BERESTA, -s and BERESTA, -s, w. 1. The top layer of birch bark. Rip off the birch bark. Birch bark tues. 2. (birch bark). Same as birch bark letter. Novgorod birch barks. p adj. birch bark, -aya, -oe and birch bark, -aya, -oe (to 1 value). B. box
View value BEROSTA in other dictionaries
Birch bark- and. (incorrectly birch bark) the upper, light, remsky layer of birch bark, rock; it is used, in addition to hatching tar, for bedding under plank roofs and as many other needs........
Dahl's Explanatory Dictionary
Birch bark- birch bark, and BERESTA, birch bark, many. no, w. The top layer of bark stripped from a birch tree.
Ushakov's Explanatory Dictionary
Beresta J.- 1. see birch bark.
Explanatory Dictionary by Efremova
Birch bark I Beresta J.— 1. The top layer of birch bark.
Explanatory Dictionary by Efremova
Birch bark- -ы; BEROSTA, -s; and. The top layer of birch bark. Rip birch bark. Birch bark tuesok. ● In ancient times it was used as a writing material. During excavations in Novgorod and Pskov........
Kuznetsov's Explanatory Dictionary
Birch bark- This common Slavic word goes back to the same root as birch, but with a different suffix. Cm. .
Krylov's etymological dictionary
Birch bark- (birch bark) - the outer part of the birch bark. Dry distillation produces tar. used for the manufacture of boxes, baskets, etc. See also Birch bark letters.
Large encyclopedic dictionary
Birch bark is the top layer of birch bark - an excellent material for making various products. Products made from birch bark occupied an important place in folk crafts; toys, dishes, bast shoes were made from it, used for birch bark letters, boats were made, and used in construction as waterproofing. Currently, birch bark is used to make souvenirs, jewelry, dishes, various baskets, etc.
Preparation of birch bark
Birch bark is harvested from mid-May to the end of June. At this time, the bark peels off well from the trunk, while in winter it sticks to the cork layer. Timing may vary depending on the geographical area, place of growth, time of onset and nature of spring. The best birch bark for the manufacture of all types of products for birches aged 20-40 years with a smooth, even trunk with a diameter of 150-350 mm. The branches of the birch should be above the middle of the trunk and stretch upward. The most suitable birch bark is for birches growing in moderately damp and moderately shady places.
Before harvesting birch bark, you must obtain official permission from the forestry department indicating a specific harvesting location, as a rule, these are areas for deforestation.
The period of birch bark harvesting coincides with the period of tick activity, so vaccinations against tick-borne encephalitis and protective clothing are necessary.
The outer layer of birch bark is white; in products it is hidden inside and is called the inner or back layer.
Wrong side of birch bark
The inner layer of birch bark facing the trunk has different shades from yellow to brown; in products this layer is called the front layer.
Front side of birch bark
There are several ways to remove birch bark from a trunk: with a layer, with a tape, with a slab.
Types of birch bark blanks: a- plastic birch bark; b - birch bark tape (bast); in - bower
Preparation by layer
To remove the layer, you need to make two horizontal cuts approximately 200 mm long at a distance of 500-1000 mm (depending on how you plan to store the birch bark) and connect them with a vertical cut. By bending the edge of the birch bark, separate it from the trunk; if the time is chosen correctly, the birch bark will separate from the trunk without effort. You can first clean the barrel from the top white layer, thereby reducing the amount of work in the workshop.
Removing a giant layer of birch bark from a fallen birch tree
After removal, the birch bark is dried for 30 minutes in the shade with the front (facing the trunk) side up. The dried layers are laid with their faces facing each other and tied with a rope. If this is not possible, then the birch bark is rolled up, face up, into 8-10 layers and tied. The layers are stored unfolded in a stack folded in pairs with right sides, with a sheet of plywood placed on top. It is better to store in a dark, dry place, in a cool, ventilated area in summer.
Preparation with tape
In the forest, a smooth birch without knots or cracks is selected. A vertical cut of 4-6 cm is made on it with a knife to remove the tape. Next, the bark needs to be peeled off in a spiral downwards around the trunk. The knife is held so that the index finger lies on the edge of the blade, and the thumb rests against the birch trunk, limiting the width of the tape. The resulting tape is rolled into balls or rolls with the white layer facing out. An experienced master removes a continuous tape 100 meters long. It is important to ensure that the depth of the cut is small, within the cork layer, so that the birch tree does not dry out and after 10-15 years the protective bark appears on it again. To remove the tape, you can use a special cutter with a limiter.
