Scientific name: Betula Lenta. Pure birch essential oil is hard to find in today’s market. If you do your own research, you will find warnings about the toxicity of birch oil, as it is not pure birch oil. Birch essential oil is considered a warm oil, which means it can feel warm or hot if applied to the skin undiluted. Simply add a few drops of their birch oil to a carrier oil and you’re good to go. If it still feels hot, add a little more base oil. Adding water will make it hotter!
1. Use it to brush* your teeth. Simply add a drop to your toothbrush (if you like a wet toothbrush, add water to brush first, then oil) and brush your teeth. It may be a bit strong, but birch oil will help strengthen the bones that are your teeth.
2. Use it to combat arthritis or rheumatism pain. Birch essential oil contains methyl salicylate, a natural cortisone, an excellent anti-inflammatory. Add a drop or two to a teaspoon of carrier oil and rub where you feel pain. It smells good, too. If your whole body aches, add 3-5 drops of birch oil to ½ cup of Starflake Bath Salts (Simple Bath Salts from Be Young, these salts are highly crystallized so they absorb essential oil easily), then add to a tub of warm water. Soak for twenty minutes and rinse.
3. Birch is for bone, it has the same frequency as bone. Bone pain, broken bones, strong bones: reach for your birch essential oil. If you only want to strengthen your bones, you can apply a drop to the soles of your feet (right foot first) once or twice a day and the oil will travel throughout your body. If you have a broken bone, you want to apply it as close to the area as possible. Suppose you have a broken wrist, so you are in a cast from thumb to elbow. Add 2-3 drops of birch oil to a teaspoon of carrier oil and rub it into the top and bottom of the cast. This will help get the oil to the area of greatest need. Do this 3 to 5 times a day to help a fracture heal. You can also look for the reflexology points corresponding to rest and apply there.
4. Birch essential oil is a diuretic that will help reduce swelling and fluid retention. Apply 2-3 drops in a teaspoon of carrier oil (clockwise) to the abdomen to help with PMS symptoms.
5. Use birch essential oil to relieve swelling and bruising from injury. Simply add 1-2 drops of the oil to a teaspoon of carrier oil and apply to the area. If the area is too painful to touch, add 3-5 drops to ½ cup of Starflake bath salts, then add warm water and soak the injured area. Always rinse skin after soaking because salts and oils will draw toxins to the surface of the skin, if allowed to remain the toxins will be reabsorbed by the body or may cause a rash. If the injury does not soak easily, add enough warm water to the salts to create a paste, apply the paste to the area and wrap it in a warm, damp towel. Keep the towel on until the area feels cool. Remove and rinse the area.
6. Birch essential oil is wonderful for your back: it helps remove waste from your spine, helps strengthen your vertebrae, and reduces inflammation. If your back hurts, have someone apply 5-7 drops in a tablespoon of carrier oil to your back, then follow up with a warm, damp towel covered with a dry towel to keep your chair or bed dry. Leave the towel on until it feels cool (if your back feels too hot, add a bit of carrier oil to cool it down). Rinse or wipe the back after removing the towel.
7. Bone spurs or areas of calcium buildup respond well to birch essential oil. It helps reduce pain and inflammation and, if used consistently, will break down calcium buildup or bone spurs. Simply apply a drop to the problem site 2-5 times a day, diluting with carrier oil if necessary. If skin sensitivity occurs, reduce how often you are applying and use a carrier oil.
8. Surgery often causes pain and swelling, along with the risk of infection. Add a few drops of birch essential oil to some carrier oil and apply it to the area. You will want to avoid stitches (you can use Lavender on stitched areas to reduce scarring, unless they are the self-dissolving type). Once the stitches have been removed, go ahead and apply Birch to the area, applying layers of Lavender to reduce scarring (both internal and external scarring).
9. Birch has the ability to number an area. That’s part of why it works so well on pain. It’s not as strong as Clove Bud, but it will help quickly relieve pain from a cut or injury. It can also help with a toothache. Apply a drop directly on the tooth to experience relief.
10. Birch helps reduce cellulite. If you have a problem area, add a couple of drops of Birch to a teaspoon of carrier and rub into the area after you shower.
*Use only essential oils internally that are truly 100% pure, such as Be Young oils. Cut or synthetic oils can have dangerous side effects if used internally. Always err on the side of caution and use common sense.