Birch has always been famous for its inimitable, unique beauty, as well as its huge healing potential. Separate parts: bark, branches, leaves, tree sap, are actively used in traditional traditional medicine for the treatment of various diseases. Let us consider in more detail what birch buds are, what quality characteristics they possess.
Birch buds - description, composition, useful properties
The buds are located directly on the branches of the tree, contain essential balsamic oils, betulen, betulol, antioxidants, useful fatty acid, carotene, vitamins PP and C, flavonoids, resinous, tannins.
Saponin, which is part of the plant element, improves the outflow of urine and bile, coumarin, alkaloids dilate the heart vessels, stimulate, soothe nervous system are involved in metabolic processes. Phytoncides destroy pathogenic bacteria act as a natural antiseptic.
Prepare raw materials for cooking medicines need away from city highways, industrial zones, agricultural enterprises. The optimal collection period is from mid-January to April. The elements that have not opened up, but have already swollen quite strongly, have the greatest benefit.
You can collect shoots along with branches. It is recommended to dry them at low temperatures (no more than 30℃) in a special dryer, in a well-ventilated area (the so-called natural drying), away from direct sunlight. At higher temperatures, they can germinate, which is undesirable.
It is better to store dried plants in paper bags, glass containers, fabric bags.
The use of birch buds in folk medicine
In the field of folk therapy, alcohol, oil tinctures, medicinal ointments, decoctions, and teas are prepared from them. Herbal decoction is effective for the first manifestations of sore throat, beriberi. It is used to improve the mucosa with stomatitis, periodontal disease, gingivitis. It relieves puffiness well, heals wounds, abrasions, bedsores.
Oil tincture based on shoots helps with, the ointment has a beneficial effect on the joints, relieves pain in rheumatism. Raw materials can be used for the manufacture of cosmetic masks, added to hair shampoos.
Birch buds and leaves - is it possible for a child?
For the treatment of children, it is allowed to use infusions, decoctions in the format of rinses, baths, rubdowns for skin diseases, diseases of the upper respiratory tract. Internal intake of drugs based on birch buds is allowed only after prior consultation with the doctor.
Remember! Therapy with birch buds does not exclude, does not replace the usual medical treatment.
Birch has gained well-deserved fame among experts in alternative medicine. In particular, we are talking about her kidneys. This tool with a large number of components is characterized by a wide spectrum of action. Therefore, for lovers of folk recipes, it is important to correctly use birch buds, as well as to know them. medicinal properties and contraindications.
The list of biologically active components in the composition of birch buds includes a lot of vitamins and useful substances. However, essential oils are considered the main component. For this reason, the kidneys are harvested in the spring, namely from late April to early May. At this time, the concentration of oils is the highest.
For the effective use of birch buds, it is important to first collect them correctly, if this is done on your own. The branch must be very carefully cut and sent to dry. Once the collection has dried up, you can separate the kidneys. home remedy keeps well in a paper bag for several years.
In addition to essential oils, the product is rich in phytoncides, tannins, organic acids, saponins, as well as resins and vitamins. All this outstanding set of substances makes birch buds unique. It is important to consider their medicinal properties and contraindications for use before starting treatment, no matter what health problems they are talking about.
Variety of healing qualities
Not only folk, but also professional medicine has long recognized the amazing healing action birch buds. The following properties of the product are distinguished:
- anti-inflammatory;
- healing;
- antispasmodic;
- diuretic;
- expectorant;
- anthelmintic;
- choleretic;
- antitumor;
- antibacterial.
A wide range of properties has made birch buds a universal component used in the treatment and prevention of a number of diseases. Means based on a natural product are effective for:
- diseases of the urinary system;
- colds;
- use as an antipyretic;
- edema caused by heart disease;
- use for blood purification;
- arthrosis and arthritis;
- taken as an antispasmodic;
- deficiency of vitamins in the body;
- metabolic disorders;
- diseases of the stomach;
- inflammatory processes in the respiratory tract and other health problems.
Today, on the pharmacy shelves, you can find a lot of products based on birch buds. However, folk recipes with this product, which allow you to treat an impressive number of diseases, are still enjoying unprecedented success. It is possible to list specific ways of healing birch buds for a long time, we will give only a few examples.
Compositions based on natural medicines are used in such common cases:
- to combat atherosclerosis, they drink a vegetable decoction in a tablespoon three times a day;
- people over 50 years of age, as a prevention of problems with blood vessels and the heart, it is recommended to drink the infusion daily, dividing half a liter of the product into three parts;
- for colds, alcohol tincture, which is taken on a teaspoon three times a day, has demonstrated particular effectiveness until complete recovery;
- rinsing with tincture copes with diseases of the oral cavity, eliminates inflammation of the gums and pain;
- alcohol tincture is used for rubbing with rheumatism, sciatica, arthritis and inflammation of the joints;
- decoctions and infusions can be drunk for a long period as a general tonic, as well as to restore vitamin balance.
