Betula alba

At a glance

Origin / distribution: Turkey, China, France, Iraq, NO

Cultural traditions: not documented

Recorded uses: Astringent, Bilious, Breast, Cancer

Science studied: BETULIN

Research volume: 0 indexed records · volume only · methodology ↗

Legal status: Varies by jurisdiction; not assessed in this record.

Names and identity

Family: Betulaceae

Scientific name: Betula alba

Common names: bjerk, bjørk, goigio, goigiot, soaagjek

History

The source record documents this plant in Turkey, China, France, Elsewhere, Iraq, NO.

It records these historical or traditional applications:

• Astringent
• Bilious
• Breast
• Cancer
• Dandruff
• Depurative
• Diuretic
• Fever

This summary is limited to the cited source record.

Origins and distribution

• Turkey
• China
• France
• Elsewhere
• Iraq
• NO

Documented cultural uses

• Astringent
• Bilious
• Breast
• Cancer
• Dandruff
• Depurative
• Diuretic
• Fever
• Gonorrhea
• Hairblack
• Rheumatism
• Skin

Cultural record detail

These entries are transcribed from the cited ethnobotanical source; they do not represent current advice or a claim of efficacy.

• Astringent · Turkey · "
• Bilious · China · "
• Breast · China · "
• Cancer · France · "
• Cancer · China · "
• Dandruff · Elsewhere · "
• Depurative · Turkey · "
• Diuretic · Turkey · "
• Fever · China · "
• Gonorrhea · Turkey · "
• Hairblack · China · "
• Rheumatism · Turkey · "
• Skin · Turkey · "
• Sore · China · "
• Stimulant · Turkey · "
• Jaundice · China · "
• Skin · Iraq · "
• Digestive · Turkey · "
• Sudorific · Turkey · "

Contemporary uses

Contemporary practice is not documented separately in this record.

Scientific research

Indexed records indicate research activity; they do not establish efficacy or safety.

Indexed research records

• Investigating Systemic Metabolic Effects of <i>Betula alba</i> Leaf Extract in Rats via Urinary Metabolomics. · 2025 source ↗
• <i>Betula alba</i> Bark Extract and <i>Empetrum nigrum</i> Fruit Juice, a Natural Alternative to Niacinamide for Skin Barrier Benefits. · 2022 source ↗
• Phytochemical Screening and Antioxidant Potential of Selected Extracts from <i>Betula alba</i> var. <i>pendula</i> Roth., <i>Glycyrrhiza glabra</i> L., and <i>Avena sativa</i> L. · 2023 source ↗

Scientific compounds

Chemical presence is not evidence of clinical efficacy.

• BETULIN

Legality

No exact international trade listing was returned by the CITES checklist for this accepted name. Country-specific law is not assessed here.

Consult the CITES species checklist for current international and national requirements.

Reference images

Sources

Dr. Duke's Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Databases · CC0

GBIF Backbone Taxonomy · CC BY 4.0

CC0 · Dr. Duke raw CSV archive

Contributions and revisions

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