6 Wonderful Health Benefits of Birch Essential Oil (And its Uses)!

Birch essential oil is unique because it is derived from two types of birch trees. The first is the White Birch or Silver Birch, scientifically known as Betula Pendula. The second type of birch tree is the Black Birch or Sweet Birch, scientifically known as Betula Lenta. Even the smell of the birch essential oil is unique because it does not have the same musky and woody smell as the rest of the other tree essential oils. In fact, it smells very minty, much like the wintergreen essential oil.

Birch essential oil has many amazing health benefits, attributing to its myriad properties that ranges from being a tonic to being a disinfectant. Read on to find out more about the health benefits of birch essential oil!

Health Properties of Birch Essential Oil

1. As an antiseptic and antimicrobial agent: Birch essential oil is an antiseptic and a disinfectant because it contains Salicylic Acid and Methyl Salicylate which are two potent ingredients that can kill off germs and bacteria. As a result, it seeks to heal cuts and wounds more easily and quickly as well as protects the skin from incurring any other bacterial or fungal infections.

A 2004 study, from the Journal of Evidenced-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, also found that birch essential oil is highly resistant and can kill different types of fungi that can fester on the skin. As such, birch essential oil is able to heal eczema and ring worms, to name a few. Besides having powerful antiseptic and bactericide properties, it can also help provide pain relief from these cuts and wounds as it helps to numb any pain you are experiencing.

2. As a detoxification agent: Birch essential oil also contains many detoxifying agents that can help to remove toxic substances out of your bodily system. It can remove uric acid, urea, excess fats, salts and excess water through increased urination and perspiration. The presence of betulenol and betulene make birch essential oil a diuretic, which promotes urination. Furthermore, birch essential oil can alleviate fever as it promotes sweating and the removal of toxins, leading to a faster recovery time.

It can certainly help to keep your liver and kidneys healthy, as it also prevents the formation of kidney stones, gout and arthritis. By shedding off toxic substances, it can also help to lower blood pressure levels. Overall, birch essential oil purifies the body’s internal organs to ensure its smooth functioning and continued longevity.

3. As an expectorant agent to relieve congestion: Because birch essential oil is an expectorant, and combined with its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, it helps to treat congestion along the respiratory tracts. This allows for better air regulation through the nasal passageways and prevents mucus build-up. As such, birch essential oil can drastically help in alleviating respiratory health conditions such as bronchitis and cough as well as phlegms.

4. As an anti-arthritic agent: Birch essential oil also can promote blood circulation and the smooth regulation of blood flow, thus preventing joint and muscle pains. It has high levels of analgesic and cortisone-like qualities which are very effective in providing pain relief to muscles and joints caused by various conditions, be it from arthritis, rheumatism or even by any injuries.

In addition, birch essential oil contains anti-inflammatory properties, which further helps to alleviate such conditions as abovementioned and prevent them from worsening. Hence, birch essential oil is a good choice to invest as a pain relief natural remedy for joint and muscular pains!

5. As an agent to promote healthier hair: One of the less well known uses of birch essential oil is that it can facilitate the growth of healthier hair. Birch essential oil makes your hair stronger and fuller. It also prevents your hair from getting too dry or brittle. In addition, it can prevent dandruff from forming on your scalp, hence promoting a healthier scalp.

Therefore, birch essential oil is the perfect secret recipe to have to promote healthier and luscious locks!

6. As an agent to promote oral health: Oral care is of extreme importance in our daily lives, one that we must actively adopt and not take for granted. With its bactericidal, antiseptic, astringent and analgesic properties, birch essential oil serves as an excellent natural remedy for oral health problems as well. It can alleviate and prevent toothaches, gum infections and even halitosis because these properties in birch essential oil effectively help to kill off bacteria within your mouth cavity.

Thus, the next time you go to the dentist to get an oral check-up, you can be assured that you won’t receive a round of scolding by your dentist over the importance of maintaining proper oral care!

How to Use It:

To heal cuts and wounds, you can apply birch oil topically but be sure to dilute it thoroughly with a carrier oil as it can be toxic if it is highly concentrated. However, it should never be applied to an open wound.

To maintain oral hygiene, you can mix a drop of birch essential oil with a drop of spearmint or peppermint oil to a glass of water to create a gargle mixture. However, be careful not to accidentally swallow the mixture as birch essential oil can be dangerous when ingested.

To promote healthier hair, you can combine birch essential oil with lavender, ylang ylang, rosemary or lemon essential oils to achieve optimum results! You can also blend these oils with coconut oil too to create a massage blend that can be applied onto your scalp to promote healthier scalp and shinier hair.

To clear congestion, add a few drops of birch essential oil to a hot compress to be applied to your chest. Alternatively, you can mix birch essential oil with peppermint essential oil and a carrier oil to be applied topically onto your chest. Also, you can add 3-4 drops of birch essential oil to a bowl of hot water and inhale the vapors emanating out.

To ease muscular pains and sore joints, you can massage birch essential oil (that is mixed with a carrier oil such as coconut oil) and rub it onto the desired parts once every day until the pain eases. You can also add a few drops of birch essential oil to your bath and soak in your aching joints after a long day. Watch how the tension and ache slowly fades away as your body becomes much relaxed.

Birch essential oil can also be used to relieve headaches due to its anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. Simply add 1-2 drops of birch essential oil (that is mixed with a carrier oil beforehand) and massage it onto your temples. You can also add a few drops of diluted birch essential oil to a compress and press it onto your head.

Safety Precautions:

As birch essential oil is highly concentrated, it is important that it should always be diluted with a carrier oil. Also, its astringent properties help to promote tighter skin, thus preventing wrinkles and promoting a youthful, radiant glow. However, be careful to only incorporate it in small doses (1-2 drops) in your skincare regime and in diluted forms due to its high concentration.