How to prepare a home remedy?
To prepare a herbal infusion, you need to pour 2 tbsp. l. birch buds 0.5 l of boiling water, then insist 6-7 hours. The filtered liquid is ready for further use.
To prepare a decoction, you will need 10 g of the product and a glass of water. After boiling the mixture over low heat for 10 minutes, add another glass of warm water. Strain the decoction before drinking.
Alcohol tincture on birch buds enjoys particular success. Take a small amount of birch product and alcohol, then mix the components in a 1:5 ratio. The remedy is infused for 7 days, after which it is filtered and applied externally or internally.
Who should refrain from applying?
The abundance of biologically active components always means the versatility of the remedy, but at the same time it implies a number of contraindications. So, it is advisable not to use drugs with birch buds in such situations:
- during pregnancy and lactation;
- with allergic reactions to pollen;
- with cholelithiasis;
- with renal failure;
- with individual intolerance to the components of the product.
In the absence of contraindications, birch buds are actively used in practice by different groups of the population. The older generation prefers to collect "material" on their own, and younger people do not neglect the pharmacy option. A kidney tincture for the treatment of rheumatic pains has gained particular confidence. According to reviews, it is advisable to use tea based on this “gift from a birch” in the spring as a medicine against beriberi. Also, adherents of home recipes note the effectiveness of such a remedy for combating drowsiness and depression.
Natural remedies to this day attract attention and enjoy popular love. Nature is fraught with the most valuable resources for our health, and birch buds are undoubtedly one of them. simple recipes tinctures, infusions and decoctions based on them allow you to be treated at home without extra effort and costs.
Birch is perhaps the most sung tree in poetry and music. However, they admired not only its unusual color of the bark or dangling fluffy earrings - our ancestors knew about the value of birch leaves, sap, bark and buds. Let's talk about birch buds and their medicinal properties today.
What is rich and what is contained in the composition
- Vitamins: A, carotene, C, PP;
- minerals: magnesium, calcium, iron, copper;
- fatty acid;
- alkaloids;
- tannins;
- saponins;
- phytoncides;
- glucose;
- resins and essential oils;
- flavonoids: hyperoside, quercetin.
Did you know? In 2001, a Faberge egg was exhibited in Germany for the first time, which, according to many versions, was made in 1917 and was intended for Maria Feodorovna, the wife of Emperor Alexander III. The egg itself is made of Karelian birch wood and is called "Birch".
What is useful, what is treated
As a medicinal raw material, the kidneys have the following properties:
- antibacterial;
- diuretic;
- choleretic;
- expectorant;
- diaphoretic;
- blood-purifying;
- vasodilating;
- painkiller;
- antiseptic;
- wound healing.
Phytoncides in the composition of the kidneys are able to destroy pathogens - these volatile substances are effective even against antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This ability is used in the treatment of intestinal infections, mastitis, peritonitis. 
Alcohol tincture on raw materials will help cleanse the body of worms. Saponins and alkaloids are involved in the metabolic processes of cells, ensure the integrity of cell membranes, and improve blood circulation.
Thanks to the action of these substances, the endocrine and reproductive systems function better, normalize hormonal background, the general tone of the body increases. The diuretic effect of the product helps to get rid of edema caused by diseases of the liver, kidneys, disorders of the lymphatic system, heart disease.
Bioflavonoids quercetin and hyperoside have a vasodilating effect, including on the coronary vessels. Substances reduce blood viscosity, lower cholesterol, strengthen the walls of blood vessels, thereby reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease.
In addition, these elements have antioxidant properties, help strengthen the immune system. Tannins, together with vitamins, help fight colds, diseases of the throat and respiratory tract, creating an unacceptable habitat for bacteria and viruses. 
Kidney-based preparations have an astringent and expectorant effect, helping to remove sputum from the lungs and bronchi. Birch medicine is also used in the treatment of the digestive system: it has an enveloping, softening effect on the irritated mucous membrane, relieving pain symptoms and helping to restore the microflora.
Wound healing and antiseptic properties are used in the treatment of skin diseases: a complex of substances in the composition accelerates the healing process, helps to clean the affected areas from microorganisms. In diseases of the joints, birch medicine is used as an anesthetic compress.
Procurement of medicinal raw materials
Ready-made raw materials can be purchased at a pharmacy, but it is more useful to collect the medicinal material yourself. In this case, you can be sure of its purity and quality. 
