Municipal budgetary educational institution

"Grishkovskaya secondary school"

German National District

Altai Territory

Scientific and practical conference

"Small Humboldt Readings"

Direction: literature

The image of a birch in works

Russian poets

Research

Kravchenko Ekaterina,

4th grade

Supervisor:

Mikhailova Irina Vitalievna,

Primary school teacher

MBOU "Grishkovskaya Secondary School"

Grishkovka 2014

Introduction………………………………………………………. 3

1. Symbol of Russia. ……………………….…..…………………. 4 - 5

2. Birch at different times of the year ………………………………….. 5 - 7

3. The image of a birch tree for Russian soldiers..…………………………. 7 - 9

4. The most poetic tree…………………………..……….. 9 – 10

4.1 Works of writers of the German National

district………………………………………………………... 11

Conclusion………………………………………………………. 12

Sources………………………………………………………………………. 13

Application………………………………………………………. 14 - 17

Introduction

White birch
Below my window
Covered with snow
Exactly silver.

S. Yesenin

Since 1st grade I have known this wonderful poem by S. Yesenin by heart.

People call the birch the beauty of Russian forests. Slender, with thin long branches and a spreading crown, it is attractive at all times of the year. Many songs, epics, legends have been written about the birch, and many paintings have been created. The symbol and pride of the Russian people. Many poets used the description of this tree in their works, so I decided to trace why the birch tree is the most common image in Russian literature.

Novelty my work is that this is the first study in school dedicated to the simple Russian birch tree and poems about it. In the Year of Culture, I would like to draw attention to the works of Russian poets. Show that the ability to read, understand and love poems can sometimes be replaced by computer games.

Purpose of the study: reveal the image of birch in the works of poets.

Tasks :

• study poems by Russian poets;
• show how they love birch in Rus' through poetic creativity;
• compile a list of authors in whose works the image of the Russian birch tree appears.

Object of study: poems by Russian poets

Subject of study: Russian birch

Hypothesis:

It is believed that birch is the most poetic tree. Birch is one of the most common trees in central Russia; it is called the Russian tree. Birch is different from all trees. It is unique with its snow-white bark and is amazingly beautiful. And it grows only in Russia, with this unique originality it is dear to everyone. That’s probably why the birch tree became a poetic symbol of Russia.

Research methods:

• study of fiction and popular science literature,
• survey, interview;
• systematization and synthesis of data.

Symbol of Russia

If we look in Ozhegov’s dictionary, we will find the following interpretation of the lexical meaning of the word: “Birch is a deciduous tree with white bark.” But this is in a dictionary in which the interpretation is given in a scientific style. How is birch described? fiction?

Wherever the birch tree grows, everywhere it brings joy and light to people. And it’s not for nothing that the birch tree has become a symbol of our Motherland. Wherever a person is, no matter how far from native land fate did not abandon him, he always, longing for Russia, remembers a slender, beautiful birch tree rustling in the wind, bathed in the sun or covered in frosty frost.

But before I turned to fiction, I conducted a survey to find out which symbol of Russia is the most popular, according to students and teachers, and why is it the birch tree, and not any other tree, that poets so often describe in their poems?

Survey

1. What folk symbols of Russia can you name?

Birch - 54%, matryoshka - 49%, balalaika - 12%, bear - 10%.

2. Why do you think the Russian birch is a symbol of the Russian people?

1) This is the most common tree - 38%

2) For her beauty - 25%

3) Compare with a girl - 15%

4) By meaning: cleanliness, harmony, freedom - 11%

3. Which Russian writers can you name who wrote about birch in their poems?

1) S. Yesenin - 45%

2) A.S. Pushkin - 37%

3) M.Yu. Lermontov - 6%

4. Name a few lines from poems about birch

1) White birch tree under my window... S. Yesenin – 60%

2) I love Russian birch, sometimes light, sometimes sad... A. Prokofiev -16%

3) You make noise, birch trees make noise above me (song) – 12%

4) Why do birch trees make so much noise in Russia (song) – 12% (Appendix 1)

Conclusion: The most popular folk symbol of Russia is the birch, because it is the most common and beautiful tree, the poet of Russia, S. Yesenin, wrote most about it.

But the poet Pyotr Vyazemsky explains why the birch tree becomes a frequent image in the works of Russian poets.

Among the selected trees is birch
Doesn't look poetic;
But it contains prose that is dear to the soul
He speaks in a living dialect.
Dearest of all with the sweet-sounding song.
Good news from neighbors
At least a couple of words in your own hand,
Where the heart has a lot to read.
Postal factor in a foreign land
Dear friend to all of us;
He cut a clearing in the forest, a key in the desert,
Our guide in a foreign country.
Of us who could calmly
See the Russian mark?
You and I, birch, are here for us, as if
A letter from a dear mother.

Birch - favorite tree Since ancient times, for Orthodox people this is the main tree of life. In fact, it is impossible to imagine Russia without birch. Therefore, it is a symbol of Russia

Birch at different times of the year

You are good at any time.
And no wonder, loving with all my heart,
The beauty of the Bogatyrsky forest
They called you everywhere.

