Birch mother tincture: preparation, properties and use

The birch mother tincture, extracted from Betula pendula leaves, has a diuretic action useful in case of cellulite and against water retention. Let's find out better.

Properties of birch mother tincture

The leaves of Betula pendula (or Betula alba var. Verrucosa) contain flavonoids, sesquitepenic oxides, tannins (leucoanthocyanidins), vitamin, betulinic acid, chlorogenic and caffeic acid, resins and essential oils .

Birch mother tincture is used in phytotherapy for its diuretic and purifying properties . In fact, favoring diuresis facilitates the elimination of water and excess substances, accumulated in the body, such as cholesterol and uric acids .

For internal use the hydroalcoholic extract is used in the treatment of gout, rheumatism, hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, water retention, albuminuria and kidney stones . The diuretic effect also acts preventively with respect to the formation of renella and becomes a sort of antiseptic "washing" in urinary tract diseases.

The birch mother tincture is also one of the elective remedies in the treatment of cellulite, as it helps the elimination and disappearance of the fibroconnective nodules, characteristic of this skin blemish .

Description of the plant

Birch is native to Europe and northern Asia, in Italy it is more common in the Alps where it sometimes forms pure woods. A tree that can reach 25 meters in height, but which is characterized by a short life (around 80 years), has a sparse and light crown, expanded vertically, with terminal branches hanging down.

The trunk is slender, if it is not too old, it has a thin white skin. The bark is white with characteristic transverse "warts" similar to cracks. The leaves are deciduous, triangular, petiolate, serrated on the margin, light green above and below.

The male flowers are gathered in sessile, pendulous catkins; female ones are collected in short and erect spikes. The fruits are cylindrical infructescences which at maturity release small samaras provided with a membranous wing.

You can learn more about the properties, use and contraindications of birch

How to prepare the birch mother tincture

The " drug " (part utilized) corresponds to the leaves, collected in early summer . The fresh plant is used, as it loses most of its properties.

The birch mother tincture is prepared with a drug weight ratio : 1:10 solvent and 65% alcohol content .

use

The mother tinctures have no contraindications except those of the plant itself, diluted in a little water can be administered to all, the alcohol contained in them is thus diluted, so it is harmless. In case of taking diuretic drugs the use of birch is contraindicated, due to the risk of enhancing the effect of the drug.

Internal use: 50 drops in a little water three times a day between meals.