer, gastritis, malignant tumors, especially for cancer of the stomach, lungs and other organs, when radiation therapy and surgery are not indicated. Chaga preparations are used in dentistry for the treatment of periodontal disease (introduced into the gum pockets, taken orally). Semi-dense chaga extract – befungin (Befunginum) – has a positive effect on metabolic processes, promotes scarring of stomach and duodenal ulcers. The drug is also used for chronic gastritis and dyskinesia of the gastrointestinal tract with symptoms of atony. It is prescribed instead of glucose for dysentery and scarlet fever patients. Chaga. It is used mainly as a symptomatic remedy for peptic ulcer, gastritis, malignant tumors, especially for cancer of the stomach, lungs and other organs, when radiation therapy and surgery are not indicated. Chaga preparations are used in dentistry for the treatment of periodontal disease (introduced into the gum pockets, taken orally). Semi-dense chaga extract – befungin (Befunginum) – has a positive effect on metabolic processes, promotes scarring of stomach and duodenal ulcers. The drug is also used for chronic gastritis and dyskinesia of the gastrointestinal tract with symptoms of atony. malignant tumors, especially in cancer of the stomach, lungs and other organs, when radiation therapy and surgery are not indicated. Chaga preparations are used in dentistry for the treatment of periodontal disease (introduced into the gum pockets, taken orally). Semi-dense chaga extract – befungin (Befunginum) – has a positive effect on metabolic processes, promotes scarring of stomach and duodenal ulcers. The drug is also used for chronic gastritis and dyskinesia of the gastrointestinal tract with symptoms of atony. malignant tumors, especially in cancer of the stomach, lungs and other organs, when radiation therapy and surgery are not indicated. Chaga preparations are used in dentistry for the treatment of periodontal disease (introduced into the gum pockets, taken orally). Semi-dense chaga extract – befungin (Befunginum) – has a positive effect on metabolic processes, promotes scarring of stomach and duodenal ulcers. The drug is also used for chronic gastritis and dyskinesia of the gastrointestinal tract with symptoms of atony. Semi-dense chaga extract – befungin (Befunginum) – has a positive effect on metabolic processes, promotes scarring of stomach and duodenal ulcers. The drug is also used for chronic gastritis and dyskinesia of the gastrointestinal tract with symptoms of atony. Semi-dense chaga extract – befungin (Befunginum) – has a positive effect on metabolic processes, promotes scarring of stomach and duodenal ulcers. The drug is also used for chronic gastritis and dyskinesia of the gastrointestinal tract with symptoms of atony.
DOSAGE FORMS, METHOD OF APPLICATION AND DOSES
Birch leaf infusion (Infusum folii Betulae): 2 teaspoons of chopped raw materials are poured into 200 ml of boiling water and infused for 30 minutes. After cooling, filter through gauze, add sodium bicarbonate at the tip of a teaspoon and drink 3-4 times every day with an interval of 3-4 hours. . Assign 1 teaspoon or 1 tablespoon per reception as a choleretic and diuretic. Externally used for rubbing and compresses. A decoction of birch buds (Decoctum Gemmarum Betulae): prepared at the rate of 10 g per 200 ml of water, boiled for 30 minutes, cooled for 10 minutes and filtered through cheesecloth. Take 1 tablespoon 3-4 times every day. Infusion of birch buds (Infusum Gemmarum Betulae): 10 g (1/2 tablespoon) of the raw material is placed in an enamel bowl, poured into 200 ml of hot water, covered with a lid and heated in boiling water (in a water bath) for 15 minutes, cooled for 45 minutes at room temperature, filtered, the remaining raw material is squeezed out . The volume of the resulting infusion is adjusted with boiled water to 200 ml. Store in a cool place for no more than 2 days. Take 1/3 – 1/2 cup 2-3 times every day in a warm form 10-15 minutes before meals as a diuretic for edema of cardiac origin, as a choleretic agent for diseases of the liver and biliary tract. Birch buds (Gemmae Betulae) are produced in packs and plastic bags of 100 g. Stored in a cool, dry place. Birch sap (Succus Betulae) is collected in the spring. Take only fresh juice 1 cup 2-3 times every day for lung diseases, bronchitis, bronchiectasis, tuberculosis as a general tonic. The course of treatment is 1-1.5 months. Carbolenum (Carbolenum) – activated birch charcoal – is available in the form of granules and tablets. Take with flatulence, colitis, increased acidity of gastric juice, 1-2 tablets 3-4 times every day. Carbolene is also used for poisoning with heavy metals, alkaloids, and food poisoning (sausage poisons, mushrooms). Assign 20-30 g per reception in the form of a suspension in water or in the following composition: activated carbon – 2 parts, tannin and magnesium oxide – 1 part each. 2 tablespoons of the mixture are poured into a glass of warm water at a time. Activated charcoal tablets “KM” (Tabulettae Carbonis activati KM) are black tablets containing activated charcoal 0.2 g, white clay 0.0455 g, sodium carboxymethylcellulose 