Russia is a land of white-trunked birches and endless fields. Birch is beautiful at any time of the year.
Here it is, a spreading curly birch tree, standing like an elegant Russian beauty folk tales, in a white sundress. With golden earrings and soft green sticky leaves, bending their branches all the way to the ground, as if bowing from the waist and saying: “Peace be with you, good people!”

Alexander Prokofiev describes a birch tree in summer.

I love Russian birch
Sometimes bright, sometimes sad,
In a white sundress,
With handkerchiefs in pockets,
With beautiful clasps
With green earrings.
I love her, from across the river,
With elegant mantles,
Then clear, ebullient,
Then sad, crying.

So Maryana Bazhanova sees an autumn birch tree

And now the birch tree has fallen,
The wind stripped her naked.
This was her lot,
And her figure is straight and bright.

Or lines from a poem by Ivan Bunin

The forest is like a painted tower,
Lilac, gold, crimson,
A cheerful, motley wall
Standing above a bright clearing.
Birch trees with yellow carving
Glistening in blue azure......

Afanasy Fet describes a birch tree in winter

Sad birch

At my window

And the whim of frost

She's dismantled.

Like bunches of grapes

The ends of the branches hang, -

And joyful to look at

All mourning attire.

White birch trees touch our souls. In songs, poems, and prose dedicated to birch, sincere love for this beautiful poetic tree is manifested.

Works of the region's poets

This wonderful tree is described in the works of many poets. Starting with Yesenin and ending with the poets of our region. A wonderful person lives in my home village of Grishkovka. He has been writing poetry for many years, and they are all filled with love for nature, the people of our village, and the world around us. In his work I also found a poem about a birch tree.

Alexander Snegov wrote:

I was born and raised

In the land of Russian birches,

In that beautiful land,

What is called Russia.

My native corner,

Extraterrestrial beauty.

He started

My reliable berth.

And the village of Kusak is famous for its poetess Lyubov Zhuravleva. After reading her poems, I found lines dedicated to the birch tree:

And you, like a white birch,

After all, she is not afraid of the cold,

Winter frosts are not scary

And these gusty winds.

I found many poems dedicated to birch, but not all of them were included in the work. The appendix contains a list of poets whose works are dedicated to Russian birch. (Appendix 2)

Conclusion

Working on this topic, I studied the poems of Russian poets, showed how they love birch in Rus' through poetic creativity; compiled a list of authors in whose works the image of the Russian birch appears.

The hypothesis put forward was confirmed.

I think we have managed to prove that the birch tree is the most poetic “symbol” of Russia. She inspires poets, writers, and artists to create beautiful works. The Russian people love birch. I was once again convinced of this by interviewing my family, neighbors, classmates and several teachers at our school. (Appendix 3)

Most of them answered that this tree is their favorite because “the birch is beautiful, graceful, slender, symbolizes our country. It’s impossible to imagine Russia without birches.”

It turns out that research is a very interesting and useful activity! I learned a lot of new things. On practice This knowledge will be useful to me in reading lessons, Russian language, natural history, and in preparing for Olympiads. My work can also help my classmates, because, despite all the new modern devices: computer, telephone, they also love to read poetry.

I'm still only a 4th grade student, but I'm also trying to write poetry. Here's what I got.

There are two birches

In the green park,

And both tears are shed

In a brocade outfit.

Or

Birch trees are very tender

Sometimes even snowy ones,

How funny the girls are

And very silent.

Sources

1. Lopatin V.V. etc. Small Dictionary Russian language. –

M.: Russian language, 1990. – 704 p.

1. Ozhegov S.I. Dictionary of the Russian language. – M.: Soviet encyclopedia, 1973. – 750 p.
2. Prokhorov A.M. Great Russian Encyclopedia. – St. Petersburg: Norint, 2004 1456 p.
3. http://dic.academic.ru/contents.nsf/simvol/ - Birch
4. http://www.birchworld. ru/info/about_birch/- About birch – “Birch World”
5. http://www.rusbereza.ru/jour/2008/200802/20080208.shtml - Poems about Russian birch
6. http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birch - Wikipedia
7. http://www.rusbooks.org/languagelern/russian/8299-Phraseological Dictionary of the Russian Language
8. greenkaktus.photoshare.ru
9. http://valentina-panina.ru/text/170 "Autumn Fireworks"

Annex 1.

Diagrams from the survey (60 people participated)

The most famous poem about birch

Appendix 2.

