Birch Tar: what it is, it’s benefits and natural alternatives

Birch tar is a thick, sticky substance with a dark brown or even black color and a distinctive, strong smell. This natural extract is widely used in herbal medicine and cosmetic products due to its rich composition of vitamins and minerals and its positive effects on the human body.

Composition and health benefits of Birch Tar

Birch tar is a unique natural product that contains approximately 10,000 different chemical compounds, each offering distinct benefits to the body. It includes B vitamins, potassium, calcium, iron, and magnesium.

This natural remedy is also rich in polyphenols, glucose, glycosides, tannins, and alkaloids, along with salicylic, malic, and ascorbic acids.

In the past, there were concerns about the presence of carcinogens in birch tar, but recent scientific studies have shown that the levels are so low that they pose no health risk.

Traditionally, birch tar was extracted by boiling birch bark with water until a dense mass was formed. Today, a more advanced vacuum-based high-temperature method is used, which results in a more concentrated product.

Uses and therapeutic properties of Birch Tar

Birch tar is a key ingredient in several pharmaceutical formulations, such as Vishnevsky’s liniment and various anti-scabies ointments, the most well-known being Wilkinson’s ointment.

You’ll also find it in cosmetic soaps, shampoos, rinses, and even facial masks.

Birch tar can be used externally and internally. When applied in its pure form, it’s suitable for nails, where it acts as a powerful antiseptic to help treat fungal infections.

One popular natural remedy is a mixture of birch tar, butter, and copper sulfate in equal parts, heated for 2–3 minutes in a water bath. This blend is highly effective against dermatitis, eczema, and psoriasis.

Taken internally, birch tar can strengthen the heart, improve vascular elasticity (helping manage blood pressure), and has a strong sedative effect. It is sometimes recommended as a complementary remedy for tumors and to alleviate the effects of chemotherapy.

It’s commonly taken by adding 5–10 drops to warm water or placing it on a small piece of black bread.

Inhalation therapy using birch tar can ease symptoms of whooping cough, pneumonia, and chronic bronchitis, especially when coughing becomes intense and suffocating.

Natural alternatives to Birch Tar: Cold-Pressed organic Oils

Birch tar is not the only powerful natural product used for wellness and beauty. Plant-based oils offer an equally potent, and in some cases even greater, health benefit. Rich in vitamins, essential fatty acids, and minerals, these oils play a vital role in nearly every metabolic process.

CraftOil raw organic Oils – effective products for beauty and health

CraftOil is a trusted producer of aromatic, delicious, and highly beneficial cold-pressed oils, made from natural ingredients using in-house equipment. Their product range includes: Poppy seed oil, Black cumin oil, Mustard oil, Flaxseed oil, Pumpkin seed oil, Hazelnut oil and many others.

Each oil is a fresh, «living» product, made on the day of your order and shipped immediately across Ukraine and Europe.

CraftOil oils can be used in salads, main dishes, baking, or applied externally for massage, face and hair masks, oil pulling, and creating homemade herbal remedies.

CraftOil also offers a unique opportunity to produce your own raw oils at home. Their catalog features a wide range of oil presses and starter kits, making home oil extraction simple and accessible.

Want to learn more about the value of our oils or choose the one that’s best for you? Interested in pressing oils at home? Our experts are happy to answer your questions and guide you through the world of artisan oils.