In Scotland, silver birch has long been known as a ‘traditional tonic’ and medicinal plant, dating back many hundreds of years and cited in many very old texts. As an acne medication, the sap can be used orally as a toner or applied directly to the skin. Taken orally, birch sap is believed to detoxify the body, while topically, the effects on the skin are to give a mild astringent effect, leaving the skin clean and clear. The sap also has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects: thus reducing the bacterial count on the skin and for those spots already present, reducing inflammation.

Birch leaves, when gathered in spring, can be brewed into a tea for a refreshing tonic drink or used as a warm compress, toning the skin, particularly for acne on the face. The leaves can be brewed over a period of 10 to 15 minutes in a kettle. On the other hand, in the past none of the tree was wasted, so the bark was brewed into a beer (for medicinal purposes!).

Birch in various forms has also been used to treat arthritis, eczema, gout, and psoriasis, but it is actually better when used to treat acne vulgaris. In addition, if you collect your own sap and leaves (as the author does), the walk in the forest and fresh air also contribute to a healthy lifestyle and a very pleasant day. There are many species of birch (Betula spp.), but most have been reported to have medicinal properties, and different birch species emit different amounts of sap. The sap and leaves can be obtained from health food stores, herbalists, or online and are usually very reasonably priced.

It is interesting to note that when researching the history of Birch’s medicines in ancient texts, acne was not described or recorded as a prolific disease, and was actually not called acne at all, but rather referred to as “infestation of the skin”. Consequently, this raises the question of whether acne vulgaris is really just a medical condition that accompanies modern society. The differences between a modern society and a past one are: poor diet, lack of exercise, stress, and a heavy reliance on many modern chemicals in food, etc. So logically, to cure acne, a person has to fundamentally address his lifestyle and then also get help with acne medication.

So, we can see how a common, everyday tree like the birch, was known by our ancestors as a very valuable commodity, particularly in the fight against acne and its terrible symptoms.