Birch (Betula lenta) Tincture, Dried Bark Liquid Extract

Birch (Betula lenta) Tincture, Dried Bark Liquid Extract

A single-herb liquid extract of dried bark of Betula lenta, cold-macerated in small batches and offered either as a traditional tincture in organic sugar-cane alcohol or as a vegetable glycerite.

What you get

• One herb, named to species. Nothing in the bottle but Betula lenta bark — the botanical name is printed on the label, so you always know which plant you bought.
• Cold maceration, never heated. The herb steeps at room temperature rather than being boiled or spray-dried, so the volatile and heat-sensitive fractions stay in the liquid.
• Your choice of menstruum. Organic sugar-cane alcohol for a traditional tincture, or a vegetable glycerin extract with no ethanol in it.
• Ethically wild-harvested or sustainably sourced. Wild material is bought from harvesters who work stands on rotation rather than stripping them.
• Nothing else added. No added sugar, no artificial colours, preservatives or fragrances. Non-GMO and gluten-free.
• Made in the USA in an FDA-registered facility.
• Sizes from 2 fl oz to 2 gallons, including multi-packs — the same extract whether you are trying it or restocking.

About the plant

Sweet birch bark smells of wintergreen, strongly, as soon as it is scraped. The compound responsible is methyl salicylate, and this tree yields so much of it that until synthetic production took over, sweet birch was distilled commercially as a source of the oil — the still oil is around ninety-eight per cent methyl salicylate. The tree is an eastern North American birch with dark, almost cherry-like bark that does not peel the way white birch does. See the warnings before using it.

Ingredients

Tincture: Betula lenta dried bark, organic sugar-cane alcohol, distilled water, vegetable glycerin USP.
Glycerite: Betula lenta dried bark, vegetable glycerin USP, distilled water.

No added sugar. Contains no artificial colours, preservatives or fragrances.

Suggested use

Shake well before use. Take 20–30 drops (about 1 ml, one full squeeze of the dropper bulb) in 2 oz of water or juice, up to 4 times daily, or as directed by a qualified healthcare practitioner.

Warnings

Sweet birch bark is very high in methyl salicylate, and concentrated forms of it are dangerous. Methyl salicylate is absorbed readily and a small quantity of the pure oil has killed children; treat this as a salicylate preparation, take it well diluted, and never exceed the suggested amount. Do not use it if you are allergic to aspirin or other salicylates, or alongside anticoagulant medicines, and do not give it to children or teenagers with a fever or a viral illness. Not for use in pregnancy.

Keep out of reach of children. Not for use during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. If you are taking any medication, have a medical condition, or are scheduled for surgery, consult a healthcare practitioner before use. Discontinue use if an adverse reaction occurs. Do not use if the tamper seal is broken or missing. Store tightly capped in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Actual packaging may carry different or additional information; always read the label before use.