Bhurja — Himalayan Birch

Ayurvedic herb Bhurja (Betula utilis) — Himalayan Birch. Pharmacological properties: Rasa Kashaya, Virya Ushna, Vipaka Katu. Balances Kapha.

Ayurvedic Herbs A–Z 1 min read
This content is for informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional.

The Himalayan Birch tree’s bark was used as paper and is medicinally used for its anti-toxic properties.

ⓘ Information
PropertyValueDescription
RasaKashayaKashaya (Astringent) — drying, absorbent, wound-healing
GunaLaghuLaghu (Light) — easy to digest, promotes lightness
ViryaUshnaUshna (Hot) — heating, increases metabolism and Pitta
VipakaKatuKatu (Pungent) — post-digestive pungent, lightening
PrabhavaVishaghna, KushtaghnaVishaghna — anti-toxin, antidote; Kushtaghna — treats skin diseases

Sanskrit Synonyms

In the classical Ayurvedic texts, Bhurja is known by the following Sanskrit names:

Bhurjapatra, Chitratvak, Valkadruma, Bhutaghna

Parts Used

The medicinal parts of Bhurja are: twak.

Main Indications

Bhurja is indicated in Ayurveda for the following conditions:

Visha Roga, Kushta, Karnaroga, Raktapitta, Garbhashaya Shodhana.

Dosha Effects

Bhurja pacifies Kapha.

It may aggravate Pitta, Vata when used in excess or in sensitive individuals.

Usage

Bhurja is used in classical Ayurvedic formulations. Consult a qualified Ayurvedic practitioner for appropriate dosage and preparation based on your constitution (Prakriti) and current imbalance (Vikriti).

Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India (API)

Source: Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India — Government of India, Ministry of AYUSH

Rasa (Taste)Kauu, Kaṣ¡ya
Guna (Quality)Laghu
Virya (Potency)Uṣḍa
Vipaka (Post-digestive effect)Kauu
Karma (Action)Tridoṣa¿amana, Bhūtarakṣ¡kara, Viṣaghna, Balya, śleṣmahara, Medohara
Dose1-3 g
Therapeutic Uses: Karḍaroga, Raktapitta, Kuṣuharoga, Rakṣoghnadhūpana, Vraḍa,
Important Formulations: Ayaskrti
Part Used: St.Bk

Therapeutic Uses (IMPPAT Database)

Source: Indian Medicinal Plants, Phytochemistry And Therapeutics (IMPPAT) v1.0 — CC BY 4.0