1. Ageev Nikolay “White birches in Treptow Park”
2. Andreev Mikhail “Berezka”
3. Bullah Alla “Birch tree in a forest clearing.”
4. Balmont Konstantin “Birch”, “Over the lake, above the forest backwater”
5. Bozhanova Maryana “And here the birch tree has fallen”, “Don’t be embarrassed, white birches!”
6. Bunin Ivan “The forest is like a painted tower”, “I remember a long winter evening”, “The snow-white symbol of Russia"
7. Bakatin Vladimir “I came to you, dear birches”
8. Brodsky Joseph "Autumn"
9. Vyazemsky Peter “Among the chosen trees there is a birch”
10. Vasiliev Sergey “I remember, the birch tree was wounded”, “Where the Motherland begins”
11. Golovenkina Olga “Make noise, birches”
12. Gerasimova Tatyana “A white birch tree grew up in a field”, “Many songs have been sung about the Russian birch tree”
13. Yesenin Sergei “White Birch”, “I am forever for fog and dew”
14. Emelyanova Olga “And the birch lowers its branches lower”
15. Ivnev Rurik “Conversation with trees”
16. Kulemin Vasily “How the birch died”
17. Matusovsky Mikhail “Behind the village, in the distance, at the crossroads”
18. Soft Maria “The birch tree kissed the wind”
19. Margarita Agashina “A birch tree grows in Volgograd...”
20. Nazar Najmi “Sometimes white, sometimes white”
21. Nikitin Ivan “Meeting of Winter”
22. Nikitina Julia « Here, on the branches of the dried birches... "
23. Prokofiev Alexander “I love the Russian birch tree”, “Birches”
24. Rozhdestvensky Vsevolod “Birch”
25. Romashina Svetlana “I can’t imagine Russia without birch...”, “In the land of birch fogs"
26. Rubtsov Nikolay. “I love it when birch trees rustle,” “ And the birch tree is lower
    lowers branches", "My Rus'! I love your birches!”
27. Rozhdestvensky Ignatius “Rifle Birch”
28. Wanderer Vadim "Birches"
29. Tumarev Gennady “Birches”
30. Tvardovsky Alexander “White birch trees were spinning”
31. Tokmakova Irina “If you gave a birch a comb”
32. Fet Afanasy “Sad Birch”
33. Khodyrev German “Whiter than pure snow”
34. Tsyganov Nikolay “There was a white birch tree near the valley”
35. Shvedov Yakov “Birch”
36. Shestinsky Oleg “I can’t imagine Russia without birch”
37. Shersheleva Tamara “The white birch blossomed”
38. Shchipachev Stepan “The rain bends her to the ground”
39. Tsepin Anatoly “Birch sap”
40. Tsvetova Tatiana “Lonely Birch”

Appendix 3.

Interview (20 people were interviewed)

1. Which tree is your favorite?

1. Birch – 65%
2. Pine, spruce -20%
3. Poplar, willow – 15%

1. Why birch?

1. Symbolizes the Motherland – 40%
2. Beautiful, graceful, slender tree – 20%

Birch has been considered a symbol of Russia since ancient times. And there is not a single person who does not know this tree, because it is widely used in industrial sectors, medicine and for garden decoration. And also in many books you can often find artistic description birches in poems and fairy tales.

general description

Birch is a tree in which there is a clear change in leaf cover, and it belongs to the Birch genus. Botanists have established that this plant has about a hundred species, most of which stretch up to 30-35, and sometimes 45 meters. In the midst of such diversity there are bushes that are both very large and very tiny, expelled. Life expectancy is on average 200−250 years. The tree is undemanding to soil. Sandy, clayey or infertile lands are suitable for it. Loves water and mainly grows near seas, rivers and swamps.

Numerous fairy tales, poems, and riddles that are passed down from generation to generation can show all the beauty and inimitability of a slender tree. This is probably why the description of birch for children, including in artistic skill, is very important for their spiritual development and education of patriotic feelings, revelation of humanity, as well as the formation of love for all living things.

Features of cultivation

If you want to plant a birch tree near your home, you must remember that large sprouts with an open rhizome, even planted at the right time, do not always take root - some of them die, or their crown dries out. Therefore, it is better to purchase seedlings with an earthen lump or in a container . Basic rules for caring for wood:

Growing Hamerops palm at home

Classification of species

The Birch genus is numerous and is found throughout the world. The habitat ranges from hot subtropics to regions with very cold air. In central Russia and in areas with moderate weather conditions, these trees create light groves, having quite a wide variety of species:

Almond nut: how it grows and where it can be found

Application of birch

In the food industry, veterinary medicine, industry, folk medicine and cosmetology, birch has found very wide application, because it has healing capabilities, thanks to the presence of many useful components in the petals and buds.

Medicinal properties

A decoction of the leaves is used by herbalists as a disinfectant, antiseptic, diuretic and choleretic drug in the preparation of various infusions. Birch petals have a large amount of:

The juice collected in early spring can be used for preventive purposes against blood diseases. Tea made from chaga (birch mushroom) relieves headache, improves appetite and gives strength.

Tar is used mainly as an antiallergic and antimicrobial agent; it is included in soaps, various balms and lotions that are used to treat skin diseases.

There are many versions of where the name “birch” came from. It is often associated with the word “betulus”, which is translated from Latin as “happy”, “blessed”, i.e. the one who drank the healing juice. Another version suggests its origin from the word “batuere” - to whip, to beat. This is associated with the fact that naughty children were punished with the help of birch twigs.

The emergence of the Slavic word “birch” dates back to the Proto-Slavic era. Then it sounded like “bersa”, from the verb “to protect”. This origin is explained by the fact that the Slavs have long considered the Russian beauty a gift from the Almighty, which protects a person from troubles and misfortunes.