Birch bark harvesting technology: a - birch bark cuts; b - removal of layered birch bark; c - packaging of layered birch bark; g - birch bark cut; d - removal of birch bark tape; e - position of the hand and knife when removing the birch bark strip; g - packaging of birch bark tape; h - removal of birch bark strip using cutter G.Ya. Fedotova
Skoloten (cylinder)
The trunk of a cut tree is marked into sections; the length of the section should not be less than 1.5-2 trunk diameters plus 100 mm to the height of the planned product.
Having determined the length of the wedge, make a circular cut and peel off the birch bark using a sapling (a tool resembling a bayonet). The flat side is hammered between the birch bark and the bast, and carefully peeled away from the trunk along the circumference with progressive movements. Then, clasping the ankle with your hands or a belt, remove it, making rotational movements.
After removing the first slab located closer to the top, saw off the freed end of the trunk and begin removing the next sklot. The dried pieces are inserted sequentially into each other.
Technology for harvesting sklotneys: a - marking areas for harvesting sklotneys; b - separation of the stem from the trunk using a scraper; c - packing of sklotneys
Necessary tools for harvesting birch bark: saw, axe, knife-cutter, sword (saber).
Tools for harvesting birch bark: a - knife-cutter; b - sochalka
Tools and accessories
The work table should be well lit and, for ease of work, equipped with drawers for storing tools, fixtures and pieces of birch bark.
To protect against damage, place a sheet of plywood 6-10 mm thick on the tabletop. Size of at least 800x500 mm.
The following tools and devices are used to work with birch bark:
A jamb knife - for cutting birch bark, a knife with a curved blade for stripping birch bark, a cutter knife, sharpened on one side, for working with slotted birch bark.
Tools for working with birch bark: a - jamb knife; b - knife for stripping birch bark; c - knife-cutter; g - straight awl; d - awl with a square section; e - awl - kochedyk; g - clamp; h - round punch; and - a triangular shaped punch; k - embossing in the form of a cross
Scissors with thin blades 60-70 mm long - for weaving, tailor's scissors, with a thick blade and comfortable handles - for cutting birch bark strips.
A round straight awl, with a blunt polished tip - for marking on birch bark, a shoe awl with a square cross-section - for piercing holes when sewing products made of birch bark, a stud awl, a flat spatula awl with a hook-shaped bend - used for weaving.
Wooden and metal rulers of various lengths and squares - for marking and cutting birch bark.
Measuring and drawing compasses for marking.
Tweezers are used for weaving.
Clips - used for temporary fixation of birch bark strips during weaving and in the manufacture of products from layered birch bark; they can be made from birch rod; clothespins, paper clips, office clips, clamps and a rubber band can be used.
Cutters - used to make incised ornaments, they are sharpened grooves of various sizes; semicircular wood chisels of a suitable size can be used as cutters.
Punchers can be of various diameters and shapes, used for locking joints and standard perforated figures. The inside of the punch should be hollow; cut sections of birch bark will be removed through it using a thin rod.
Punchers are made from tubes of various diameters; it is possible to turn punches on a lathe; it is better to make punches from carbon tool steel (for example, U8A).
Embossing - designed for applying an embossed pattern on birch bark, made of dense wood, metal, bone, with a design made on the end of the embossing. For small coins, you can use medical drills.
Wood engravings
Tape cutter F.F. Trapeznikov, designed for cutting birch bark strips of a certain width. The tape cutter consists of two halves that clamp the oblique knife, one of the halves corresponds to the width of the tape. A layer of birch bark is pressed against the edge of a wooden corner, running a tape cutter along it to obtain an even tape. Tape cutters can be made for tapes of various widths.
Tape cutter F.F. Trapeznikova
Templates are devices corresponding to the internal dimensions and shape of future products; they are usually made of wood. Bowls, vases, boxes and other objects and containers can be used as templates.
Frame boards are needed for temporary storage of birch bark strips. They are a piece of plywood measuring, for example, 500x300 mm. Elastic bands are stretched over a certain distance to hold the cut strips unfolded.
Board-frame for storing birch bark strips
A scoring board is necessary for working with slotted birch bark; it is made from linden, aspen, and beech wood, size approximately 250x250 mm.
To create various products, you may need materials such as willow twigs of various diameters peeled from bark, steel wire with a diameter of 0.2 to 3 mm, planks of various wood (birch, pine, spruce), linseed or sunflower oil, adhesives such as Moment, PVA, medical glue BF-6 (recommended for the manufacture of birch bark utensils).
