Sweet Birch

(Black birch) Strikingly beautiful tree found throughout the Northern hemisphere produces a white papery bark. The dried leaves can be used to make a diuretic tea that protects against kidney stones and bladder stones, rheumatism, gout and inflammation of the urinary tract. A decoction of the boiled mashed leaves and bark together creates an astringent paste that can help to heal skin infections. Preliminary studies are ongoing into the effect of the birch component betulinic acid on tumour cells and virus replication.