In European languages, the name of the tree comes from the word “bhe”, which translates as “light”, “pure”, “white”.

In total there are about 120 species of birch. Often the white tree is a plant reaching 20–40 meters in height, but biologists also describe various shrubs, even those that spread along the ground.

Birch trees have powerful roots, which can be superficial or deep. It depends on the growing conditions of the tree. The taproot dies off very soon, and the lateral roots develop quite quickly, and a huge number of fibrous roots are formed on them.

Young birch grows very slowly, but after a few years its growth becomes very active.

Birch bark is white in color, which is facilitated by the presence of betulin, a white resinous substance. The outer bark of the trunk, called birch bark, usually comes off easily in strips. The lower part of the trunk is almost always covered with a dark crust, and large cracks appear on it.

Birch has a not very dense pyramidal crown. The leaves of the tree reach 7 cm in length and 4 cm in width. They are smooth, solid, and have small denticles along the edge of the leaf. The shape of the leaves is described as rhombic to triangular, they have a wide wedge-shaped base. In autumn, before falling, birch leaves turn yellow.

On the forest beauty, sessile alternating buds are formed, covered with sticky scales.

In summer, male flowers appear in complex inflorescences. At first they are green in color, but gradually turn brown. Their length reaches 2–4 cm. They consist of a large number of fused earrings.

IN spring period, the shaft of the male flower lengthens, as a result of the described process, the scales open, encircle the inflorescence, and stamens appear between them, which actively produce pollen.

Female flowers develop and are always located on the side of the branch. The fertilized female flower elongates and very often develops a stalk.

The earring itself (brunka) thickens and gradually turns into a cone, which ripens in late summer - early autumn, after which it falls off.

Male flowers fall off immediately after fertilization.

The fruits of the white tree are flattened nuts surrounded by a thin-skinned wing. They are located in the axils of fruit scales. The seeds are very light; they are easily carried by the wind over long distances (about 100 m) from the mother tree.

Birches are fairly common trees that are important forest-forming species.

Most trees are frost-resistant; they can easily tolerate spring frosts and even permafrost. Birches living in subtropical climates require more heat.

Birch trees grow in almost all types of soil. It can be found in wet coastal areas, swampy areas, hot steppes, and rocky slopes.

Birch is often described as a soil-improving species, because they are able to inhabit areas that have been devastated by deforestation or fire.

In forest-steppes, birch forests, as well as aspens and willows, form small forests called kolkas. Most often they are found in Western Siberia.

On average, the lifespan of a birch is about 100 – 150 years, but it happens that trees reach 400 years.

Lives on the surface and under the bark of the trunk a large number of insects and other living organisms, including one of the largest beetles - the stag beetle.

Many widely described mushrooms grow in birch groves. These are boletus mushrooms, white birch mushrooms, black milk mushrooms, and some types of russula that live exclusively in the community of birch plantings.

It also grows on birch trees medicinal mushroom Chaga It has been used in medicine since ancient times.

Surely many of us associate the image of the whole of Russia with the appearance of an ordinary white birch. Its descriptions are often popular with poets, musicians, painters and other artists, attracted by the simple beauty of Russian wood.

"The Country of Birch Calico"

As this was clearly noted by the great poet beloved by many. Birch is used as a metaphorical detail, even compared to the soul of the great people of our fatherland.

Numerous songs, poems, and paintings, passed down from generation to generation, are dedicated to the beauty and uniqueness of the beautiful birch tree.

Perhaps this is why the description of birch for children, including in the visual arts, even from school, is so important for their spiritual growth and the formation of a sense of patriotism, the expansion of their emotional responsiveness, as well as the development of love for nature. It is important that the vocabulary will be significantly expanded after becoming acquainted with unique picturesque images.

Love for beauty, which is the nature that surrounds us, formed in early childhood, is able to protect the soul from callousness, make it kinder and more sympathetic. And this is an undeniable truth.

And the main question that faces teachers and others is how to help children see and hear the world. Therefore, it is no coincidence that when raising a child they use the descriptive image of a white beauty.

Where to begin?

Birch is always good. Any season of the year makes it unique and elegant. Everyone is familiar with her green earrings, silk braids, silvery dew, white bark. All this is such a characteristic description at all times. The birch tree has retained its appearance from time immemorial.

And at the same time, each season has its own characteristics and images.

The tenderness of spring foliage, the shine and aroma of pointed leaves are charming. The pink reflections of the waking sun's rays, timidly running across the snow-white bark, enchant the eye.

Green sprinkled garlands on long thin twigs of branches falling to the ground in summer time, confirms the triumph of nature, blooming in all its glory.

The description of a birch leaf with its unique carving at any time of the year often becomes central theme many lyrical works.

The gold of the birch “clothing”, shining under the blue azure of the autumn sky, dresses up the whole earth with stunning shades, saturating the farewell ceremony until spring with a unique colorful decoration. It is not for nothing that autumn was the favorite time of year of our great poet, Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin: “... The charm of the eyes!... The lush decay of nature, the forests dressed in crimson and gold...”

