Botanica Gaia Artisanal Sweet Birch Essential Oil, Canada.

Botanic name: Betula lenta. 

Extraction Method: Steam Distilled.

Origin Country: Canada. 

Scent: A cool, sweet scent reminiscent of old candy, camphorated. 

Sweet birch (Betula lenta), also known as black birch, cherry birch, mahogany birch, or spice birch, is a tall, graceful tree with glossy green leaves and dark reddish-brown, aromatic bark. It is native to southern Canada and the northeastern United States, but also grows in Russia and other parts of Europe.

Sweet birch essential oil is steam distilled from the bark of the tree, which must be macerated and soaked for up to 12 hours prior to distillation. The oil has a sweet, spicy, minty, fresh and camphoraceous aroma (reminiscent of germolene).

Historically, sweet birch bark was used as a tonic and drink by North American natives to induce sweat and induce "warming up." It has also been used traditionally for arthritis and other joint/muscular aches and pains.

Today, Sweet Birch essential oil is used in aromatherapy for its pain-relieving effect on joints and muscles and to treat respiratory problems. It is used as an ingredient in over-the-counter preparations such as Deep Heat, Tiger Balm, and Olbas Oil.

Please note: Sweet Birch essential oil is a specialty oil and should always be used with caution by experienced aromatherapists due to its potentially toxic nature (see safety tips below). However, this oil can be extremely effective if used wisely.

Sweet birch essential oil is potentially toxic and can cause skin irritation. It should always be used with caution and at the correct dilution. Its main component is methyl salicylate (the active ingredient in aspirin), so it should not be used in people who are sensitive or allergic to aspirin, have liver problems, take blood-thinning medications, have epilepsy, or suffer from seizures. It should also be avoided in children or the elderly and during pregnancy or lactation. Always perform a patch test before use.

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