Birch bark processing
The first stage of processing birch bark is removing the thin upper thin white layer from the bark on the rough surface of the tree immediately after harvesting in the forest or in the workshop using a regular brush and knife.
The second stage is the separation of birch bark into layers. Birch bark is multi-layered and not all layers can and should be used in weaving. Therefore, it is necessary to peel off the fragile top layers to the required thickness for each specific product; small products are made from thin strips, and larger ones, such as baskets and boxes, are made from thicker ones.
The third stage is cutting strips (straps) of birch bark. You can cut birch bark in several ways: using scissors, using a knife and ruler, using a tape cutter.
During long-term (more than a month) storage, it will not hurt to oil the prepared strips. You can use sunflower oil. You should soak a flannel cloth in oil and wipe both sides with it at the same time. Roll the strips back into balls and preferably put them in plastic bags for long-term storage.
Without oil, birch bark becomes brittle and brittle and must be soaked in water if it has not been stored wet in a plastic bag. After a few hours in water, dry birch bark becomes elastic, flexible, and ready for weaving. It is necessary to soak the entire ball or package of strips so that the strips (ribbons) do not curl. Good material is not soaked, but moistened with a cloth just before starting and during weaving, using soapy water.
Weaving
There are two types of weaving: oblique and straight. The names are explained by the angle (in degrees) the intersecting ribbons form with respect to the horizon. The main type of weaving is oblique weaving, due to its better manufacturability and strength.
Direct weaving is suitable for creating flat products - napkins, book covers; three-dimensional products such as salt shakers and boxes can also be made.
Straight weave basket
Oblique weaving is used mainly for the manufacture of three-dimensional products - baskets, vases, boxes, and flat ones such as straps.
Birch bark boxes made using the oblique weaving method (the work of S.V. Ivanov)
For straight weaving, any number of ribbons are used; for oblique weaving, an even number is used.
The first stage of weaving the creation of the bottom is obtained by interlacing strips until a square with a checkerboard pattern is formed, the dimensions of which are determined by the number of strips 4x4, 6x6, 7x7, etc. The number of tapes is respectively taken as 8,12,14, etc.
To fix the strips during weaving, weights (for example glass) and clamps are used. Having received a clear square, mark the bottom of the future product; it can be square or rectangular. With straight weaving, the corners of the bottom are indicated by the letter - c; with oblique weaving, the projection of a square bottom is indicated by the letters - g, rectangular - d.
Making the bottom of the product: a - beginning of weaving; b - finished canvas; c - places where the corners of the fabric are connected with clamps and the placement of the bottom of the product with direct weaving; d - projection of the bottom of a product with a square bottom with oblique weaving; d - projection of the bottom of a product with a rectangular bottom with oblique weaving; 1-6 - horizontal stripes; 7-12 - vertically woven stripes
Next, the walls begin to form. When weaving directly, it is better to form the volume around a template of the appropriate size. All strips protruding beyond the volume are bent one by one at a right angle upward and tied with a rope. Then, from any angle, they begin to introduce additional horizontal stripes, gradually intertwining the vertical ones with them. The number of horizontal stripes determines the height of the product.
Manufacturing a product using the direct weaving method: a - bringing the strips into a vertical position; b - fixing the strips with a rope and weaving horizontal strips; c - formation of the edge of the product; g - finished product
With oblique weaving, an angle is formed at the marking site by crossing and interweaving adjacent strips. After braiding all four corners, the products are brought to the desired height. To obtain a product with smooth walls, you can use a template around which the product is formed. During operation, the strips are constantly pressed against each other to obtain a dense wall without gaps.
After forming the inner part of the product, the tapes are folded outward and downwards and weaving of the outer layer begins. Any product consists of two layers, and the inner face layer of birch bark will be visible both inside and outside the product.
If the length of the cut strips is not enough, they are increased: they are inserted under the previous layer, lifting it with scissors or an awl. Finish weaving on the outside of the bottom.
Manufacturing a product using the oblique weaving method: a, b, c, - stages of forming the corner of the product; d, e - stages of formation of the edge of the product; e - finished product
Making tues
Making tues is considered one of the most difficult in the birch bark craft.
Tues are made sheathed and reversible. The sheathing tues usually consists of 4 parts of birch bark: a clapper, a shirt and two upper and lower belts.
Scheme for making a sheathing tues
The reverse tues consists only of the first two. As a rule, the shirt is connected with a lock, although they also made ties without a shirt, only with belts. The lock connecting the layer into a cylinder has many forms and principles of fastening.