Where, when and how to collect
It is necessary to harvest raw materials in clean areas: away from highways, industrial zones. Collection time - from January to April, the most useful kidneys are those that are swollen, but did not have time to open. It is desirable that the day of collection was dry weather. Collecting the buds themselves is a tedious and time-consuming task, so they cut the raw materials along with part of the branches.
How to dry
The collected branches are dried in a ventilated room or in a dryer. It is not recommended to dry high temperatures: the dryer is set to a maximum of 30 ° C, no more. At high temperatures, the buds can germinate. Natural drying lasts about two to three weeks.
Where and how much can be stored
Properly dried raw materials retain their properties for up to two years, provided that they are stored in glass containers, cloth or paper bags. 
Application in traditional medicine
In folk medicine, decoctions, tinctures, tea, ointment are prepared from medicinal raw materials.
Did you know? Syrup is made from birch sap, which is not inferior in taste and useful qualities to maple. The product after evaporation is light amber in color, with a rich honey-herbaceous taste. Producing countries include the USA, Russia, Canada, Belarus and some European countries.
Alcohol tincture
Alcohol tincture is used both internally and externally.
For outdoor use
500 ml of alcohol and 100 g of dry raw materials insist twenty days. To heal wounds, decontaminate bedsores and treat skin diseases, alcohol rubbing is done. 
For internal use
Pour 20 g of kidneys with 100 ml of alcohol, leave for three weeks, strain thoroughly. For edema, liver disease, headaches, as an anthelmintic, take 20 drops, diluted with a tablespoon of water, three times a day for half an hour before meals.
Ointment
To prepare the ointment, you will need lanolin - you can buy it at a pharmacy. Dry kidneys are poured with boiling water, then filtered. Melt lanolin, add kidney extract to it and leave to cool.
After the lanolin hardens, a liquid will remain on its surface, which must be drained. The remaining mass is used as an ointment for joint pain, skin diseases (eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis).
Decoction
10 grams of raw materials are poured into a glass of water, boiled for about fifteen minutes, filtered. Rinse the throat with a decoction infectious diseases and the oral cavity with dental problems, treat colds, diseases of the upper and lower respiratory tract, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. 
Diuretic and choleretic effect helps with diseases of the liver, kidneys, pancreas. Take orally half a glass of decoction three times a day, after meals.
Tea for weight loss: myth or reality
It is impossible to lose weight with the use of birch tea alone. Tea can improve digestion and intestinal motility, speed up metabolic processes, the breakdown of fats and, accordingly, reduce their deposition.
At the same time, it is desirable to observe the correct diet (healthy food, a minimum of starchy foods, sweets, etc.), as well as lead an active lifestyle (going to the gym, doing gymnastics at home). For weight correction, the following recipes are used:
Application in home cosmetology
Vitamins, minerals and other useful elements of the composition of birch buds make them useful not only in medicine, but also in cosmetology. Kidney-based products help fight early wrinkles, inflammation and irritation on the skin, nourish the upper layers of the epidermis and saturate them with oxygen.
In industrial cosmetology, raw materials are used in the manufacture of hair care products: strengthening masks, shampoos, balms.
Hair strengthening
To strengthen the hair bag and restore damaged hair, an alcohol tincture is made. 10 grams of kidneys insist in one hundred milliliters of alcohol for about two weeks.
Before applying to the hair roots, the tincture is diluted one to ten with boiled water or a decoction of herbs (chamomile, nettle).
The medicinal properties of birch buds have been known for a long time: anti-inflammatory, diuretic, analgesic - and this is not the whole list. Birch itself is a unique plant:
in medicine and cosmetology, its leaves (young, early), buds, bark, juice, tar are used. A useful and proven remedy is propolis, a product of the processing of secretions from birch buds by bees.
Collection and harvesting of birch buds
For medical and cosmetic purposes, somewhat white, ribbed and drooping are used. From this, the healing properties of birch buds do not change. It is necessary to collect raw materials at the moment of the onset of heat, when the juice begins to circulate through the tree. Depending on the region, this is the period from the beginning - mid-February to April. At the time of harvest, the buds should not be too swollen, and the branches should not be covered with leaves. It was then that the raw materials are rich in useful trace elements. For it is necessary to cut the branches and spread them in a thin layer in a ventilated area. It can be an attic or a shed. After a while, the kidneys are stripped by running a hand along the branch. Raw materials sifted through a sieve should be stored in paper bags.
