Birch tar: beneficial properties and contraindications, use in folk medicine

What is birch tar and how is it obtained?

Tar is a thick, black, oily liquid. It has a specific pungent odor. Tar is extracted by pyrolysis, which is the dry distillation of birch bark with heating to 200-300 degrees in closed apparatus without air access.

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Tar soap in folk medicine and cosmetology: methods of use

Composition of birch tar

The benefits of birch tar are determined by its rich biochemical composition. The product is based on paraffin. The composition also includes resins, tannins, astringents, phenols, benzene, betulin (betulenol), guaiacol, terebene, creosol, xylenol, salicylic acid. They provide the disinfecting and irritating properties of tar.

Tar production technology

There is no point in giving a detailed description of the technology of the tar production process, and, in short, the technology is based on the dry distillation of birch bark.

Under the influence of high temperature and in the absence of oxygen, wood is destroyed, as a result of which complex chemical compounds break down into simpler components (phenols, cresols, aromatic compounds, etc.) and are released in the form of a resinous viscous liquid.

For medical needs, tar is subjected to fractional distillation to separate low- and high-boiling fractions. The low-boiling fraction is “medicinal tar,” and the resin fraction is industrial cheese.

The technology for “producing medicinal tar,” used in ancient times, involved a “wet” distillation method, when a certain volume of water was added to a distillation cube filled with birch bark. Superheated water vapor served as a kind of “thermostat”, preventing an excessive increase in the temperature of the process, and, accordingly, increasing the yield of the low-boiling fraction.

What does birch tar treat?

Due to its unique chemical composition, the product has a huge number of medicinal properties. However, for the most part it is used for external use as an anti-inflammatory, regenerating and antipruritic agent.

What else does tar help with when used externally or internally? The list is quite extensive:

• psoriasis;
• haemorrhoids;
• mastopathy and mastitis;
• cancer;
• opisthorchiasis;
• prostatitis;
• cutaneous mycosis;
• seborrheic dermatitis;
• helminthic infestation;
• nail fungus;
• scabies;
• vitiligo;
• papilloma;
• uterine fibroids, cervical erosion and a number of other gynecological diseases.

Birch tar effectively destroys pathogenic microorganisms, soothes irritations, eliminates swelling, bruises and compactions. It is not for nothing that the familiar Vishnevsky ointment contains birch tar.

Pharmacological preparations based on tar

1. Vishnevsky's liniment . It is used to accelerate the maturation of boils, in the treatment of wounds and other traumatic skin injuries. The ointment contains tar and xeroform (3 parts each) per 100 parts castor oil. The well-known “army remedy for all diseases” (a rather strange method of application is to lubricate inflamed tonsils with a sore throat).
2. Ointment against scabies. It is prepared on the basis of naphthalan ointment (40 parts), medical soap, birch tar and sulfur (ratio 30:15:15).
3. Wilkinson's ointment. Modification of sulfur-tar-naphthalan ointment by adding 10 parts of calcium carbonate and 4 parts of water to the composition. It is used to destroy scabies and in the treatment of fungal skin infections.

Birch tar in folk medicine: the best recipes

From parasites

To remove parasites, under-oxidized and harmful intermediate metabolic products, cholesterol, heavy metals and uric acid from the body, it is recommended to consume bread with birch tar.

How to use

On the first day before going to bed, eat a piece of rye bread with 5 drops of tar on it. Do not drink anything or eat anything. Next, increase the dosage daily by 1 drop and bring it to 10. Then start reducing the dosage one drop at a time and bring the number per dose to 5. In general, the course lasts 11 days. You can repeat it after three months.

Instead of bread, you can take milk, honey or an apple.

For joint pain

Birch tar is used externally to relieve symptoms of joint and muscle pain. In its pure form, it can cause irritation on the skin, so it is better to mix it with baby cream or melted lard in a 1:1 ratio.

Lubricate the sore spot with the tar mixture and leave until it tingles slightly (15-20 minutes). After this, dry thoroughly, and after an hour wash with soap.