Locks for sewing shirts
1 - stitching the tues with birch bark tape, 2-8 - options for locking joints
The tues can be braided with tree roots, birch bark, a strip of willow twig, rope, and wire. In the villages, tues were braided only from above. The bottom held the belt from below. For beauty, the lower belt is also braided.
When making a reverse shirt, the height of the collar should be greater than the height of the shirt. Having put the finished shirt on the knee, steam its protruding edges in boiling water. Then bend two hoops from a willow rod and fasten their ends with threads. The hoops should fit snugly to the joint. Now wrap the steamed edges of the pin around the willow hoops, placing them on the shirt. The hoops give the edges of the walls a rounded shape and make the structure rigid, securing the bottom and holding the lid of the container.
Making a reverse tuise: a - bower with a shirt; b - lid with handle and bottom; c - the lower edge of the fold is wrapped after softening in hot water; g - finished product
Cut the bottom out of spruce or cedar wood. The diameter of the bottom should be several millimeters larger than the diameter of the inner wall of the tube. Before inserting the bottom, steam the edges of the walls again. After this, the bottom will be easily inserted, and when the walls are dry, the bottom will be firmly fixed in the frame, and at the same time the gaps between it and the walls will disappear.
Cut the lid from a spruce or cedar board with a small margin. Then, carefully cutting off the edges with a knife, bend it to the tuesk. Make sure that the edges of the lid fit snugly against the walls of the container. The lid should fit into the unit with some effort.
The handle can be made in the form of a poke. Cut the poke with a knife or turn it on a lathe, insert it into the hole drilled in the lid and hammer in a short wooden wedge on the bottom side for strength.
If the container is intended for carrying food over long distances, it is necessary to make a handle-bow. A simple bow is made like this. Drill two holes in the lid at an angle to each other. Then steam a willow twig lightly trimmed on one side in boiling water. Having bent the rod in an arc, insert its ends into the holes. After drying, the rod will become rigid and firmly fixed in the lid. For reliability, the ends of the handle can be wedged.
But the most reliable and beautiful is the handle-bow with a lock. Regardless of the size of the tool, such a handle has fairly constant proportions and dimensions. Most often it is done on the hand of an adult.
Plane a handle blank from willow wood.
Drill two rectangular holes in the lid. When marking the holes, make sure that the wood grain on the lid runs across the line where the holes are located. In the drawing this line is shown in red.
Steam the handle-bow blank in boiling water, carefully bend it into an arc and insert the ends of the handle into the holes in the lid. Drill two holes in the ends of the handle protruding from below and use a chisel to shape them into a wedge. Cut a wedge out of spruce and hammer it into the holes of the bow. The wedge will firmly connect the lid to the handle. But it also has another purpose - being located across the fibers of the lid, it will prevent it from warping, especially if liquids are poured into the container.
Making handles for tues
Peasants know well that salt stored in a container will never disappoint, and pickled mushrooms and cucumbers are not only stored for a long time, but also acquire such an aroma that it is sometimes difficult for the uninitiated to believe that no spices have been added to the pickling.
But still, another advantage of the tuesk is most valued - water, milk or kvass remains cold in it for a long time, and hot water, on the contrary, does not cool down for a long time. That is why from time immemorial he was a frequent companion of the reaper, plowman, hunter, and fisherman. The peasant had to notice more than once that even on the hottest days, when the sun mercilessly scorches, the birch sap coming out of the trunk is always cold. This means that birch bark reliably protects the birch trunk from overheating. This property of birch bark is explained by its structure. It consists of many thin layers that do not allow moisture and air to pass through, and the top layer is covered with a white coating that reflects the sun's rays.
Working with plastic birch bark
To work with the formation, it is necessary to select birch bark with the least amount of heterogeneity. Required tools: knife, awl. Plastic birch bark is used to manufacture a wide range of products. These are sewn items, boxes, souvenirs, dolls, dishes and much more.
Box decorated with slotted birch bark
Birch bark dolls
A unique and interesting new direction of birch bark products developed by Vladimir Makhnyuk - birch bark utensils, these are teacups, samovars, in a samovar with titanium steel for kindling you can even boil water (you can get acquainted with the work and technology of the master in his book).
Tea set by V. Makhnyuk
Products made from plastic birch bark and planks are often additionally decorated in one way or another.
Methods of decorating birch bark products
Embossing
A method of decorating products made from plastic birch bark using embossing and stamps. Mints are made from various materials: wood, metal, bone. A pattern is formed at the working end. Embossed ornaments are applied to the product with a certain rhythm, pressing on the embossing with a hand or hitting it with a hammer.