0, 0045 Carboxymethylcellulose doubles the adsorbing activity of coal, and white clay improves the disintegration of tablets when they enter the stomach. Indications for use are the same as for activated charcoal. Take 2-4 times every day, 1.0-1.5 g (4-6 tablets) per dose 1.5-2 hours after eating. Drink 1/2 glass of water. To speed up the action, especially in case of poisoning, the tablets can be crushed. The course of treatment is 7-14 days. Release form: tablets weighing 0.25 g, in a pack of 10 pcs. Store in a dry place. Aeropax (Aeropax) – activated carbon made in Denmark. It has the ability to adsorb gases with increased gas formation in the gastrointestinal tract in the presence of various inflammatory processes in it. Non-toxic, not absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract. It is used for aerophagia, postoperative bloating, flatulence with gastritis and diverticulitis, increased gas formation after gastroscopy and X-ray examination of the gastrointestinal tract, intestinal colic due to severe flatulence. Take 1 tablet 3 times every day after meals. On the eve of a gastroscopic or X-ray examination of the gastrointestinal tract, 1 tablet is prescribed 4 times every day. Tablets should be chewed. An infusion of birch mushroom chaga (Infusum innonotus obliquus) is prepared as follows: the mushroom is washed with water, then poured with boiled water so that the body of the fungus is immersed in water, and infused for 4-5 hours. through a grinder. The water in which the mushroom was soaked is used for infusion. One part of the chopped mushroom is poured into 5 parts (by volume) of water, remaining after soaking the mushroom, heated to 50°C. Infuse for 48 hours, drain the water, squeeze out the sediment through several layers of gauze. The resulting thick liquid is brought to the original volume with boiled water. The prepared infusion can be stored for 3-4 days. For tumors, adults are prescribed at least 3 glasses throughout the day in fractional portions. Chaga infusion is non-toxic, but it is limited in diseases accompanied by fluid retention in the body. In these cases, the infusion of the fungus can be used instead of tea and other drinks, or you can use an infusion of double strength (2 parts by volume of the fungus to 5 parts of water). A thick extract of the birch fungus chaga is prescribed orally; the daily dose is 3.5 g. The extract is prepared for admission for 3 days as follows: the bottle with the extract is heated, immersing it in water with a temperature of 60-70 ° C (previously remove the cork from the bottle); 2 teaspoons of the extract are diluted in 3/4 cup of heated boiled water. Take 1 tablespoon 3 times every day 30 minutes before meals. Chaga tablets are also available. Take 1 tablet 4 times every day before meals. Treatment with chaga products is carried out for a long time – courses of 3-5 months with breaks of 7-10 days. Birch tar (Pix liquida Betulae) is obtained from wood by dry distillation. It consists of phenol, cresols, dioxybenzenes, guaiacol and other compounds of this series. Tar has antimicrobial, insecticidal and local irritant properties. Apply in the form of 10-30% ointments, liniments, sulfur-tar soap for parasitic fungal diseases of the skin, eczema, scaly. With prolonged use of tar, skin irritation may occur. Vishnevsky ointment, balsamic liniment according to A.V. Vishnevsky (Linimentum balsamicum Wishnevsky). Ingredients: tar 3 parts, xeroform 3 parts, castor oil 94 parts. Applied for wounds, long-term non-healing trophic ulcers of various etiologies, with bedsores. When applied to the affected areas, the ointment slightly irritates tissue receptors, improves nutrition and promotes regeneration. Wilkinson’s ointment (Unguentum Wilkinsoni). Ingredients: calcium carbonate 10 parts, purified sulfur 15 parts, liquid tar 15 parts, naftalan ointment 30 parts, green soap 30 parts, water 4 parts. Used for scabies and fungal diseases of the skin. Ointment Konkov (Unguentum Koncovi) with tar. Ingredients: ethacridine 0.3 g, fish oil 33.5, bee honey 62, birch tar 3 g, distilled water up to 100 ml. Applied externally for sluggish healing wounds, pyoderma. ♦ Infusion of birch leaves: 50 g of raw materials are infused in 400 ml of boiled water cooled to 40-50 ° C for 4-5 hours. and combined with the first infusion. Take 1/4 cup 3-4 times every day.♦ Decoction of birch leaves: boil 20-30 g of raw materials in 400 ml of water for 15-20 minutes on low heat, then add 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda. Take 1/2 cup 3 times every day.♦ Juice of leaves (collected in the first half of summer) take 1-2 tablespoons with honey 3 times every day with meals (for jaundice 100-200 ml with a spoonful of honey).