Birch Oil....Bark That Is Good For The Bone

I'm a runner. It's not for everyone, but I love it. It's cheap, it's a form of therapy, and it keeps me fit and healthy. With summer coming, for me, that means getting off the treadmill and outside to enjoy those runs. And where I'm from, I get to pass hundreds of Birch Trees.

What's the correlation?

Birch tress are known, in general, for all things "bones". And for any runner, athlete, HUMAN...bones are kind of important. Birch trees are absolutely beautiful and one of my favourite trees. And the oil that is extracted from the bark of these tress is pretty amazing too.

Some of the typical properties of birch oil include:

• Analgesic - relieves pain
• Anti-inflammatory
• Anti-rheumatic - relieves rheumatism
• Antiseptic - assists in fighting germs and infections
• Antispasmodic - relieves spasms
• Diuretic
• and more!

The aroma of birch is lovely as well. It doesn't have the same "woody" aroma as other tree oils, like Cedar wood or Black Spruce. Instead it smells minty, like wintergreen. Birch oils contain a natural form of methyl salicylate, which has cortisone-like properties and can act like "Nature's aspirin". BONUS!

In addition to the physical support birch essential oil offers, its aromatic affect on the nonphysical are quite helpful as well. This oils offers support in key emotions like:

• Wisdom
• Encouragement
• Supportive
• Openness

These emotional qualities can help someone find inner support and strength. I'm pretty sure we could all use that every once in a while. And it can help a person seek, find, and receive support in new ways. Opening new doors or windows to our thinking. This can translate to healing relationships. How? At times I think we all can feel unsupported, alone or even rejected. Birch oil can assist in overcoming these feelings. It helps a person feel grounded while being flexible.

As a mother, and I'm sure other mothers can relate, we give and give and give. And that can leave us drained and feeling overwhelmed (to say the least). But also maybe with a lack of connection with others. I know for myself, when I've had a particularly struggling day, the last thing I want to do is connect with people. I just want to go into my bubble and sulk.

BUT, that's not actually very helpful or positive, is it? Since using Birch oil in my home, I've been able to feel less scattered. It's helped me to break those patterns when I start to get overwhelmed. I use it in a variety of ways.

• Taking a few deep breathes from the bottle cap when I feel overwhelmed
• 1 drop of Birch oil with 2 drops carrier oil (grape seed oil or jojoba oil) on the bottom of the feet. (I do this BEFORE a run)
• Mix 1 Tbsp of carrier oil (grape seed oil or jojoba oil) with 2-3 drops of Birch oil and rub on sore muscles. (great for AFTER those long runs)

These are just a few ways I've been able to use and see the benefits of Birch oil. What about you? Leave comments below and let me know what you think.

Until next week, have an aromatic day!

Written by Leiann King.