Healing properties of birch buds
Birch buds - folk recipes
- In diseases of the joints (arthritis, arthrosis, ankylosis), gout and rheumatism, a decoction of birch buds is effective. 1 tsp raw materials are poured with 200 ml of boiling water, boiled over low heat for 10 minutes, after which the broth is wrapped and infused for an hour. You need to take it after filtering 50 ml three to five times a day.
- A tincture with anti-inflammatory and strong analgesic properties is prepared from the buds of drooping birch and (speck). Incredibly effective for non-healing infected wounds and for infectious prostatitis. The method of preparation is quite simple: equal parts of crushed poplar and birch buds (total volume 1 cup) are poured into 0.5 liters of vodka and infused for 21 days. Inside, 20 drops diluted in water are taken. For external use, compresses are used on the perineal area. The course of treatment is 21 days, 7 days off.
- Ointment from birch buds is used for inflammation and pain in the joints, in the lower back, with non-healing wounds. Preparing it is troublesome, but as a result you will get a large amount of excellent painkiller and bactericidal agent, which will last for a long time. For cooking, you need 1 glass of kidneys and 0.5 kg of pork internal fat or butter. The raw materials are folded into a heat-resistant dish in layers of 2 cm, tightly closed with a lid and left overnight in the oven at 100 degrees. In the morning, the mass should be slightly cooled and filtered. The ointment is ready.
Other medicinal properties of birch
- Cleansing the body of toxins can be done with the help of wraps from young birch leaves, which are crushed to extract juice and laid out on a sheet. You can put them in cloth bags. Then the body is wrapped in a sheet or lined with filled bags. The procedure is accompanied by profuse sweating, runny nose, lacrimation.
- With dermatitis in the groin and under the arms, accompanied by itching and an unpleasant odor, a mixture of birch bark powder (bark) and lemon juice helps perfectly. After almost a week of daily use, the smell problem will be solved.
- And, of course, you should pay attention to the removal of toxins and the activation of metabolism in the body. An indispensable tool for this is birch sap or kvass prepared on its basis. Birch juice is a natural natural antioxidant.
- And for weight loss and the fight against cellulite, a bath with a birch broom is excellent. These procedures are general health and strengthening for the body.
Treatment with birch buds: contraindications
Recommendations of doctors - that's what you need to be guided by before self-medicating. Even such harmless remedies as folk recipes have side effects. For example, an infusion or decoction of birch buds can irritate the mucous membrane of the stomach and kidneys, so their long-term use is not recommended. It is strictly forbidden to use kidneys in any form for pregnant and lactating women.
The real gifts of nature are birch buds - natural healers of the soul and body, of particular interest to people who are learning to do without pharmaceuticals, replacing it with natural medicines and a healthy lifestyle.
Birch is a beautiful and graceful plant, all parts of which, from unblown buds to flowers of earrings, are endowed with healing power, and therefore are a valuable gift from nature.
Birch buds of an elongated conical shape with a blunt or pointed end. The surface is covered with tile-like scales. The length of one kidney varies from 3 to 7 mm, the width is 3 mm. The buds are brown in color, have a balsamic smell and a slightly resinous astringent taste.
Collection and preparation
You can stock up on birch buds at any pharmacy, but the maximum effect of funds from this component will be when using self-collected and prepared raw materials. Collection should be done in early spring during swelling, which occurs in early April-early May, depending on climatic conditions.
It is necessary to collect raw materials in an ecologically clean area, far from highways and manufacturing enterprises, in dry and sunny weather. The most valuable characteristics are buds, which are collected from young trees.
The kidneys should be dried in the open air, avoiding the sun, or in dryers, the temperature should not exceed 30 degrees. Dried raw materials should have a pleasant smell, dark brown color, shiny surface and bitter taste.
With long-term storage, the unique effect of valuable components is reduced, so they should be stored for no more than 2 years in a glass container or a cotton bag.
Healing properties of birch buds
Therefore, this natural, environmentally friendly raw material is popular not only among traditional healers, but also recognized by official medicine.
Application in traditional medicine
As a folk remedy, you can use birch buds by making a decoction, infusion, ointment, alcohol tincture. There are many different recipes for treating a whole range of diseases that can be made at home.
Decoctions
Recipe 1
A great way to unwind after a hard day is to drink a revitalizing tea. The tool will also help with constant drowsiness, irritability and weakness. Regular intake of the drink will perfectly energize and give a lot of positive emotions.
Ingredients:
- 2 tsp collection;
- 1 glass of drinking water.
Put the collection in an enamel bowl, pour boiling water over it and simmer for 3 minutes over low heat. Cool the drug and filter. Take 2 tablespoons 3 times a day between meals.