Tuesa decorated with embossing (work by A.V. Shutikhin)
Hot stamping is also used, when the embossing or stamp is heated before pressing, and the imprint at the points of contact with the birch bark will have a brown tint, butthe saturation of which will depend on the temperature of the stamp, the exposure time and the thickness of the birch bark, the main thing here is not to overdo it, the birch bark may burn.
In the factory, you can make various stamps with complex patterns.
Tuesa decorated by hot pressing
Burning engraving
You can apply a design to birch bark by burning it. To do this, use an electric burning device; the main thing when burning on birch bark is to use minimal heating of the burning pen.
Burning on birch bark (work by T. Kozlova)
Burning can be divided into contour, silhouette and pictorial (see the burning section).
Laser cutting and engraving
Cutting and engraving on birch bark can be achieved using modern laser equipment. On a laser machine you can carve birch bark and any type of burning. This method allows you to produce a large number of identical elements or products with high productivity.
An example of engraving on birch bark made on a laser machine
Scraping or Scratching
Scraping is used on dark-colored birch bark, usually with a metal tool - a knife, an awl, a needle. Autumn birch bark is used, which is removed from the tree with considerable effort. On such birch bark there remains a thin layer of brown cambium, which is removed with a scratching tool during work. Brown birch bark can be obtained by removing the bark from dead birch trees, holding freshly removed birch bark for 4-5 days in bright sun, periodically wetting it with water, holding the birch bark in a swamp at a depth of 10-15 cm for 14 days, painting the birch bark with a decoction of alder bark, painting it with an organic dye .
The design is applied to the birch bark with an awl by piercing tracing paper with the image or by tracing a stencil. Then the birch bark is slightly moistened and with the sharp side of a knife-cutter I scrape out the elements of the ornament, removing the dark layer. You can do the opposite by scraping out the background, leaving the ornament or image black.
The lid of a box with an image of swans, made by scraping. XIV century
Application
An applique is a decoration made from patterns cut out of birch bark, which are glued onto a product made of birch bark or other material.
Glass vase with glued slotted birch bark (work by S.V. Ivanov)
Painting made with birch bark applique
Thread
Carving is usually done on birch bark taken from young birch trees. The design is transferred to a piece of plastic birch bark of the required size with an awl, through tracing paper or a stencil. Use a knife-cutter to remove areas of the background. Carving is done on a wooden board, usually made of linden. Elements of the same type can be cut out with a punch of the appropriate shape. Slotted birch bark can be additionally decorated with embossing.
Making an incised ornament
Tues decorated with slotted birch bark
painting
An ancient method of decorating products made from birch bark, it was very often used to decorate birch bark tues or beetroot. The primary colors are red, green, blue and their shades when mixed with white. Sometimes the entire body was covered with background paint, and then a drawing was applied. Before painting, the surface is primed; it can be a mixture of chalk and wood glue, or you can use PVA glue. For painting you can use gouache, tempera and oil paints. To fix the painting, I cover it with oil varnishes.
Example of painted birch bark products
Finished birch bark products are lubricated with linseed or sunflower oil, this adds shine to the product.
Literature:
1. Klevtsov V.I. Birch bark weaving: 50 useful products. - St. Petersburg: Lenizdat, 1996. - 158 p., ill.
2. Makhnyuk V.G. Birch bark: Technology. Prima. Products: Encyclopedia. - M.: AST-PRESS BOOK. - 168 p.: ill. 2008
3. Finyagin V.V. Products from birch bark. - M.: Astrel Publishing House LLC, AST Publishing House LLC, 2001. - 128 p.: ill. - (Learning from folk masters).
Birch bark
Birch bark is a universal material; flexible, lightweight, durable. Previously, shoes, baskets for berries, and boxes for picking mushrooms were woven from it.
Birch bark was usually collected in the spring. At this time of year it is more durable and easily separated from the trunk. The time for harvesting birch bark was determined by an old folk superstition: when rye has bloomed, it’s time to go to the forest to get birch bark. And folk craftsmen wove products in late autumn or winter, when they had free time.
Read the text:
Birch bark
Birch bark was highly valued in Rus'. Shoes, toys, and jewelry were made from it. Butter, sour cream, and cottage cheese were stored in birch bark containers. Birch bark was used for writing.
How can we title the text?
Answer the questions:
What is birch bark?
What did people make of it?
What was stored in birch bark containers?
What was birch bark used for?
Think about whether the words
birch (bark) and birch bark (dishes) of the same root?
