Eating tar. Is it possible to drink birch tar and how to do it correctly? Other types of tar

Natural compounds with medicinal properties have always evoked more confidence among patients than chemical components. This is quite understandable, and given the fact that many of them have proven therapeutic properties, natural components are actively used not only by folk medicine, but also by traditional medicine. In this article, we suggest that you familiarize yourself in more detail with the properties of birch tar, a specific composition that appears in the list of components of popular ointments sold in pharmacies. The use of this tool helps to cope with a large number of problems, the most important thing is to use it correctly.

What is included in birch tar?

Birch tar is a natural product obtained through the process of dry distillation of the upper bark of young trees. In appearance, the product looks like an oily dark liquid, which in turn has a very specific aroma. Modern production involves the use of iron boilers, which are compacted with bark and hermetically sealed. During heating, birch bark (bark) is steamed in a closed space and releases tar. The whole process usually takes more than 10 hours and makes it possible to obtain about 15 kilograms of pure tar from 50 kilograms of raw materials.

The natural product contains several thousand useful components, including phytoncindes, cresols, benzene, xylene, toluene, resinous substances, organic acids, etc. Due to its rich composition, the product is used even within traditional medicine; it can be found among the components of Wilkinson and Vishnevsky ointments.

Medicinal and beneficial properties of birch tar

The components of birch tar have various beneficial properties, which determine the widespread use of this substance. Thus, phenol can have an antiseptic effect, and guaiacol has a disinfecting and anti-putrefactive effect. In general, the product described is capable of affecting the human body as follows:

The properties of birch tar are used in both folk and traditional medicine, which once again proves its usefulness and effectiveness.

What does the remedy help with: indications for use

Taking into account all the described beneficial properties of tar, you can create a whole list of diseases and pathologies that the substance treats or helps eliminate symptoms:

otitis media in chronic form;
bronchial asthma;
angina;
fungal infections of the skin;
purulent wounds and ulcers;
bruises;
psoriasis;
skin rashes of various nature;
stomatitis;
mastitis after childbirth;
disturbances in normal metabolism;
scabies, lichen;
haemorrhoids;
helminth infection;
joint diseases.

How to use tar: instructions for use

Purified pharmaceutical tar can be used to treat ailments, both by external application and by oral administration. Each method has its own characteristics and nuances that must be taken into account.

How to take orally to cleanse the body

It should be noted that birch tar can be used orally, but this method is considered quite aggressive, so it is better not to carry out such manipulations without the approval of a doctor. If the decision to resort to cleansing with tar has been made, then you can use several effective schemes:

50 milliliters of warm milk is enriched with one drop of tar, stirred thoroughly and drunk in the morning before meals. The procedure must be carried out over two weeks. Daily increasing the amount of tar used - up to 14 drops, respectively. If necessary, the amount of milk can be doubled;
The second method involves eating a piece of rye bread before going to bed, onto which 5 drops of pharmaceutical tar have been dripped. Over the course of 5 days, the number of drops is increased one per day to 10 and taken in such volumes daily for two weeks. Next, you need to move in the opposite direction - daily reducing the dose by one drop to 5, and after that the course will be considered completed.

Internal use should not be used if there is an individual intolerance to the component or problems with kidney function.

Outdoor use

Topical use of the product is advisable for skin diseases. Usually in such cases the use of tar-based ointments is prescribed, but it is also possible to use it in its pure form. To apply to the damaged area, pure tar is mixed in different proportions with lard.

It is also possible to use compresses or rub in a substance diluted with glycerin or even alcohol. The specific recipe depends on the situation you have to deal with. But you should understand that the natural product has a very specific aroma and a rich brown color, which can stain linen and clothes. Poor absorption gives the treated skin some untidiness. To overcome these disadvantages, tar preparations are usually applied for a short period of time, after which the mixture is washed off so that it does not cause discomfort.

Other uses of tar in folk medicine

Natural birch tar can be used in different ways and as part of various folk recipes - it all depends on the nature of the problem to eliminate which the product will be used. We propose to consider the most popular uses of tar.

For the treatment of nail fungus

The components of tar have an antifungal effect, which allows it to be used effectively to eliminate fungal diseases of the nails and skin. Use tar as a cream, simply applying it in an even layer to the surface of the nail plate, leaving it in this position for an hour. But the nails must first be prepared: steamed, kept in a bath with medicinal herbs and, if possible, removed the softened damaged tissue. After the procedure, you need to wipe your feet dry, and after that you can apply the ointment.

This procedure should be repeated every two to three days; one month is usually enough to achieve a positive effect. You can minimize the risk of relapse by treating your shoes - the insoles should be wiped with a cotton swab and a small amount of tar.

For hair loss

To improve hair growth processes and minimize hair loss, it is recommended to use tar water several times a week. Preparing it is not difficult - you just need to add 50 grams of tar to a liter of water and mix well. The mixture should be left in a dark place for three days, periodically removing the jar and shaking it. At the end of this period, the mixture is filtered from the sediment and used as a hair rinse.

