Sweet Birch is commonly referred to as black birch or cherry birch and is widely used as a flavouring and scenting agent in commercial products. It has widely been used in natural medicine and aromatherapy to help relieve muscle & joint pain and is also known for its cleansing properties.
Name of Oil: Birch
Latin Binomial: Betula lenta
Extraction Method: Steam
Countries of Origin: United States
Scent Profile: Balsamic, sweet, minty
Parts used in distillation: Bark
Oil Characteristics: Clear, thin, strong aroma
Cultivation: Conventional Farming
Applications
Used in aromatherapy for the symptomatic relief of:
Pain, inflammation and spasms
Used in aromatherapy to help ease emotional symptoms of:
Mind-body pain, and grounding.
History
Indigenous peoples traditionally used it for painful conditions.
Chemical constituents
methyl-salicylate
Safety & references
Safety:
Avoid if pregnant, nursing, on blood thinners, avoid use in children.
Books Cited:
The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy, 2nd Edition – Salvatore Battaglia
Essential Oil Safety , 2nd Edition – Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young
Aromatherapy – Jennifer Peace Rhind
The Complete Book of Essential Oils & Aromatherapy – Valerie Wormwood
Aromatherapeutic Blending – Jennifer Peace Rhind
The Fragrant Mind – Valerie Wormwood