Explain your answer.
Read the text
find the studied spellings.
Birch bark is the upper part of birch bark.
Read the text again to yourself.
Birch bark is the upper part of birch bark.
Birch bark was highly valued in Rus'. Shoes, toys, and jewelry were made from it. Butter, sour cream, and cottage cheese were stored in birch bark containers. Birch bark was used for writing.
Number.
Presentation.
Birch bark.
Write a summary of the questions.
1. What is birch bark?
upper part of birch bark
2. What did people make of it?
shoes, toys, jewelry
3. What was stored in birch bark containers?
butter, sour cream, cottage cheese
4. What was birch bark used for?
for writing
5. What are birch bark letters?
letters and documents
Completed the presentation
Andrienko Svetlana Evgenievna
primary school teacher
MBOU "Uyutnenskaya Secondary School - Gymnasium"
differs from all other tree plantations in the whiteness of the trunk. Whiteness, which, as it turns out, is a powerful protector of this beloved tree from destruction by various bacteria, fungi, viruses, bugs, ants, and other insects - those who like to feast on this wood, which is probably very sweet for them, as well as from harmful solar radiation and other negative influences of the external environment. This whiteness has attracted people from time immemorial; it is characteristic exclusively of the upper layer of bark, which peels off quite easily and quickly. This layer is called birch bark, and if we plunge into the history of our ancestors, we will remember not only Novgorod birch bark tablets, but also bast shoes, shoe insoles, birch bark flour, and tar. Lapti, homemade shoes woven from birch bark, have been widely used in peasant villages since ancient times. Subsequently, when leather shoes came into use, birch bark again served people well, but in a new capacity, like a shoe insole. Let us note that the soldiers of the tsarist army never suffered from fungal diseases, despite the fact that constant drills and long campaigns did not give respite to the soldiers’ legs. By the way, birch bark insoles would not be out of place in our time.
Birch bark attracted the attention of folk healers, and in their ancient notes, among the recommendations on how and with what to treat skin diseases, purulent wounds and cuts, one can find that the most effective way is to sprinkle it with crushed birch bark. This remedy was recommended for the treatment of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, it was advised to chew it to strengthen teeth and gums, and to improve digestion, birch bark was crushed and added to flour, from which bread was subsequently baked. When preparing a room for a woman in labor, a few drops of birch tar were dripped onto hot coal to disinfect the room. Birch tar is the result of dry distillation of birch bark, a thick oily liquid with a specific odor and unique bactericidal properties, but more on that below.
During the war, birch bark was burned and bandages were sterilized with smoke after washing; it also has bactericidal properties.
Tibetan monks and Yakuts treat lichens, inflammatory and infectious skin diseases with the help of birch bark. Nanais, in addition to skin diseases, also treat tuberculosis and stomach ulcers with this remedy.
As you can see, its bark has attracted people's attention for a long time. Today it is already known that such antiseptic and bactericidal properties of birch bark are imparted by the triterpene alcohol betunol or betulin included in its composition. This substance, which gives birch bark its whiteness, makes up 30% of the amount of all useful substances contained in it, and these are glycosides, betulosides, saponins, wintergreens, bitterness, tannins and essential oil. By the way, essential oil, which is found, among other things, spreading around trees in their places, especially in birch groves, destroys about 400 types of pathogenic bacteria around it and has a calming effect on the nervous system, remember how pleasant it is to wander in birch groves.
Betulin is also called birch camphor, and as a result of a more in-depth study of the properties of this substance, which continues to this day, betulin began to be called “white gold” in scientific circles.
The first documentary description of a white powder isolated from birch bark was made in 1788 by Toviy Lowitz, a student and associate of M.V. Lomonosov. It was he who began to use it to treat burns and cuts. And only half a century later, another chemist called this powder betulin.
At the end of the 19th century, betulin began to be used in practice to disinfect wounds and cuts; it was applied to bactericidal patches as an antiseptic. But at the beginning of the twentieth century, its anti-rickets property was discovered, and in 1994, the antiviral property of this substance and, in particular, the fact that it counteracts the human immunodeficiency virus. These properties are also inherent in extracts prepared from the top layer of birch bark, that is, from birch bark.
A natural, fairly cheap, easily obtained substance from birch bark is a white, sometimes beige, powder. It consists of 80% betulin, with a high melting point of up to 260 degrees Celsius. This powder has become the object of careful research by doctors, biologists, and pharmacists in almost 40 countries. The first results showed that this remedy does not cause side effects, and in addition to antiseptic and wound-healing properties, betulin exhibits antiviral, hepatoprotective, choleretic, antioxidant, immunostimulating, and antitumor properties. Interest in this substance has not yet died down, research continues, and this makes it possible to learn more and more new facets of this unique natural substance.