Part UsedTherapeutic UseIdentifiersReferences
barkAnthelminticsMESH:D000871,UMLS:C0003158, ICD-11:XM4EC0ISBN:9770972795006
barkAnticonvulsantsMESH:D000927,UMLS:C0003286, ICD-11:XM07T3ISBN:9770972795006, ISBN:9780387706375
barkAnti-infective agents, localMESH:D000891,UMLS:C0003205, ICD-11:XM4VG4ISBN:9770972795006, ISBN:9788172361266, ISBN:9788172363130
barkAnti-inflammatory agentsMESH:D000893,UMLS:C0003209, ICD-11:XM7XD1ISBN:9770972795006
barkAntirheumatic agentsMESH:D018501,UMLS:C0003191, ICD-11:XM95N2ISBN:9770972795006
barkBronchitisMESH:D001991,UMLS:C0006277, DOID:6132, ICD-11:CA20ISBN:9770972795006
barkCardiovascular systemMESH:D002319,UMLS:C0007226, ICD-11:XA4PM9ISBN:9770972795006
barkContraceptive agentsMESH:D003270,UMLS:C0009871ISBN:9770972795006, ISBN:9788172360481
barkEar diseasesMESH:D004427,UMLS:C0013447, ICD-11:AC0ZISBN:9770972795006
barkEpilepsy, generalizedMESH:D004829,UMLS:C0014548, DOID:1827, ICD-11:8A61.2YISBN:9788172362089
barkFlatulenceMESH:D005414,UMLS:C0016204, ICD-11:ME08ISBN:9770972795006, ISBN:9788172361266, ISBN:9788172363130
barkHepatitisMESH:D006505,UMLS:C0019158, DOID:2237, ICD-11:DB97.ZISBN:9770972795006
barkHysteriaMESH:D007046,UMLS:C0020701ISBN:9770972795006, ISBN:9788172361266, ISBN:9788172363130
barkLeprosyMESH:D007918,UMLS:C0023343, DOID:1024, ICD-11:1B20ISBN:9770972795006
barkMuscle crampMESH:D009120,UMLS:C0026821, ICD-11:MB47.3ISBN:9788172360481
barkVomitingMESH:D014839,UMLS:C0042963, ICD-11:MD90.1ISBN:9770972795006
barkOtorrheaUMLS:C0155540, DOID:10261, ICD-11:AB70.0ISBN:9770972795006
leafAntirheumatic agentsMESH:D018501,UMLS:C0003191, ICD-11:XM95N2ISBN:9780387706375
leafGoutMESH:D006073,UMLS:C0018099, DOID:13189, ICD-11:FA25ISBN:9780387706375
leafHysteriaMESH:D007046,UMLS:C0020701ISBN:9770972795006
leafSkin diseasesMESH:D012871,UMLS:C0037274, DOID:37, ICD-11:EM0ZISBN:9780387706375
leafUrologic diseasesMESH:D014570,UMLS:C0042075ISBN:9780387706375
plant exudateBurnsMESH:D002056,UMLS:C0006434, ICD-11:NE2ZISBN:9788172360481
plant exudateContraceptive agentsMESH:D003270,UMLS:C0009871ISBN:9770972795006
plant exudateWound healingMESH:D014945,UMLS:C0043240ISBN:9770972795006
plant exudateWounds and injuriesMESH:D014947,UMLS:C0043251ISBN:9788172360481
whole plant excluding rootCardiovascular systemMESH:D002319,UMLS:C0007226, ICD-11:XA4PM9ISBN:9770972795006
whole plant excluding rootCentral nervous system diseasesMESH:D002493,UMLS:C0007682, DOID:331ISBN:9770972795006
Anti-bacterial agentsMESH:D000900,UMLS:C0279516, ICD-11:XM8XH0ISBN:9788173717024
AnticonvulsantsMESH:D000927,UMLS:C0003286, ICD-11:XM07T3ISBN:9788173717024
Anti-obesity agentsMESH:D019440,UMLS:C0376607, ICD-11:5B81ISBN:9770972795006
AstheniaMESH:D001247,UMLS:C0004093, ICD-11:MG22ISBN:9788173717024
Bacterial infectionsMESH:D001424,UMLS:C0004623, DOID:104, ICD-11:1C41ISBN:9788173717024
BronchitisMESH:D001991,UMLS:C0006277, DOID:6132, ICD-11:CA20ISBN:9788173717024
CoughMESH:D003371,UMLS:C0010200, ICD-11:MD12ISBN:9788173717024
DiarrheaMESH:D003967,UMLS:C0011991, DOID:13250, ICD-11:ME05.1ISBN:9788173717024
DysenteryMESH:D004403,UMLS:C0277526, DOID:12384, ICD-11:1A40.ZISBN:9788173717024
DyspepsiaMESH:D004415,UMLS:C0013395, ICD-11:DD90.3ISBN:9788173717024
EaracheMESH:D004433,UMLS:C0013456, ICD-11:AB70.2ISBN:9788173717024
EpilepsyMESH:D004827,UMLS:C0014544, DOID:1826, ICD-11:8A6ZISBN:9788173717024
ExpectorantsMESH:D005100,UMLS:C0015314ISBN:9788173717024
FlatulenceMESH:D005414,UMLS:C0016204, ICD-11:ME08ISBN:9788173717024
HematemesisMESH:D006396,UMLS:C0018926, ICD-11:ME24.A5ISBN:9788173717024
HemoptysisMESH:D006469,UMLS:C0019079, ICD-11:MD22ISBN:9788173717024
HemorrhageMESH:D006470,UMLS:C0019080, ICD-11:MG27ISBN:9788173717024
HemostasisMESH:D006487,UMLS:C0019116ISBN:9788173717024
HysteriaMESH:D007046,UMLS:C0020701ISBN:9788173717024
InfectionMESH:D007239,UMLS:C3714514, ICD-11:1H0ZISBN:9788173717024
JaundiceMESH:D007565,UMLS:C0022346, ICD-11:ME10.1ISBN:9788173717024
LeprosyMESH:D007918,UMLS:C0023343, DOID:1024, ICD-11:1B20ISBN:9788173717024
Anti-poisoningMESH:D011041, ICD-11:NE6ZISBN:9770972795006
Skin diseasesMESH:D012871,UMLS:C0037274, DOID:37, ICD-11:EM0ZISBN:9788173717024
Wounds and injuriesMESH:D014947,UMLS:C0043251ISBN:9788173717024
OtorrheaUMLS:C0155540, DOID:10261, ICD-11:AB70.0ISBN:9788173717024