Paper Birch - Betula papyrifera

The paper birch, Betula papyrifera, is a medium sized deciduous tree, which grows up to 60-90 feet tall. The leaves are alternate, have serrated edges and are almost pelvis shaped, being wider at the petiole and becoming narrower and sharply pointed at the tip. In the spring, male and female flowers are borne on separate sweet smelling catkins, which produce beautiful little seeds on papery wings. The whitish bark peels off and rolls much like the papyrus the ancient Egypians wrote on (hence the name Betula papyrifera), causing a person to wonder what ancient wisdom must be written on birch's papyrus-like bark. The bark can be peeled from birch trees after a storm's blow down and pressed flat until dry to be used for writing or painting upon.

Birches tend to grow in stands (a continuous family reunion), and are somewhat spindly with little forking at the lower end of the trees. Birches prefer moist, well-drained sites and thrive in open and dense woods. Usnea spp., Platisma glauca (also called Ragbag) and many other lichens grow on the entire length of birches. Many varieties of mosses enjoy the shelter and moisture collecting at the base of the trees. Northwest Washington (our home) is at the southern end of paper birch's range, which dominates the taiga, the cold northern coniferous forests from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific. Birches are rigorous trees; the stump of a cut or fallen birch will often sprout new growth. Birches are short lived; a 100-year old birch is very old.

In autumn, the ever shortening days and longer nights signal the birch to release a collection of hormones. One of the hormones, abscisic acid, initiates dormancy. It acts as an inhibitory that counteracts the growth hormones and induces ethylene formation. Together, the ethylene and other hormones cause a physiological change in the tree whereby the base of the leaf's petiole is walled off from the branch. The leaves, with no access to nutrients, die and drop off the tree. This change towards dormancy and the millions of functions and changes happening inside a tree standing so still boggles the brain.

Medicinally, the birch leaves and twigs act superbly as an anti-inflammatory. The twigs are boiled to remove the wintergreen oil, which contains methyl salicylate. Twigs and small branches are harvested in autumn when the leaves first begin to turn and before the energy, or medicine, has moved completely into the roots and then again in the spring when the sap begins its upward movement to the tips of the branches. The oil, which can also be found in the leaves, is useful in treating those with rheumatism, arthritis, calcium spurs, heart and kidney edema, chronic cystitis and high cholesterol. Do not ingest the essential oil of birch. Use the bark and dried leaves for tea. We use the essential oil in our Canoe Pullers' Massage Oil for its pain relieving qualities.

The leaves are gathered in the spring and dried for use in infusions. Gather the leaves in the spring when they are fully opened and in the morning before the heat of the day releases the essential oils. Birch is astringent and used for its curative effects on skin eruptions and eczema. Try steeping an ounce of dried leaves in a pint of water for 4 hours, strain, and use the medicinal infusion on the skin as a wash to soothe and heal.

Birch is also a "bitter," acting as a stimulant and tonic on the digestive system. I found that by soaking the fresh leaves in apple cider vinegar for a few weeks, the bone building and immune strengthening minerals and micronutrients are released and easily added to drinking water, salads and cooked foods. Vinegar is a good medium for extracting birch's nutrients and medicine. Use fresh leaves and chopped twigs or take the time to strip the bark from the twigs. The inner bark contains the medicinal oils; the woody stem contains little to nothing of value unless you are a basketmaker. One teaspoon of medicinal and nutrient rich birch vinegar is equal to one aspirin. Use this as a guide when turning to birch for its healing and nutritional gifts.

Birch trees are wonderfully fragrant after a rain, especially when the sun comes out from the clouds and warms the leaves. A bit of the wintergreen oil is released with the heat of the sun on the wet leaves and the scent has a welcome soothing effect on the soul. Scent, a superb and easy way to influence healing, is easily accessed by the brain by simply inhaling. Look for articles on aromatherapy, the art of healing with scents on our website in the near future.