Before using any traditional medicine recipe, be sure to consult your doctor.

For seborrhea

A special mask based on birch tar will help get rid of dandruff. To prepare it, a raw egg is mixed with a few drops of castor oil and 1/2 teaspoon of tar. Rub the resulting product into the hair roots with your hands and leave for 5 minutes. You need to do this procedure every other day until the dandruff disappears.

From fungus

To treat foot or nail fungus, special water is prepared. In 50 ml of boiled water you need to dissolve 1 tbsp. l. tar and leave in a dark place for two days. Then remove the film from the surface and carefully drain the clear water without disturbing the sediment at the bottom. Use this water to wipe fungus-affected nails or feet.

For acne

Birch tar has found its use not only in medicine, but also in cosmetology. A special soap is made from it, which is now again gaining popularity as a cosmetic product for caring for the skin of the face and body. It helps fight pigmentation, acne and blackheads. You can track the effectiveness of this product through photos taken before and after its use.

Tar soap is used in courses of 14 days. Afterwards, be sure to take a 10-day break.

Birch tar, which has long been used in dermatology, has many beneficial properties: it restores keratinization, has antimicrobial, antiparasitic, drying, vasoconstrictive, analgesic effects, reduces redness and soothes itching. In case of chronic eczema, psoriasis and other infiltrative processes in the skin, it has a resolving effect (Albanova V.I., 2002). Birch tar is used both in its pure form and as part of finished medicinal preparations (sulfur-tar ointment, Vishnevsky ointment, Wilkinson ointment, Yam ointment, etc.) and medicinal prescriptions for the treatment of many skin diseases. Birch tar is made from birch bark, the outer layer of birch bark. Like other substances of plant origin, tar has a complex composition; it contains phenols (up to 15%), organic acids (up to 5%), esters of organic acids (up to 10%), organic bases and other substances (aldehydes, ketones, alcohols, heterocyclic compounds, etc.). Birch tar is a black oily liquid with a specific odor. The use of tar for chronic dermatoses is limited - it is not applied to large areas of the lesion and is practically not prescribed to children. A method for purifying birch tar from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, allomelanins, turpentine, water, developed at JSC "Retinoids" et al. allows you to sharply reduce the content of these substances in it, which reduces the likelihood of side effects (Arkhapchev Yu.P. et al., 2004; Arkhapchev Yu.P., Khromykh N.N., 2005).

The main disadvantage of tar preparations is their pungent odor and the brown color that stains laundry when it is smeared on the skin, as well as poor absorption of the preparations by the skin, which makes the skin look untidy. The noted disadvantages can be overcome by applying tar preparations to the skin for a short period of time, after which they are washed off from the skin (by analogy with coal tar preparations).

In order to establish that when purifying tar, its medicinal properties are not lost, and that short-term application of tar is effective and well tolerated, a comparative study was conducted on the effects of purified and Pharmacopoeial tar on skin diseases.

The study was conducted in a double-blind manner at the Scientific Dermatological Institute.

Characteristics of the drug: Pharmacopoeial and purified tars are a homogeneous mass of creamy consistency, black in color, with a characteristic odor of tar.

Packing: glass bottles of 20 g, marked with one or two zeros.

The study included adult patients of both sexes, without age restrictions, with a clinically established diagnosis. Women were excluded during pregnancy and breastfeeding, pediatric patients, patients with individual sensitivity to tar preparations, patients with pyoderma, psoriatic erythroderma, pustular psoriasis and isolated lesions of the scalp, liver and kidney diseases (with impairment of their function), as well as serious concomitant diseases that require treatment during the clinical study and may interfere with its completion.

