Silver Birch

Silver Birch (Betula pendula)

Close-up of a tree trunk with white bark and dark patches, surrounded by green and yellow autumn leaves.

Plant family

  • Betulaceae

Other significant names

  • White birch

  • Common birch

Parts used

  • Fol (leaves)

  • Gemmae (leaf buds)

  • Cortex

  • Succus (sap)

Typical forms of prescription

  • Tinctures

  • Infusions

Looking up at tall, leafless birch trees against a blue sky with no leaves

Silver Birch (Betula pendula) – Clinical Snapshot

Primary Actions

  • Diuretic

  • Urinary antiseptic

  • Astringent

  • Antiseptic

  • Alterative

  • Tonic

  • Hepatoprotective

Primary Indications

  • Musculoskeletal: Arthritis, gout

  • Urinary: Kidney issues, bladder stones, fluid retention, cystitis

  • Skin: Psoriasis, eczema, actinic keratoses

  • Liver: General liver support

⚠️Cautions / Safety⚠️

  • Avoid internal use of birch essential oil or bark in people with salicylate sensitivity or on blood-thinning medications. Leaf infusions are generally considered safe and effective as a gentle detoxifier.

  • Use with caution in oedema due to heart or kidney impairment

Betula pendula

Phytochemistry and Pharmacology

Flavonoids

Includes: Quercetin, hyperoside, kaempferol
Action: Diuretic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant
Use: These support kidney and urinary function, reduce tissue inflammation, and protect against oxidative stress. Birch is often used as a cleansing diuretic, making it ideal in spring detox formulas, arthritic conditions, and urinary tract inflammation.

Triterpenoids

Includes: Betulin, betulinic acid, lupeol
Action: Anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, hepatoprotective, anticancer (research stage)
Use: Found primarily in the bark, these compounds help reduce inflammation, support skin and liver health, and have shown promising effects in wound healing and tumour modulation (especially betulinic acid). Betulin also contributes to birch bark’s white colouring.

Essential Oils (mainly in leaves and buds)

Includes: Methyl salicylate, sesquiterpenes
Action: Analgesic, rubefacient, anti-rheumatic
Use: Birch oil, similar in composition to wintergreen, offers pain-relieving effects and is used externally for muscle pain, joint inflammation, and chronic rheumatism. Not for internal use due to methyl salicylate toxicity.

Tannins

Action: Astringent, anti-inflammatory, tissue-toning
Use: Tannins in the leaves and bark support skin healing, reduce minor bleeding, and tone tissues in wounds, eczema, and weeping skin conditions.

Saponins

Action: Diuretic, expectorant, anti-inflammatory
Use: Saponins assist with fluid clearance, supporting birch’s use in oedema, urinary retention, and congestive states, while also contributing to cleansing and mild expectorant effects.

Dense forest of tall birch trees with white bark and sparse orange leaves, under a dark blue sky.

Traditional use

The sap, which contains natural sugars and electrolytes, is well known as a spring tonic, but the tree also has medicinal leaves and bark. The leaves are used in infusions as a key diuretic when increased urine output is sound, such as in cases of cystitis, oedema and fluid retention (bear in mind to treat the underlying cause too).  The diuretic and waste removal properties also make it worthwhile for skin conditions and gout, as well as rheumatoid- and osteo- arthritis, especially where there is calcification. Birch is high in anti-inflammatory, fever-reducing and pain-relieving salicylates, so it should be avoided in those with a salicylate/aspirin sensitivity.3 The bark and leaves are used topically in compresses or washes for treating sore muscles, aiding in reducing muscle pain. The bark salicylates are extracted and concentrated from a close relative, sweet birch (Betula lenta), producing a cheaper, more sustainable essential oil similar to wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens) used in natural ‘deep heat’ rubs and balms for soothing and healing sprains, strains and broken bones.

Clinical discussion 

Betula pendula (silver birch) is valued for its diuretic, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic properties. The sap acts as a spring tonic, while the leaves and bark are used in infusions to promote urine output for conditions like cystitis, oedema, and fluid retention. These diuretic effects also help in treating skin conditions, gout, and arthritis, especially with calcification.

Rich in salicylates, birch provides pain relief and fever reduction, but should be avoided by those with salicylate or aspirin sensitivity. Birch bark and leaves are used in compresses or washes for muscle pain and soreness. The salicylates from Betula lenta (sweet birch) are concentrated into essential oils, offering a sustainable alternative to wintergreen for sprains, strains, and fractures.

Cultivation/harvesting

Sap is tapped in early spring, leaves and buds are collected in early spring, and bark is taken in small peels to make washes or harvested from felled trees.

Autumn forest scene with many birch trees with orange and yellow leaves, brown underbrush, and a cloudy sky.

Key Botanical Features of Silver Birch (Betula pendula)

Habit & Form

  • Type: Deciduous tree.

  • Height: Typically 10–30 metres tall.

  • Growth Form: Graceful, slender tree with arching branches and a light canopy, allowing dappled light to reach the ground.

Bark

  • Young Bark: Bright white to silver, often with black diamond-shaped fissures.

  • Mature Bark: Darkens at the base with deep furrows.

  • Characteristic Peeling: Thin, papery layers that peel horizontally.

Leaves

  • Shape: Triangular to diamond-shaped, with a pointed tip.

  • Edge: Double-serrated (finely toothed) margins.

  • Size: 3–7 cm long.

  • Colour: Bright green in summer, turning golden yellow in autumn.

  • Arrangement: Alternate on the stem.

Flowers & Reproduction

  • Type: Monoecious (male and female catkins on the same tree).

  • Male Catkins: Long, yellow-brown, pendulous; appear in autumn and overwinter.

  • Female Catkins: Short, green and upright; appear in spring.

  • Pollination: Wind-pollinated.

  • Seeds: Tiny, winged nutlets dispersed by wind in summer.

Roots & Growth Conditions

  • Root System: Shallow, with fine roots spreading widely, sensitive to soil compaction.

  • Soil Preference: Grows best in light, well-drained soils; tolerates poor, sandy, or acidic soils.

  • Habitat: Found in open woodlands, heathlands, and disturbed areas.

  • Sunlight: Prefers full sun.

  • Ecological Role: Pioneer species — quickly colonises bare ground and enriches the soil.

Sustainability/conservation:

Close-up of a white birch tree trunk with yellow autumn leaves in the background.
Looking up at the canopy of a birch tree with white bark and green leaves.
A group of white birch trees along the edge of a lake with water and trees in the background.
Autumn scene in a forest with tall, leafless trees and orange and yellow fallen leaves and foliage on the ground.
A person walking down a forest trail with autumn-colored leaves on the trees and ground, sunlight filtering through the trees.
Close-up of tree branches with gray bark and patches of lichen, set against a teal background.

Sources

Bartram, T. (1998). Bartram’s Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine. Constable.

Fisher, C. (2009). Materia Medica of Western Herbs, (2018 edition). Finchley Road, London. Aeon Books.

Hedley, C & Shaw, N. (2020). A herbal book of making and taking. Finchley Road, London. Aeon Books.

Hoffmann, D. (2003). Medical Herbalism: The Science and Practice of Herbal Medicine. Healing Arts Press.

McIntyre, A. (2019). The complete herbal tutor, revised and expanded edition. Finchley Road, London. Aeon Books.

Plants of the World Online | Kew Science. (n.d.). Plants of the World Online. https://powo.science.kew.org/

Disclaimer: This page is for educational purposes only. Consult a qualified medical herbalist before using herbs, especially during pregnancy, when trying to conceive, while breastfeeding, for medical conditions, or with children.
Read the full disclaimer → Medical Disclaimer.