And, of course, a fabulous winter, which turns the beautiful birch tree into a huge fountain of snow splashes and ice floes frozen on the branches and sparkling with a diamond shine in the sunlight of a clear frosty day.

Historical reference

A characteristic and quite interesting description of birch for children can be conveyed through folk signs and peasant folklore.

The sacred tree, which our common ancestors, the Slavs, considered the birch to be, personified beauty, the radiance of light and the purity of a woman.

The white-trunked beauty was honored on a holiday specially designated for her, according to church canons - Semik, when she received special attention. Young girls decorated the birch tree with ribbons and flowers, wove wreaths on their heads, sang songs and danced around it.

In addition to the festivals dedicated to the folk tree, there were many peasant signs and sayings identified and invented by farmers and simple observers of nature.

Many signs were associated with sowing. So, they sowed bread when the birch catkins burst, and oats - when the leaves were already blooming.

If in the spring they tried birch sap and it turned out to be tasteless, then it was believed that there would be a rich harvest of bread.

The birch tree also suggested what the summer would be like. If it blooms its leaves before the alder, then the summer will be dry. If it's the other way around, it's rainy.

It was also a great coincidence that they talked about spring. came if the top began to turn yellow first, the later - from the bottom side. And snow covered the ground late, if in early October the birch tree was still standing.

As can be seen from the examples, a lot is said about the birch tree in riddles, fairy tales, and poems.

"February Azure"

It would seem, what does birch have to do with it? But even here, it turns out, you can easily raise the level of education for children by expanding their horizons when meeting very famous work painting.

The snowy birch tree often attracted many painters, short description which can be found out by studying reviews, the history of creativity and directly the paintings of great Russian artists.

So is Igor Emmanuilovich Grabar. He painted a picture widely known to the public, and not only in Russia, under the picturesque title “February Azure.”

Having created his masterpiece and later telling the story of its creation, the landscape painter recalled that at that time there were wonderful, sunny February days: “Something unusual was happening in nature. It seemed that she was celebrating some unprecedented holiday of the azure sky, pearl birches, coral branches and sapphire shadows on lilac snow.”

Therefore, having looked at this work at least once, you easily remember the image of a birch tree and are quickly transported to that fresh winter mood that its author put into the picture.

Memorable images of birch trees

The description of birch for children of the 3rd grade, as well as other age categories, can be continued according to the precisely noticed characteristic “birch” features, some of which have become almost - blond birch, sticky leaves, delicate spring greens, earrings and emerald-colored outfit, silk curls, white-trunked beauty, lacy foliage, solemn garlands... This list can be continued indefinitely, comparing the slender and fair beauty with poetic images.

Children can be given an example of other types of terms used in science, including such a characteristic phrase as “silver birch,” a description of which can be read in biology textbooks.

About the name

The word “birch”, in Latin betulus, is translated as “blessed”, “happy”. This is associated with the healing power of birch sap, which has a magical effect.

As a version, there is an assumption that the name was formed from batuere - “to flog”, “to beat”. Most likely, because the tree rods served as convenient devices for punishment.

The third assumption is based on the similarity of the name and the word bhe, meaning “white”, “light”, “pure”.

Biology about birch

The description of birch for children can be continued by citing biological characteristics.

The crown, trunk and roots are the main components of a tree, like other similar species. Distinctive features are: a clearly defined trunk, the presence of lateral branches and apical shoots. This is its basic biological description. The birch tree initially grows relatively at a slow pace, but after a few years the development becomes rapid.

Biologists estimate that the tree is about 120 tall and grows up to 40 meters. However, there are varieties of it as a shrub, including those that develop with their shoots on the ground.

The root system of birches is represented by powerful superficial and deep underground branches, thanks to which the tree is quite stable. However, the central main stem dies. Further life activity is carried out due to lateral shoots, which form a large number of roots.

The white color of the tree bark is due to the presence of betulin, which is a white resin. The outside bark of the main part of the trunk is covered with smooth birch bark, easily peeled off in strips. Below, the tree has a darkly colored trunk with large cracks giving it a rough appearance.

A description of birch for children can be given through comparison with other similar representatives of groves. Where there are many different trees - both young and old, thin-trunked, short and tall - the bright bark especially stands out. And the birch grove seems weightless and full of freshness and purity.

Benefits of wood

Birch is especially loved by scientists studying history. It is known that in ancient times the cost of parchment reached sky-high levels. And birch bark and its properties made it possible to use it as a material on which various letters were placed. It was thanks to them that information about ancient life and the peculiarities of everyday life was able to reach us.

Boxes, bodies, boats, shoes were also items that could only be obtained thanks to this tree.

Birch is also useful for humans as a simple plant. It purifies the air and gives coolness on a hot summer day. In addition, it is a valuable material from which you can make boards, furniture, and paper.

In conclusion, I would like to say that the birch was, is and will be a symbol of our great Motherland. It is good both in summer and winter. And it will please the eye for a long time if we maintain a good attitude towards nature.

Birch - healing tree.