Tar was applied to the affected areas for 15–30 minutes, depending on subjective sensations (burning sensation at the site of application, etc.) once a day. After 15–30 minutes, it was washed off the skin with warm water in the shower using soap or shower gel. Dry skin or a feeling of tightness was eliminated by using indifferent creams or ointments (5% urea ointment, ointment base). In case of extensive skin lesions, accompanied by a disturbance in the general condition and pronounced subjective sensations, combination therapy was prescribed. It included antihistamines, desensitizers, sedatives, vitamins, and detoxification therapy. Photosensitizing and diuretics were excluded from combination with tar.

The individual patient card was filled out by a doctor. The patient was explained the method of using the medication, paying attention to the accuracy of its implementation, and was also informed about possible side effects.

The pattern of patients visiting the Center and the activities carried out are shown in Table 55.
Table 55. Pattern of patients visiting the Center

During each visit, symptoms of the disease were recorded in scores or quantitatively - the number of papules and plaques, infiltration, exudation, peeling, erythema, pigmentation, skin cracks, itching. Clinical assessment was carried out using a four-point system: 0 – no symptom, 1 – mild, 2 – moderate, 3 – severe symptom. If papules and plaques were present, their number and size in cm were recorded in the table.

The final results were also assessed in points: 1 point – clinical cure; 2 – significant improvement; 3 – improvement; 4 – no effect; 5 – deterioration.

Laboratory examination, including clinical blood and urine tests, was carried out before the start of treatment and after its completion.

Assessment of consumer qualities. The patient was asked to answer the following questions:

1. Is tar easy to use?
2. Did you encounter any difficulties with dosing during treatment?
3. How do you feel about the comfort of using this medicinal product (smell, color, does it stain clothes, underwear, is it easy to remove)?

Previous and concurrent treatment (local and systemic, indicating the names of drugs and their dosage form) were noted in the individual card. Unscheduled visits to the patient (without calling a doctor) and changes in the therapeutic regimen were entered into the card.

When using tar preparations, the following side effects are possible: individual intolerance; erythema in the lesions, pigmentation in resolved areas and around the lesions, the appearance of follicular pustules when applying the drug to the hair growth area.

Tar tolerance was assessed by the presence of drug allergies, acute irritation, itching and burning at the sites of application. If such complications or pustules appeared, treatment was stopped. In case of erythema, the time of tar application was reduced; the development of pigmentation did not require changes in treatment tactics.

When using tar, it is undesirable to apply it for a long time on large surfaces of the skin.

16 patients (11 women and 5 men) participated in the study. Three patients (all women) dropped out of the study and stopped participating in it for reasons not related to the effectiveness of treatment. Below we present data on 13 patients (8 women and 5 men) who completed treatment. The age of the patients ranged from 17 to 52 years (average age – 32.5 years). Tar, marked with one zero, was received by 7 people (first group), two zeros – by 6 (second group). Six patients with extensive skin lesions were prescribed combination therapy. It included RP at a dose of 100,000 - 300,000 IU in 3 patients, polyphepan, lipoic acid, novo-passit - in one patient, Essentiale Forte, xanthinol nicotinate, calcium gluconate, RP at a dose of 300,000 IU in one patient, polyphepan, gluconate calcium, fenkarol, xanthinol nicotinate - in one patient.

Table 56 shows the clinical characteristics of the disease in both groups.
The final results in points are shown in Table 57. Table 56. Characteristics of the disease

Table 57. Evaluation of the results of treating patients with tar in the compared groups

As can be seen from the table above, the treatment results were better in the first group (one zero).

The dynamics of individual signs of the disease during treatment are shown in Table 58.

The decrease in the number and infiltration of plaques occurred faster and was more pronounced in the first group.
There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of exudative changes, resolution of erythema, and reduction in desquamation. Table 58. Results of monitoring the dynamics of individual signs of the disease during the treatment of patients with tar

At the beginning of treatment with tar, 3 patients experienced an exacerbation reaction (1 from the first group, 2 from the second) - the erythema became brighter, skin cracks appeared, severe dryness, increased peeling and hyperkeratosis. This was especially noticeable in the presence of rashes on the palms and fingers. Subsequently, the reaction subsided and a persistent tendency towards improvement was noted - small papules disappeared, areas of clearing appeared in the plaques, and the plaques themselves disintegrated into small fragments, peeling became less, itching disappeared. It should be noted that, contrary to expectation, pigmentation with the new method of application was observed in one person. Despite the positive dynamics, within a month it was possible to achieve a cure in only one patient (rashes without pronounced infiltration and exudation were located on the face and scalp) in just 17 days. In other patients, the positive dynamics slowed down somewhat by the end of the month.

