| Alternative Names : Birch tar oil , birch wood oil , | | | | Extracts or teas can be made by steeping 2 to 3 g |
| black birch , chery birch , sweet birch oil, white birch. | | | | of the bark in boiling water for 10 to 15 minutes; the |
| Taxonomic Class | | | | infusion may be ingested several times daily. |
| Betulaceae | | | | Adverse Reactions |
| Common Trade Names | | | | Skin : acute contact dermatitis. |
| None known. | | | | Eent : allergic rhinitis. |
| Common Forms | | | | Other : cross-sensitization with other plant allergens, |
| Available as dried bark, essential oil (bark, wood), and | | | | such as celery and mugwort pollen . |
| tea. Source | | | | Interactions |
| Active compounds of birch are derived from the | | | | None reported. |
| dried bark and twigs of the birch species Betula alba | | | | Contraindications And Precautions |
| (Betula pendula), Betula verrucosa, Betula pubescens, | | | | Birch is contraindicated in pregnant or breast-feeding |
| and Betula lenta. Several birch species are native to | | | | patients. Use cautiously in patients with seasonal |
| eastern North America, Europe, and parts of Russia. | | | | allergic rhinitis or hypersensitivity to plant allergens. |
| Chemical Components | | | | Special Considerations |
| Distillation of the bark of B. alba yields betulin, birch | | | | Monitor for signs and symptoms of allergic reaction, |
| tar oil, creosol, cresol, guaiacol, isomeric hydrocarbons, | | | | particularly in patients with allergies to celery, |
| phenol, pyrocatechol, turpentine oil, and xylenol. | | | | mugwort, or other plants. |
| Avicularin, flavonoids, galactosyl-3 myricetol, | | | | Alert Caution the patient to keep birch preparations |
| glucuronyl-3 quercetol, hyperoside, and quercetin | | | | out of the reach of children. Sweet birch oil is |
| occur in the dried leaves. Sweet birch oil is produced | | | | composed of 98% methyl salicylate, which can be |
| by steam distillation of the watersoftened bark of B. | | | | fatal to children when applied topically to the skin. |
| lenta. Methyl salicylate is liberated in the process. | | | | Poisonings have been reported with as little as 4.7 g |
| Sweet birch oil is composed almost entirely of methyl | | | | of methyl salicylate applied topically. |
| salicylate. | | | | Advise the patient that topical preparations may |
| Actions | | | | irritate the skin and mucous membranes. Encourage |
| Methyl salicylate has analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and | | | | him to report new or unusual dermatologic |
| antipyretic properties. Hemostatic function in animals | | | | manifestations. |
| is affected by the thromboplastic agents presumably | | | | Advise women to avoid using birch products during |
| found in B. pendula. The mechanism of action | | | | pregnancy or when breast-feeding. |
| resembles that of human tissue thromboplastin. In | | | | Points of Interest |
| other animal studies, birch has been shown to exert | | | | Betulin is being evaluated for its antitumorigenic |
| diuretic properties . | | | | properties. |
| Reported Uses | | | | In Germany, leaves of B. pendula are used as a |
| Claims for birch include relief of headaches and other | | | | diuretic during irrigation therapy for urinary tract |
| analgesic effects as well as treatment of various | | | | infections. |
| acute and chronic skin disorders, GI disorders, and | | | | Commentary |
| kidney stones. Essential oils are claimed to act against | | | | Chemical compositions from birch possess some |
| bladder infections, gout, neuralgias, rheumatism, and | | | | interesting properties. However, until more clinical |
| tuberculous cervical lymphadenitis. In veterinary | | | | research becomes available, these agents have no |
| medicine, essential oil of birch wood has been used to | | | | role in modern medicine. The risk of hypersensitivity |
| treat various skin diseases. | | | | reactions makes OTC use a cause for concern. |
| Dosage | | | | |