Linguists believe that the name “birch” comes from the word “to protect,” since ancient peoples greatly valued and protected this tree, considering it a gift from the gods. In Rus', birch has always been one of the most revered trees. Among the ancient Slavic and Baltic peoples, it was considered a symbol of purity, light and femininity.

In ancient times, people planted birch trees near their yards, believing that it could protect them from diseases, especially during the spread of various epidemics. A birch tree was planted at the gate and a bench was placed next to it so that one could sit and talk to the tree, asking it for help and health.
People also believed that birch could protect against evil spirits. Settlements were surrounded by a ring of birch trees; all kinds of amulets made from birch bark were also popular.

In the old days, people believed that if you beat a sick child with a birch twig, the illness would go away. It was also believed that the birch tree could take on the disease. In addition, being a symbol of femininity and fertility, the tree could awaken the fruitful forces not only of the earth, but also of people. Therefore, people turned to birch for help in procreation. Pregnant women asked the birch tree for an easy birth and for the newborn child to grow healthy and happy.

So, this wonderful birch tree and its healing properties will be discussed in this section. Specific recipes used in the treatment of various diseases are also given here. But do not forget about the existence of contraindications and self-medicate. You should consult your doctor regarding the use of any prescription.

Description of birch.

Birch is a tree not exceeding 20 m in height. The birch trunk is straight, white and smooth, with black lines on the bark, the lower part of the trunk is black. Young trees have brownish bark. The branches are thin, with resinous warts, dense and well developed. Old trees have drooping branches.
The leaves are long-petiolate, smooth on both sides, triangular or diamond-ovate in shape, wide at the base and pointed at the end, 2-3 cm long. The leaves of young trees are sticky and fragrant. Buds appear in early spring. They are reddish-brown in color, elongated in shape, resinous and astringent in taste.

Birch is a monoecious tree. It has pistillate (female) and staminate (male) catkins. Pistillate catkins are axillary, erect, 2.5-3 cm long, located one at a time on short lateral branches. The staminate catkins are drooping, 5-6 cm long, located in 2-3 pieces at the ends of the branches.
Birch blooms in April - May, when the leaves bloom. Male flowers develop in the fall and remain through the winter; female flowers appear when the leaves bloom. Pistillate flowers are connected in 2-3 pieces, have a three-lobed scale covering 3 two-lobed pistils with 2 thread-like stigmas. Staminate flowers consist of bifurcated stamens and 1-2 tepals.

The fruits ripen in August - September. One earring contains about 500 seeds. The fruit is a single-seeded flat nut of an oblong-elliptical shape, with 2 wings, which are 2-3 times larger than the nut itself. The seeds are carried by the wind and take root well when placed on dry or moist, sandy, loamy, black earth or rocky-gravelly soil. The tree grows quickly and renews itself well through shoots and self-seeding.

Where does birch grow?

Birch is widespread throughout Russia. There are 120 species of birch trees in the world. Of these, about 65 species grow in Russia. They differ slightly from each other and are used in the same way in medicine. The most famous are squat, downy and silver birch.

Birch is light-loving, does not like darkening, tolerates any climatic conditions. Grows in forest and forest-steppe zones of the European part of Russia and Siberia. Very common in parks and gardens, often growing near roads. The lifespan of a birch is approximately 100-120 years.

Birch often forms derivative forests in place of cut down or burned pine, spruce, oak and deciduous forests. It very quickly colonizes the vacated space, but over time it is replaced by other tree species.

Warty birch is a common tree of deciduous and mixed forests. Downy birch differs from the first in that its branches and twigs, as well as the leaves below (especially in the corners of the veins) have hairs (young ones are velvety), and also in the fact that downy birch grows in damper places.

Silver birch is a fast-growing, deciduous, tall, up to 30 m, tree of the birch family, with smooth white bark. In total, the birch genus contains 120 species and occupies 13% of the area of ​​all forests in Russia. The most common warty birch lives up to 100-150 years. The branches droop at the ends. The leaves are alternate, petiolate, triangular-rhombic, with sharply toothed edges. The leaves and young twigs are fragrant and covered with resinous glands. Men's and female flowers in earrings. Birch blossoms in spring. During flowering, long yellowish earrings hang from the branches, very similar to hazel earrings. These are male inflorescences, arranged in clusters of 2-4 and consist of many staminate flowers. The earrings produce a large amount of yellow powdery pollen, which is carried far by the wind. Women's axillary catkins are single, erect or deflected, much smaller than men's. They are greenish in color, inconspicuous, and contain many tiny female flowers, consisting of only one pistil. After flowering, these earrings grow greatly, turning into small green cylinders. At the end of summer, the overgrown catkins turn brown and begin to crumble into small three-lobed scales and tiny membranous fruits. Birch fruits are so small that they are barely visible to the naked eye. In the center of the fruit there is an elongated seed, on the sides there are two oval wings, which are the thinnest films.

Composition of plant materials and beneficial properties of birch.

Birch leaves contain essential oil (0.05%), which has a pleasant odor, saponins (3.2%), ascorbic acid (2.8%), vitamin C, carotene, nicotinic acid, betulo-retinoic acid (in the form of butyl ether), glucosides (hyperoside and spiracoside), tannins (5-9%), triterpene alcohols, inositol, betulalbin resin, flavonoids.