Resolution of small papules not treated with the drug (disappeared in 2 out of 6 patients and decreased in number in 3 patients of the first group, disappeared in 2 and decreased in 2 out of 4 patients who had papules before treatment, in the second group), indicates the general effect of the drug or the action at some distance from the lubricated areas.

Adverse clinical symptoms in the first group (one zero) included: dry skin at the application site in 2 patients; sharply painful cracks in the skin of the hands after 4 days of use in one person, a feeling of tightness of the skin in one person; in the second group (two zeros): increased formation of cracks on the fingertips and on plaques in two; severe dry skin, not relieved by the use of emollients in one. The lack of differences in the two groups allows us to associate these symptoms with the drying effect of tar on the skin, which requires correction during treatment. Other unfavorable symptoms included a deterioration in the clinical picture due to ARVI in one patient, a short-term loss of consciousness during the first application of tar in one case (the patient generally did not tolerate odors well), folliculitis in the last week of treatment inside resolved plaques in 1 patient, burning in places applying tar for approximately 5 minutes throughout the entire treatment period in 1 patient.

The new method of application is more comfortable than the old one (lubricating the lesions and leaving the medicinal product under a bandage for a long time). The advantage is that it does not stain clothes and bedding and does not leave a strong unpleasant odor. The disadvantage is the smell during the application period, and when used to treat the scalp, the smell from the hair remains.

The results of the study showed that both types of tar have pronounced therapeutic activity for psoriasis. The therapeutic effectiveness of local tar therapy alone is not sufficient to achieve complete regression of the rash. The clinical effectiveness of the drug designated by one zero (first group) was higher compared to the drug designated by two zeros. More side effects were noted in the second group of patients who received tar, indicated by two zeros. A serious disadvantage of tar is the development of dryness and cracks in the skin, which requires additional use of skin softening and moisturizing products. The new method of using tar (short-term application) is more acceptable for patients compared to the old one (applying tar to the skin twice a day). When deciphering the symbols on the labels, it turned out that purified tar was marked with one zero, and pharmacopoeial tar with two.

After receiving the results described above, the group of patients receiving purified birch tar was expanded.
Additionally, 63 patients with chronic dermatoses aged from 15 to 60 years, both men and women, were treated (Table 59) (Lukina O.G. et al., 2002). Table 59. Nosological composition of patients

Treatment was carried out on an outpatient basis. The drug was applied to the lesions once a day for an average of 30 minutes (from 10 minutes to 1 hour) for 25 days. In addition, patients received additional treatment, including antihistamines, detoxification agents, and vitamins. The final result was assessed by the dynamics of the main clinical signs of the disease using the following characteristics: recovery, significant improvement, improvement, no effect, deterioration (Table 60).

A positive effect was noted in 98.4% of cases.
In one case, there was no effect from the therapy. In 80% of patients, an increase in skin itching was noted in the first 2 days of treatment. The itching continued only during the period of application and disappeared after the tar was removed. After 3-5 days the itching stopped. Discontinuation of the medication and the use of additional agents were not required. Table 60. Results of treating patients with various skin diseases with tar

In 20.6% of patients (patients with eczema and neurodermatitis), on the 4th–5th day of using DBO, an exacerbation of the skin process was observed - oozing and microvesicles appeared against the background of infiltration and hyperemia. Exacerbation of a local nature was limited to the site of application. To stop the exacerbation, the dose of antihistamines was increased; in 3 cases of eczema, injections of corticosteroid drugs were additionally prescribed (Kenalog 40 intramuscularly, 1.0, once), local lotions with solutions of boric acid 1% or ethacridine lactate 1:1000 and Elokom in the form of a cream or solution . During the period of exacerbation, purified birch tar was discontinued for 2–3 days, then use was resumed.

