The Birch

The Birch      
Betula Alba 

Gaelic name: Beth

new beginnings, changes, purification

In Europe, birch is a familiar tree. It is growing most of time on poor grounds, until 2000 meters in altitude. They are pioneer trees, often the first ones to grow after a clearing. There are 4 different species of birch in Europe, and numerous others in North America and Asia. But its tree comes from Northern Europe.

When they live in temperate countries, birch dies after between 15 and 30 years old, but in North countries it can lives until 100 years and more.

Its main particularity is its white bark, which allows recognising it easily. Its flowers are called kittens, and they are present at the beginning of autumn.

In good conditions, birch tree can grow 24 meters tall.

Customs, Legends, and Mythology 

Legends around the birch tree are numerous. It's one of the 7 sacred trees of Druids, and even today can symbolise druidic knowledge.

Birch is the first tree in the Celtic Calendar, and symbolised wisdom. In some Slaves languages, birch is the original name of the month of March. Maybe it's because of the sap, which begins to circulate in the tree at this period.

Native American people considered it as a sacred tree, and used its wood for the conception of parchments.

And according to the Irish legend, it was under a birch shelter that Diarmid, King f All Ireland, and the Goddess Grainne made their home.

And because people thought that birch could cast off malignancy and help for a fresh new start, it was used at Samhain, the start of the Celtic Year, when purification is essential.

Healing

Sap, leaves and bark have healing properties, and are used against skin problems. They have again diuretic functions. Buds can be used in infusions, as purgative medication.

In powder, birch leaves are efficient for renal and digestive elimination. Against rheumatism, an infusion of birch leaves is very efficient. And the young leaves are used to cure infections of urinary system, removing excess water and flushing the body.

This tree can also cure heal acne, skin of spots and fades freckles.

Uses

Birchwood is pretty strong and elastic. That's why it's use, in woodwork, for the realization of some file cases. In the past, it was used to the conception of cart wheels.

Some kinds of birch are used for the paper's conception. Finally, it is appreciate in open fires, because it burns very well, giving a pretty clear flame. When it's completely burns, it doesn't produce too much ash, that's why it was very well used by bakers.

And in Russia, the oil of birch tree is used for tanning Russian leather, giving it a unique smell.

From its sap, in Northern Europe, Russia and North America, people used to do the "Birch Wine", that is drank, of course, but also used in a medicinal way, against the stones in the kidneys. In Scandinavia, they did powder with the wood, and did bread with it, blended with flour.