Try Silver Birch Tree as an acne medication

Try Silver Birch Tree as an acne medication

In Scotland, silver birch has long been known as a “traditional tonic” and medicinal plant, dating back many hundreds of years and cited in many very ancient texts. As an acne medication, the juice can be taken orally as a tonic or applied directly to the skin. Orally, the birch sap is said to detoxify the body, while the topical effect on the skin has a mild astringent effect, leaving the skin clean and clear. The juice also has an antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effect: this reduces the number of bacteria on the skin and pre-existing spots, thereby reducing inflammation.

Birch leaves collected in spring can be brewed into tea as a refreshing tonic drink or used as a hot compress that invigorates the skin, especially for facial acne. The leaves can be brewed in a teapot for 10-15 minutes. By the way, in ancient times no tree was wasted, so the bark was brewed into a beer (for medicinal purposes!).

Birch in various forms has also been used to treat arthritis, eczema, gout, and psoriasis, but it is really at its best when used to treat acne vulgaris. Even if you collect your own sap and leaves (as the author does), then the walk in the forest and the fresh air also contribute to a healthy lifestyle and a very nice day. There are many species of birch trees (Betula spp.), but most have been reported to have medicinal properties and different species of birch trees release different amounts of sap. The juice and leaves can be purchased at health food stores, herbalists or online and are usually very inexpensive.

It is interesting to note that when researching the history of birch medicines in ancient texts, acne was not described or recorded as a productive disease and was not actually referred to as acne at all, but rather as "suppuration of the skin." Consequently, the question arises as to whether acne vulgaris is really just a disease that comes with modern society. The differences between a modern society and a past society are: poor diet, lack of exercise, stress and a great dependence on many modern chemicals in food, etc. Logically, to cure acne, a person needs to address their lifestyle fundamentally and then also get help with acne medication.

So we can see that a common everyday tree like birch was known to our ancestors as a very valuable asset, especially in the fight against acne and its terrible symptoms.

Inspired by Thomas Carlile