Also, with active hair loss, a mask based on natural tar will help. Components include:

100 ml sour cream;
vitamin A in the amount of a few drops;
and the main ingredient is tar (a tablespoon).

The ingredients are mixed and rubbed into the head before the planned wash. You need to leave the composition on your hair for several hours, after which you can wash it off. Important - this mask is quite difficult to wash off; you will need a lot of shampoo.

For acne

The relevance of using this product for the beauty of the skin is that it has disinfecting, drying properties, helps normalize the functioning of the sebaceous glands - this is not only a way to combat existing pimples, but also a good preventive measure. You can use the following recipes for the face:

honey and tar mask(in a ratio of 3 to 1) with the addition of a teaspoon of olive oil. The components are thoroughly mixed and applied to the face, avoiding the skin around the eyes. The exposure time of the composition is half an hour, after which it should be rinsed well with clean warm water and lubricated the face with baby cream. This recipe should not be used more than twice a week;
You can use tar soap to wash your face.– it dries the skin well. You can either purchase it or prepare it at home by melting a crushed bar of baby soap in a water bath and mixing it with a tablespoon of tar.

Use for psoriasis

Psoriasis is a chronic pathology that affects the skin, has unpleasant external manifestations and causes a lot of discomfort due to its symptoms. Patients with this diagnosis have to constantly fight it, looking for remedies that would give lasting results. Tar-based products have a good effect in the fight against plaques: soap, shampoos, ointments.

Tar purchased at a pharmacy is added in the amount of one drop to a tablespoon of apple juice and drunk a third of an hour before meals. You can drink the product with milk - whichever you prefer;
from the second to the seventh day, the amount of the main component is gradually increased by one drop per day;
At the maximum dosage, the drug continues to be taken until the 30th day from the start of therapy.

This method is very popular, since most pharmaceutical drugs for worms have too long a list of side effects and contraindications.

For the treatment of hemorrhoids

The described remedy for hemorrhoids helps stop the growth of bacteria, thereby relieving the intensity of inflammatory processes, swelling and pain. The wound-healing property becomes extremely relevant in the presence of bleeding. To eliminate such a delicate problem, sitz baths are used. Add a little tar to the prepared warm water and stir (the recommended proportion is a tablespoon per two liters of water). Afterwards, the patient needs to sit down so that the anus area is in the healing liquid.

Harm and contraindications to treatment with birch tar

Due to the fact that birch tar is an active substance rich in ingredients, its use may well provoke an allergic reaction. For this reason, the product is first tested for tolerance by the body. In addition, application in pure form to the skin can cause irritation.

Contraindications include: pregnancy and the period of preparation for it, breastfeeding, childhood. Also, experts do not recommend using tar-based products for exacerbations of chronic skin diseases.

The likelihood of burning after applying tar to the skin is very high, but here it is worth distinguishing a normal skin reaction from a pathological one. So, if the sensations increase in intensity and do not go away for more than a quarter of an hour, the composition should be washed off with water. When used internally, special caution should be exercised - taking tar in large quantities can have a toxic effect on the kidneys; in case of an overdose, nausea, dizziness, diarrhea and convulsions occur.

Before you start using tar for one purpose or another, it is important to obtain permission from a doctor. Firstly, it will not be effective for all diseases, and secondly, additional treatment methods should neither exclude nor interfere with the main prescribed treatment.

Video: how to make tar from birch yourself

The technology for extracting birch tar on a production scale is such that it can be reproduced independently, but using improvised means. If you find yourself in the forest and have a small metal barrel, you can easily extract birch tar with your own hands, based on the recommendations described in this video.

Content

They learned to synthesize drugs artificially only recently, but previously natural remedies were used to treat diseases. There was a special relationship with birch. Its leaves, buds, branches and bark were used to prepare medicines. The product of the plant's processing is birch tar. Thanks to its healing properties, it has found application in the treatment of diseases and in the cosmetology industry.

What is birch tar

The substance is a thick, oily, black liquid with a blue tint and a sharp, specific odor. It does not sink in water, but when mixed, it forms an emulsion. Dissolves in oil, gasoline, ether. Without other impurities, the product is produced in the form of a liquid, packaged in dark bottles, as a constituent component of medicinal ointments Vishnevsky, Wilkinson, Konkov, tar soap. In the cosmetology industry it is used to produce shampoos.

What are they made of?

A tar product is obtained from birch bark by distilling birch bark. For production, trees aged 12-14 years are harvested from late spring to mid-summer. To obtain the medicine, only the outer white layer of birch bark (birch bark) is used. It is heated in closed metal containers until the finished product is obtained. After formation, the liquid accumulates at the bottom of the vessel and flows down the gutter.