♦ Vitamin drink from birch leaves: 100 g of well-washed and chopped young leaves are poured into 500 ml of hot water, infused for 3-4 hours, filtered through 2 layers of gauze, add salt, sugar, citric acid to taste and drink 200 ml 2-3 times every day before meals. ♦ Propolis infusion: put 100 g of propolis in the refrigerator and cool well. Then finely crumble with a knife, pour into a bottle and pour 500 ml of water at room temperature. Insist 7 days, shaking several times every day. The resulting infusion is defended, applied internally and externally. In this infusion, all the active ingredients of propolis are preserved. ♦ Birch bark powder: sprinkle them with wounds and ulcers. ♦ Fresh or dried leaves are steamed in boiling water and applied to sore spots for rheumatism, gout. 10 minutes and make inhalations for colds, coughs, hoarseness. CONTRAINDICATIONS AND POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS: birch buds should be used with caution (under the control of urine tests), since resinous substances irritate the renal parenchyma. It is not recommended to take them during pregnancy. With long-term continuous use of chaga products, some patients experience a high excitability of the autonomic nervous system. These phenomena gradually disappear when the dose is reduced or the product is discontinued. When treating with chaga, it is necessary to limit or exclude the use of spicy, spicy dishes, canned food, smoked meats, meat, fats, especially margarine; you can not prescribe antibiotics, intravenous administration of glucose. With long-term continuous use of chaga products, some patients have a high excitability of the autonomic nervous system. These phenomena gradually disappear when the dose is reduced or the product is discontinued. When treating with chaga, it is necessary to limit or exclude the use of spicy, spicy dishes, canned food, smoked meats, meat, fats, especially margarine; you can not prescribe antibiotics, intravenous administration of glucose. With long-term continuous use of chaga products, some patients have a high excitability of the autonomic nervous system. These phenomena gradually disappear when the dose is reduced or the product is discontinued. When treating with chaga, it is necessary to limit or exclude the use of spicy, spicy dishes, canned food, smoked meats, meat, fats, especially margarine; you can not prescribe antibiotics, intravenous administration of glucose.
APPLICATIONS IN OTHER FIELDS
Wood is a valuable building material; used for the production of furniture, goes to small crafts, well polished. In Sweden, homemade beer is made from the second layer of wood. Ash from wood contains up to 30 trace elements, is a valuable fertilizer and a means for spraying plants from pests. Birch tar in veterinary medicine is used to treat wounds and fungal diseases, with colic, as an anthelmintic, and in perfumery – to obtain tar soap and water. From the roots and leaves of birch, with the addition of chalk and alum, green paint is obtained. With chromium, silk is dyed with this dye in a yellow-green color, and with iron – in a dirty green. Branches are used on brooms and brooms. Feed for farm animals. An essential oil is obtained from the bark, which is used as an aromatic agent, and a yellow dye for wool is also mined. The bark is used to make baskets, bags and other crafts. Kidneys are used in veterinary medicine as an infusion – as a diuretic, diaphoretic and antispasmodic and externally – as an analgesic for abscesses, phlegmon and other inflammatory processes. Essential oil from the kidneys – in the alcoholic beverage industry as an aromatic. Leaves dye wool, silk and cotton yellow, golden yellow and brown black. Juice – for obtaining kvass, syrup, vinegar, wine, in confectionery, in the production of yeast that replaces melos – fodder molasses. It is used in perfumery and cosmetics, for feeding bees. Increases milk yield. For a day, one tree gives 2.5 – 13.5 liters of juice, for a season – from 24 to 129 liters, individual specimens – up to 425 liters. More than 5 million liters of juice are harvested annually in Ukraine. Honey and perganos. Decorative, park tree. Beautiful in groups, alleys, groves. She planted streets, boulevards, ponds, used for roadside plantings. It is especially beautiful in a mixture with conifers in street plantings.
TASTY TIPS
Birch salad.
Rinse young leaves (100 g) thoroughly with cold water, pour over with boiling water, cut into pieces. Add sour cream (mayonnaise, vegetable oil) (50 g) or tomato sauce (25 g), salt (to taste).
Birch sap.
In the resulting juice, add citric acid, sugar (to taste). Pour into pre-prepared jars, pasteurize in boiling water, roll up.
Birch kvass.
Pour juice into wooden barrels, dip burnt dried crusts of rye bread into it in gauze bags. After the start of fermentation, take out the bread crusts, add oak bark, cherry branches and leaves, dill. Store in a cold place.
Birch drink.
Add sugar, citric acid or other berry juice to birch sap to taste, carbonate.
Cocktail “Marka”.
Mix birch sap (50 ml), mint syrup (25 ml), Tarragon (75 ml). Cool down.
Cocktail “Rubin”.
Add cinnamon (0.1 g), cloves (0.1 g), ginger (0.1 g), citric acid (0.1 g) to hot vanilla syrup (20 ml) and insist, covering the pan with a lid, for 1 hour, then strain. Mix the syrup with pomegranate (50 ml) and birch (100 ml) juices and cool. Pour the mixture into a tall glass and garnish with whipped protein and pomegranate seeds (8 g).
Cocktail “Northern Star”.
Mix birch sap (75 ml) and mint syrup (25 ml). Add sparkling water (50 ml) to serving dish.