From the birch wood, light and non-resinous, the famous charcoal is obtained, due to an appropriate calcination. Birch has diuretic, antiseptic, astringent, febrifuge, anti-gout properties; lowers blood cholesterol. In this plant, various active principles are contained: favonoids for 2-3%, such as quercetin, hyperoside, rutin, esperetina, betuletol; an essential oil containing anti-inflammatory drugs, such as methyl salicylate; tannins. The used parts of the plant are the leaves and the buds. Birch also produces lymph, known as birch lymph. The plant can be useful as an adjunct in diffuse edema, gout, albuminuria, predisposition to kidney stones, water retention, kidney failure, dermatitis and inflammatory rheumatism.
