Betula pendula or Lady of the Woods have been traditionally used as a diuretic and for all kinds of kidney and bladder trouble. Also, for oedema and swelling of the joints. Birch leaf tea also flushes out toxins from the body especially uric acid crystals. It is an excellent supportive remedy for rheumatism, arthritis, and gout pains. I must confess I didn’t particularly enjoy the taste of this tea; it is quite bitter, and I believe could definitely do with something to sweeten it, possibly honey. Alternatively, one could blend it with any of our fruit infusions. I once made Birch Sap Wine by tapping a Birch tree in the Spring just as everything was waking up, I got a gallon of sap in under a week. That needed lots of raisins and sultanas to take the bitterness from it, was a powerful drink that I kept in the freezer and treated it like Limoncello.
It goes without saying that if you're pregnant (or are under the doctor for anything) caution should be exercised with herbal decoctions.