Birch buds also contain saponins, essential oil (6%) and ascorbic acid, as well as phytoncides, bitterness, tannins, resin, and grape sugar.

Birch bark contains triterpene alcohol (betulol), which protects the plant from the penetration of fungi and due to which it has a white color, glucosides (beta-loside and gaulterin), saponins, bitter substance, acids (protocatechinic, lilac, vanillic, oxybenzoic), catechins, leu-coanthocyanins, tannins, resinous substances and a small amount of essential oil.

Tar, obtained from birch bark by dry distillation, contains phenol, cresols, dioxybenzenes, and guaiacol.

The composition of birch sap includes sugars - fructose and glucose (up to 4%), malic acid, protein, vitamins C and B, tannins and aromatic substances. In addition, birch sap is rich in minerals and trace elements - such as potassium (273 mg/l), sodium (16 mg/l), calcium (13 mg/l), magnesium (6 mg/l), aluminum (1- 2 mg/l), manganese (1 mg/l), iron (0.25 mg/l), silicon (0.1 mg/l), titanium (0.08 mg/l), copper (0.02 mg /l), strontium (0.1 mg/l), barium, nickel, zirconium and phosphorus (0.01 mg/l each).

You can read more about the birch mushroom, which is called “chaga,” on our website.

Preparation of medicinal birch raw materials.

Birch is widely used in medicine. For medicinal purposes, buds, leaves, birch sap, and bark are used; tar and coal are obtained from wood. Also popular birch mushroom chaga, which forms growths on a tree trunk.

Birch buds.

Collection of birch buds.

The buds should be collected in winter (January - February) during logging or in early spring during their swelling (March - April), before the leaves bloom. Branches with buds are cut and tied into bundles, which are then dried in the open air for 4-5 weeks.

After this, the buds are peeled from the branches and dried in the shade in the air at moderate temperature. At high temperature they may lose some active substances, so it is not recommended to use dryers. The buds should be shiny dark brown, with a pleasant smell and slightly bitter taste.

Storing birch buds.

Dried buds are packaged and stored in a dry place. They save healing properties for 2 years, after which the kidney supply should be renewed.
The leaves are harvested in May - June, when they are still young, fragrant, sticky, and not coarse. They are plucked straight from the branches. The leaves should be dried in cool, dark and well-ventilated areas, spread out in a layer of 3-5 cm and stirring 2-3 times during the day. Dry leaves can be stored for 2 years. They are stored in cloth or paper bags, as well as in glass jars.

Birch bark (birch bark).

The outer layer of birch bark (birch bark) can be torn off from growing or felled trees, as well as dead wood. To do this, you need to make an incision in the upper white layer of bark with a sharp tool. It is necessary to ensure that the lower layer of bark (bast) is not damaged.

The best is birch bark from the middle part of the trunk. The removed bark is dried in a dry, open place. To protect from rain, a canopy is made of large birch bark plates over this place.
The best time for harvesting birch bark is the period of increased sap flow. At this time, it is easily separated from the wood. Dried birch bark should be brittle.

Tar and coal are obtained from birch bark and wood, which are also widely used in medicine and everyday life.

Birch juice.

Collection of birch sap.

Birch sap is extracted in early spring, before the leaves bloom, at the very beginning of sap flow. To do this, the tree trunk is cut to the depth of the bark and several layers. You can collect from 3 to 10 liters of sap from one tree per day, and 30-150 liters per season. In this way, you can get 5-10 tons of juice per day from 1 hectare of forest. Even the stumps of birch trees cut down in winter release sap abundantly in the spring.

Birch sap is best collected from trees that are to be cut down, because damage to the bark harms the birch. However, if you properly cut the bark, the tree will produce sap for several years. The cuts should not be large, otherwise the tree will lose a lot of sap and rot will begin in this place. Usually, to collect juice using a brace, a hole with a diameter of 1-1.5 cm is drilled in the lower part of the trunk (40-60 cm from the ground), into which a hollow plug is then driven and a plastic bag is attached to it or any utensils (except galvanized) are placed.

When the juice stops secreting, the cork is removed, and the hole is tightly plugged with an ordinary wooden cork, after which the area is coated with putty or paint so that the wood does not begin to rot.

The juice should be collected only before the leaves bloom, then the collection should be stopped. You cannot take sap from thin trees (less than 30 cm in diameter), otherwise they will weaken and wither. The juice should be stored in a cool place in a sealed container.

Harvesting birch brooms.

Brooms for the bath are prepared in the second half of June, when all the leaves on the tree have already blossomed. Branches should be cut from trees located in logging areas.

Medicinal properties birch raw materials.

Birch buds - medicinal properties.

Infusions and decoctions of birch buds produce choleretic, diaphoretic, blood purifying, analgesic, anti-inflammatory and wound healing effects.

Alcohol tincture of birch buds is used for colds, pain in the stomach and intestines, as well as hiccups. In addition, tincture of the kidneys is used for rubbing and as compresses for rheumatism, gout, joint pain, lumbago, bedsores, abrasions, cuts and non-healing wounds.