Let's start with the fact that the discovered hepatoprotective properties help doctors, with the help of betulin, in combination with traditional methods, treat all types of acute and chronic liver diseases. And the antiviral properties of this unique substance make it possible to add viral hepatitis of all three known types A, B and C to the list of diseases that can be treated more quickly and effectively with its participation. The use of betulin speeds up the recovery time and the period of restoration of lost health and physical strength for those affected by these diseases.
Traditional medicine suggests preparing birch bark decoctions for treatment, however 
Self-treatment of severe forms of liver disease with decoctions prepared at home, of course, will not give a 100% guarantee of a positive result. However, today there are already a number of medications, biologically active food additives, and doctors often use birch bark extract, but such treatment must occur under their supervision and in strict accordance with the recommendations. Moreover, these decoctions will help restore strength to people who have undergone radiation and chemotherapy sessions during cancer; they are effective as a prophylactic for alcoholic liver damage, after undergoing complex operations performed under general anesthesia, in the presence of severe injuries and burns.
Birch bark decoctions, thanks to betulin, exhibit a pronounced choleretic property. And this improves the digestion process, and as mentioned above, our ancestors added crushed birch bark to flour, pursuing precisely these goals. And, by the way, the fact that stomach ulcers can be treated with birch bark decoctions, as the Nanais do, has been confirmed, and official medicine uses betulin in the complex treatment of this disease. Studies have shown that betulin has a positive effect on the mucous membrane when it is damaged and at the same time inhibits the activity of gastric juice, reducing the level of hydrochloric acid.
Considering the specific effect of this unique substance on the liver, which can directly eliminate the cause of the disease, decoctions of birch bark are recommended to be used to prevent the formation of gallstones and the occurrence of cholecystitis, a disease that is now quite common. But for people who are overweight, betulin is, as the Chinese noted in one of their popular newspapers, “a unique way to lose weight while lying on bed.” This unique substance, when in the body, changes the fat burning pattern that is familiar to us, which has a strong effect on the metabolic process and prevents obesity.
In addition, betulin has a very strong effect on cholesterol levels in the body. Firstly, betulin, by its presence, inhibits its synthesis by the liver and prevents complete absorption of cholesterol by the intestine. And secondly, by improving the outflow of bile, it promotes the rapid removal of cholesterol along with bile acids, and practically normalizes its level in the body. Therefore, the use of birch bark decoctions is the prevention of atherosclerosis, hypertension, heart attacks and strokes.
The effect of betulin does not end with suppressing the harmful effects of cholesterol; it has the ability to reduce vascular permeability and at the same time strengthen capillaries.
The anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties of betulin are manifested in the fact that 
it actively stimulates the body's internal reserves to combat irritants that cause inflammatory processes. Therefore, birch bark decoctions in tandem with traditional forms of treatment accelerate the healing process during colds and exacerbation of inflammatory processes in rheumatic joint diseases. By the way, various diseases of the throat, tonsillitis, pharyngitis, tonsillitis, inflammation of the oral mucosa are quite effectively treated with birch bark decoctions in the form of rinsing. Rheumatism, gout, pain in muscles or joints, skin diseases are recommended to be treated by applying decoctions externally, adding them to the bath or in the form of lotions or compresses. Decoctions for external use are prepared as follows: one tablespoon of crushed birch bark is poured with a glass of boiling water, then the solution is infused to an acceptable temperature, filtered and used for washing wounds and compresses. If there is a need for a larger amount of solution, for example, to add to a bath, or to prepare baths for steaming feet, then the same proportion is maintained, only five tablespoons of raw material are needed for one liter of boiling water. As for internal use, here one teaspoon of crushed birch bark is poured into a glass of boiling water, simmered over low heat for 5 minutes, infused to an acceptable temperature and consumed one glass 3 times a day after meals. By the way, this infusion helps with diarrhea and colitis.
Regarding the strong antiviral effect of this substance on the body, here scientists discovered that betulin promotes the synthesis of interferon, a substance that is secreted by body cells in response to the invasion of a virus to fight it. With reduced immunity, and this happens to us quite often for various reasons, the synthesis of interferon is significantly reduced, and the use of antiviral drugs and immunomodulators is limited due to their toxicity and the appearance of side effects after long-term use. Interferon drugs have also shown to be ineffective due to the discovered negative consequences of their effect on the body. Betulin is able to regulate the level of interferon synthesis, and this makes it possible to use it in the treatment of influenza viruses type A, bird flu, herpes simplex virus, viral diarrhea, and diseases of the mucous membranes. External use of birch bark decoctions as an antiviral agent is important in the presence of warts, because the nature of their occurrence is viral.