Compound

The chemical composition of the substance contains thousands of useful elements. In official medicine, the disinfecting properties of phytoncides and cresols are used, the anti-putrefactive properties of guaiacol, the antiseptic and disinfecting properties of phenol. Additionally, tar includes:

toluene,
organic acids,
benzene,
xylene,
cresol,
resins,
tannins,
bitterness.

Why is it useful?

To treat diseases or achieve a cosmetic effect, use purchased ointments, soaps, shampoos or prepare them yourself according to traditional medicine recipes. The following forms of tar preparations and methods of their use are known:

For skin diseases or calluses, apply ointment or tar water to the problem area.
Baths with tar solution are used for bleeding hemorrhoids.
For hair loss and seborrhea, rub a pure substance without additional components or an emulsion with glycerin into the skin.
Tar soap is used to eliminate teenage acne.
To treat burns, skin ulcers, eczema, compresses soaked in an oily liquid are applied to the affected joints or other parts of the body.
For head lice, wash hair with tar shampoo or soap.
For lung disease, a mixture of a pharmaceutical drug with honey or tar water is taken orally.

Indications for use

Antiseptic, drying and anesthetic properties are used to treat eczema, skin ulcers, and purulent wounds. The substance not only eliminates inflammation and accelerates healing, but also relieves skin itching and burning. The medicinal properties of birch tar are used in therapy:

psoriasis;
scaly lichen;
skin and nail fungus;
scabies;
bedsores;
gangrene;
smallpox;
leprosy;
atherosclerosis;
stomatitis;
tonsillitis;
tuberculosis;
bronchitis;
scrofula;
postpartum mastitis;
otitis;
helminthiases.

Contraindications

You cannot treat yourself with a tar preparation; you must consult a doctor, since the action of the substance, in addition to its therapeutic effect, can cause harm to the body. The following contraindications to the drug are known:

individual intolerance;
pregnancy and lactation;
chronic kidney disease;
period of exacerbation of skin diseases.

Before consuming birch tar, it is recommended to first apply the drug to a small area of skin to identify intolerance. In the absence of an allergic reaction, treatment for the disease can begin. Long-term use of the product on large areas of the skin when treating psoriasis or other skin diseases may cause side effects: nausea, vomiting, weakness. The method and duration of treatment depend on the disease.

Externally

Treatment of skin diseases with tar involves the external use of pharmaceutical and self-prepared ointments, pure tar product or its aqueous emulsion. The following agents are used to treat skin lesions:

Vishnevsky ointment is effective for bedsores and difficult-to-heal wounds. The benefit of birch tar in this case lies in the ability to irritate the receptors of affected tissues, improve their blood supply and regeneration.
Wilkinson's ointment is used externally for scabies and fungal diseases.
Konkov ointment is prescribed for pyoderma.
To eliminate fungal diseases, lubricate the affected area with clean tar.
If you have dandruff, a tar mask is recommended.
It is necessary to lubricate the lesions with the prepared ointment when treating psoriasis, calluses, and scaly lichen.
To cleanse the skin and improve its condition, it is recommended to use tar liquid soap, because solid soap greatly dries out the skin.
In the presence of diathesis, a pure pharmaceutical preparation is added to baby cream and applied to the skin.

Inside

atherosclerosis;
mastopathy;
lung diseases;
sore throat;
helminthiasis.

Use of birch tar in folk medicine

For internal use, it is recommended to use a pure pharmaceutical drug or take it with honey, milk, bread, carrot juice. The healing properties of birch can be effectively used along with drug treatment, but you must consult a doctor. For external use, the tar product is added to:

self-prepared ointments based on pork, lamb fat, vegetable oil, petroleum jelly, egg yolk;
water;
masks based on glycerin or burdock oil and diluted alcohol;
factory lotions, shampoos, gels, liquid soaps, creams;

Against cough

Internal use of tar water is indicated for pneumonia, bronchitis, tuberculosis, and bronchial asthma. It is prepared at the rate of 1 ml of pharmaceutical preparation per 8 ml of boiled water. The liquid is thoroughly mixed with a wooden spatula and left in a dark place for 2 days, the resulting film is removed, the water is carefully poured into a clean vessel and stored in the refrigerator.

For treatment, take one tablespoon of tar water at night and wrap your neck with a warm scarf. The prepared water is used to cleanse the body. Children are given 2 teaspoons after meals, and adults - 2 tablespoons before meals. The course lasts 10 days. The treatment consists of 3 procedures, with a break between them (the first is 10 days, the second is 20 days).

Treatment of skin diseases

For external use, the following traditional medicine recipes are used:

You can prepare an ointment from equal parts of melted pork or lamb fat and pure birch bark distillation product. Used for compresses for eczema.
To treat psoriasis, take 2 tablespoons of tar product, 3 tablespoons of honey, 2 tablespoons of castor oil, 1 egg. All components are mixed and left for 3 days. