Botanical Index No. 1002

Sweet Birch

betula lenta

Medicinal Actions

Alterative, Analgesic, Antiinflammatory, Antioxidant, Antipyretic, Antiseptic, Aquaretic, Carminative, Counterirritant, Depurative, Diaphoretic, Diuretic, Tonic

Primary Conditions Treated

Pectoral Blood Breast Bronchosis Cancer Childbirth Cholecystosis Cold Cough Diarrhea Dysentery Dysmenorrhea Dysuria Enterosis Fever Gas Gastrosis Gonorrhea Gout Gravel Infection Inflammation Myosis Neuralgia Pain Pneumonia Pulmonosis Rheumatism Scrofula Sore Stomachache Stone UTI Water Retention

General Dosage

1–2 tbsp chopped leaf/cup water several ×/day; 2–3 g herb several ×/day; 12 g herb/day.

Safety & Contraindications

Class 1. Contraindications reported as edema due to cardiac or renal insufficiency. None reported. Warning: EO is toxic and easily absorbed through the skin. Methyl salicylate, the chemical behind the aroma, with antiinflammatory and pain-killing activities, has recently been shown to enable plants to communicate with each other.

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