Essential oil from birch buds.

Essential oil, extracted from birch buds, is used as a general tonic and stimulant. In addition, birch oil is used in the treatment of gonorrhea.

Birch bud ointment.

To prepare them, use very fine powder from the plant, which is ground with ointment bases such as lanolin, petroleum jelly, butter or vegetable oil and fresh pork fat. Ointments prepared on the basis of vegetable oils (sunflower, olive, flax, etc.) last the longest.

Recipe 1 ointment from birch buds..
400 g birch buds, 800 g butter, 8 g camphor.
Place a 1.5 cm thick layer of oil in a small saucepan, with the same layer of birch buds on top. Alternating layers, fill the pan, close it with a lid, coat it with dough and put it in the oven to simmer for a day. After this, the oil is squeezed out of the kidneys and camphor, previously crushed into powder, is added.
The finished ointment is placed in the refrigerator for storage. The ointment has analgesic properties and is used to treat rheumatism.
Rub the ointment onto sore areas once a day before bedtime.

Recipe 2 ointments from birch buds..
300 g birch buds, 500 g butter.
Place a layer of kidneys as thick as a finger into a clay or ceramic container, then a layer of freshly beaten butter, again a layer of kidneys and a layer of oil.

This is repeated until the container is full. Then it is covered with a lid and coated with dough, after which it is placed in a well-heated Russian oven or hot oven for a day, not allowing it to heat above 90° C. After treatment with moderate dry heat, the buds are squeezed out.
The ointment prepared in this way is used for rubbing into sore joints at night. In this case, you can cover the layer of ointment applied to the surface of the skin with birch leaves, then wrap it in thick cloth and strengthen the bandage well so that it does not move during sleep. It is not recommended to store the ointment for a long time.

Tar from birch bark.

Tar, obtained from birch bark, has bactericidal, antimicrobial, insecticidal and local irritant properties. It is included in the composition of Vishnevsky, Wilkinson and Konkov ointments, which are used to treat skin diseases, wounds and pediculosis.

In ancient times, birch tar was used to treat patients with leprosy and scabies.

A mixture of birch tar, castor oil and alcohol is used to treat oily seborrhea of ​​the skin, as well as severe itching. To treat skin diseases, birch tar is used in the form of 10-30% ointment or liniment. It is also used for burns and purulent wounds.

With prolonged use of birch tar and ointments based on it, skin irritation appears, and with eczema, an exacerbation of the disease may begin.

Medicinal properties of birch leaves.

Decoctions of birch buds and leaves enhance the secretory activity of the glands, facilitate menstruation, accelerate their onset, and produce an anthelmintic effect (for roundworms). Birch buds and leaves have a beneficial effect on the metabolism in the body and help remove toxins and harmful substances from it.

Extracts and infusions of birch leaves are used for various diseases liver, they have an analgesic and anti-emetic effect, improve the general condition of the patient, reduce the size of the liver, and increase bile secretion.

Dry and fresh steamed leaves are used as compresses for rheumatic diseases, as well as for burns and sweating of the feet.

Medicinal properties of birch bark.

Birch bark is used in the treatment of diathesis, as well as wounds and ulcers. It prevents suppuration of the affected skin area. A decoction of birch bark is given for malaria and uterine bleeding. A decoction of the thin film that comes off birch bark helps with coughing. The film is also applied to boils to draw out pus. Birch root is used as an antirheumatic and antifever agent. In folk medicine, birch root ash is also used for heartburn, hiccups, indigestion and stomach or duodenal ulcers.

Medicinal properties of birch sap.

Juices are the most valuable medicines prepared from plants. The best juices are those that have not been subjected to heat treatment.

Birch sap is useful for gout, rheumatism, edema of various origins and as a general tonic for furunculosis, sore throat, non-healing wounds, trophic ulcers. Previously, birch sap was also used in the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis. It is used externally for eczema.
In addition, birch sap is rich in vitamins; its consumption prevents the deposition of salts and cholesterol in the body. The juice also helps cleanse the blood of uric acid and produces a hematopoietic and regenerative effect.

Birch sap is drunk 200 ml 3 times a day 30 minutes before meals. The course of treatment is designed for 6 weeks, after which it is necessary to take a two-week break and repeat the treatment. in winter effective means For a cold, you can drink birch sap mixed with milk.

Birch sap can be used externally for eczema and for washing acne.

They wash their hair with birch sap, as it improves the condition of the scalp, removes dandruff and promotes hair growth, reduces hair loss, and strengthens it.

In cosmetics, birch sap is used to remove age spots, nourish the skin, increase its overall tone and smooth out wrinkles. For this purpose, wipe the face, hands and neck in the morning and evening with a swab dipped in birch sap.

For neuralgia of the shoulder girdle and radiculitis, take 2 tbsp of birch sap to relieve inflammation. spoons 3 times a day an hour after meals, as well as juice of celery roots and leaves 2 times a day.

How to preserve birch leaves and buds.

Young birch leaves are stored in boxes lined with paper, and the buds are pressed into bricks and placed in tightly closed boxes (preferably tin).