The antitumor properties of betulin have been discovered and, very importantly, studies have confirmed its positive effect in the complex treatment of fibroids (skin cancer) and brain tumors.
Antioxidant properties, which are one of the factors in the prevention of cancer, simultaneously slow down the aging process of the body. And recently, it has often begun to be used in cosmetics, because betulin, in comparison with ascorbic acid, stimulates collagen synthesis in the skin much more powerfully, and this significantly eliminates its sagging and counteracts the formation of wrinkles.
In addition to all of the above, betulin is an emulsifying agent, and in many countries around the world it is added to food products such as butter, mayonnaise, bakery products, meat products, sausages, and chocolates. And it should be noted that this additive is absolutely harmless, even after heat treatment, and if we take into account its antioxidant properties, the shelf life of such products is much longer. Even in the old days they knew about this, because peasants stored bread in birch bark tues.
Alexander Vasilyevich Vishnevsky, a military surgeon practicing in Russian and Soviet times, created in 1927 a unique ointment for the treatment of purulent wounds, boils and cuts, which was later named after him. To this day, it enjoys great success among doctors, and its main ingredient is birch tar. In addition, tar is included in other ointments intended for the treatment of skin diseases, as well as for the treatment of rheumatism and gout, as an anti-inflammatory and analgesic. But for the care of problem skin and for the prevention of various skin diseases, there is tar soap. Birch tar is also used to treat serious skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis.
The famous American chemist, professor at the University of Minnesota Robert Carlson, expressed his opinion, calling betulin “first-class stuff” that works too well because it is “synthesized by nature, not in the laboratory.” This is how she is, as you can see her white trunk is not only beauty, it is a storehouse of our health. However, do not rush to a birch grove for birch bark, because even the smallest damage to the bark of these trees, due to the tendency of the wood to quickly rot, threatens the life of the entire tree. And the value of birch bark increases with the age of the birch, so treat this tree with love.
Health and prosperity to you.
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Birch bark is an environmentally friendly material, which can already be considered a huge advantage. In addition, it has some unique properties that other natural materials do not possess.
- It is hygroscopic and perfectly absorbs moisture. That is why sugar and salt in birch bark containers always remain dry and do not form lumps even at high humidity.
- Birch bark has bactericidal properties. Our ancestors knew this very well, so they used containers made of this material to store perishable foods. For example, birch bark often served as storage for fish and dairy products, and in birch bark bread bins bread can lie for a very long time without drying out or becoming moldy.
Crafts made from birch bark are very easy to use: they are light and at the same time quite durable and hold their shape well.
Dishes made from this natural material are also attractive from an aesthetic point of view, and they can also be made in different ways. Some craftsmen adhere to ancient traditions and create objects strictly in accordance with museum samples, while others come up with unusual things that can easily fit into almost any modern interior. Crafts made from birch bark retain a delicate aroma for a long time, reminiscent of summer trees covered with greenery. They also retain heat even in cold rooms and are very pleasant to the touch.
How to wash birch bark products?
It is a very common belief that objects made from birch bark can be washed, but you should not do it often, otherwise they may deteriorate. This is absolutely not true. It is enough to recall the famous birch bark letters that lay in the ground for hundreds of years: if the bark were afraid of moisture, then they would not have survived to this day.
As mentioned earlier, birch bark is hygroscopic and is not at all afraid of moisture. Dishes made from this material can be washed and even need to be done as needed! Products made from birch bark can be washed not only by hand, but also in the dishwasher along with regular dishes (but only if there are no metal parts inside, such as wire to secure the handle). Washing in the dishwasher will not harm at all; moreover, the product will be washed better. For example, between the strips of birch bark in a wicker bread pan, a lot of crumbs accumulate over time - they are almost impossible to remove during hand washing, and a dishwasher will cope with this task perfectly.
After washing in hot water, crafts made from birch bark acquire special softness and elasticity, but do not change their shape and, after complete drying, become dense again. It must be remembered that birch bark loves moisture, and objects made from it must be periodically wiped with a damp cloth. Otherwise, especially if the air in the room is very dry, they may become brittle and simply crumble.
If such things are properly cared for, they will always have an attractive appearance and will last a long time.