No abnormalities were observed in the clinical blood test. In 62 patients, no changes in clinical urine analysis were observed; in one case (concomitant arthropathy) there was an increase in the number of leukocytes to 20–30 in the field of vision, squamous epithelial cells to 12-20 in the field of vision; by the end of treatment the indicators did not exceed the norm. In 57 cases, there were no deviations in the study of biochemical blood parameters. In one case, an increase in bilirubin level to 32 µM/l was observed (the patient suffered hepatitis A 1.5 years ago); in five cases there was an increase in the level of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase to 2 mmol/h/l and 1.25 mmol/h/l, respectively; in two cases - an increase in the level of alanine aminotransferase (which was obviously associated with alcohol abuse). By the end of therapy, deviations in indicators were observed only in one case - in a patient who had suffered hepatitis A.

A more pronounced effect was achieved with widespread psoriasis with a predominance of papules; for eczema and atopic dermatitis, the effectiveness of the drug was lower.

Thus, DBO is effective in the treatment of chronic dermatoses (the best results are achieved in psoriasis); The method of short-term application of the drug is effective, easy to use and available on an outpatient basis. With eczema and neurodermatitis, an exacerbation occurred on the 4-5th day of treatment, which is limited only to the site of application of the drug, is short-term, requires additional therapy, but does not affect the results of treatment. According to laboratory studies, birch tar has no side effects on the liver and kidneys.

prof. Albanova V.I.

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Birch tar: application in veterinary medicine

In veterinary medicine, tar-based shampoos, emulsions and oils are mainly used. These remedies quickly eliminate itching and help get rid of lichen, seborrhea, mites, lice, nits, fleas and other parasitic insects.

Birch tar has an unpleasant odor only during use, but on animal fur it reveals the aroma of wood and bark. To avoid harm to your pet, strictly follow the instructions and follow the veterinarian's recommendations.

Birch tar: use in the garden

This product is extremely useful in gardening and gardening. Tar works against a wide group of pests - from mammals to insects (Colorado beetle, ants, aphids, mice, moles, etc.). However, it does not destroy pests, but only scares them away.

You can make birch tar yourself. For this:

1. Cut a hole in the bottom of a large iron container. Fill tightly with dry birch bark and small wood chips. Close the lid tightly.
2. Dig a hole in the ground. Place a smaller container in it - this is where the resulting tar will collect.
3. Directly above the small container, place the larger one with the hole facing down (this is where the tar will flow out).
4. Cover the top container with firewood and set it on fire.
5. After a few hours, tar will begin to accumulate in the lower container.

If you are not ready to spend your time producing tar at home, then you can buy it. The finished product is sold in any pharmacy. The shelf life of the product, subject to storage conditions, is 5 years from the date of production.

You can find out the benefits of birch tar in medicine from the video:

Tar water: cooking at home

It is obtained by extracting the water-soluble components of tar. Thoroughly mix 40 ml of tar in 1.5 liters of chilled boiled water (stir for 10 minutes) and leave to infuse for 2 days.

After 48 hours, the liquid separates: foam at the top, resin at the bottom, and tar water in the central part. On a colorimetric scale, tar water can be colorless or colored, like white wine.

You need to carefully separate the “water fraction,” bottle it and store it in the refrigerator. It is used as a diuretic for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, for metabolic disorders in the body, as well as for other diseases where “tar therapy” is appropriate.

Dosages, frequency of use and duration of treatment depend on the nature of the disease and the resulting therapeutic effect.

Approximately the drug is prescribed 2 tsp. (for children) or 2 tbsp. (adults) once a day before meals. If a course of treatment is needed, the drug is taken in cycles of 10 (take) every 10*n (break), where n is the order of the cycle. Maximum 3 cycles.