Birch bark is an effective remedy against malaria and pneumonia. It is an excellent remedy to heal wounds, to get a low pressure up, and to relieve headaches. It is well known that birch bark is rich in betulin (birch camphor), approximately one third of the dry weight of the bark. Birch tree was dubbed White Gold in the Boreal Forest because of its beneficial biological effect. Betulin also called the birch wood alcohol ester brain, belong to without rings triterpene compounds. Is tasted for white crystal powder, melting point of 248 ~ 251 °C (methanol-chloroform). Soluble in ethanol, ethyl ether, chloroform and benzene, slightly soluble in cold water, and petroleum ether, etc.
The anti-stress action of birch bark has also been studied. It has been shown that betulin acts as a relieving agent for acute stomach problems such as reserpine and histamine ulcers, sub-chronic ulcers related to Butadion, as well as ulcers related to the intake of acetylsalicylic acid and acetone.Birch bark has powerful anti-fungal, antiviral, and anti-bacterial qualities.
Birch bark extract betulinic acid powder is a naturally occurring pentacyclic triterpenoid.Betulinic acid was found active against cancer,several forms of herps and even AIDS.It has anti-inflammatory,and anti-malarial powers as well as showing cytotoxicity towards a number of tumor cell lineslt is found in the bark of several species of plants, principally the white birch (Betula pubescens) from which it gets its name.