Recipe 2
A decoction of birch buds with a diuretic and anti-inflammatory effect.
Ingredients:
- 10 g dried kidneys;
- 200 ml of drinking water.
Boil dried kidneys in boiling water and cook for about half an hour over low heat. Then let stand for 10 minutes and filter. Drink a decoction should be 1 tablespoon 3-4 times a day. You can’t store the decoction for a long time, so you need to prepare a new portion of the kidney-based product daily.
Infusion
The healing power of the infusion can be used as a diuretic, disinfectant and expectorant. Healing infusion due to the presence of kidneys essential oil and resins are able to eliminate puffiness, reduce the level of protein in the urine and relieve shortness of breath.
Ingredients:
- 1.5 st. l. birch buds;
- 600 g of drinking water.
Pour into enamelware hot water and add kidneys. Cover the container with a lid and place in a water bath. After a quarter of an hour, cool to room temperature and strain. Bring the volume of the finished composition to 600 g using boiled water. Drink a day in three doses of 200 g before meals.
Tinctures
Recipe 1
Alcohol tincture for internal use will help in the fight against colds, bronchitis, laryngitis, as well as increase appetite and relieve problems with the digestive system.
Ingredients:
- 20 g of dry grated raw materials;
- 100 ml of alcohol or vodka (70%).
Pour the kidneys with alcohol and leave for 3 weeks in a place where it is dark and cool, constantly shaking the contents. Then filter, squeezing out the remnants. Dilute 20 drops in a tablespoon and drink 20 minutes before meals 3 times a day.
Recipe 2
Alcohol tincture for external use anesthetizes and relieves inflammation in diseases such as rheumatism, gout, myositis, arthritis.
With its help, you can cure chronic eczema, long-healing ulcer, skin erosion.
Ingredients:
- 1 part birch buds;
- 5 parts alcohol.
Crush the kidneys in a mortar and add alcohol or high-quality vodka to them. Insist for a week, then apply as directed. Apply 2 times a day to problem areas, then wrap well and let warm up.
Recipe 3
To strengthen the hair roots, enhance their growth, restore shine, you should make an infusion, which is prepared according to the recipe below.
Ingredients:
- 10 g of birch buds;
- 0.5 glass of vodka.
Pour the birch buds with alcohol and leave to infuse for 15 days. Then drain and filter. Store the tincture by pouring it into a dark bottle in a cool place. Before use, dilute the composition in a ratio of 1:10. Rub the product into the roots, then wrap the head with a film and wrap it with a towel. Hold for 3 minutes, then wash your hair with shampoo.
Ointment
Recipe 1
Problems with joints of a gouty and rheumatoid nature will help to solve an ointment from birch buds.
Ingredients:
- 400 g of birch buds;
- 800 g butter;
- 8 g camphor.
In an enamel pan, put the oil in a layer of 1.5 cm, on top of which pour a layer of kidneys of the same thickness. Fill the container, alternating layers, then cover with a lid, coat with dough and set aside to languish in the oven for a day. Then squeeze out the oil and add camphor. The finished product must be stored in the refrigerator.
Rub painful areas of the body once a day before going to bed. The treatment process will not take much time, a few minutes after applying the ointment, the long-awaited relief will come.
Recipe 2
Ointment like effective remedy to strengthen hair and split ends.
Ingredients:
- 1 st. l. birch buds;
- 1 tsp chamomile flowers;
- 1 st. l. nettles;
- 0.5 tsp lanolin;
- 0.5 st. sunflower oil;
- 1 egg yolk;
- 1 tsp lemon juice.
Using steam, heat the oil and lanolin and mix with chopped herbs. Boil the resulting mass for half an hour, then cool, filter and combine with whipped yolk and lemon juice. Apply the finished composition to the hair roots and tips. After one hour, dry your hair with a towel and wash thoroughly with shampoo.
It is important to follow the recipe and not abuse the funds, since exceeding the dosage can lead to undesirable consequences.
Contraindications for use
Birch buds, like all medicinal folk remedies, have certain contraindications:
- It is necessary to use with caution in patients with diseases of the urinary system in the acute stage and renal failure.
- Pregnant women and nursing mothers, as well as children under 12 years of age, should limit the intake of birch buds.
- Treatment with tree buds is contraindicated for people prone to allergies or individual intolerance to certain components of the composition of the remedy.
Before using birch buds for treatment and prevention, you should consult your doctor and follow his instructions.
Recipes for the use of birch buds for medicinal purposes, you can learn from the following video:
Knowing the recipe and rules for making medicines from birch buds will help strengthen physical and mental health, improve overall well-being, as well as prevent the development of many diseases and cure various pathologies.
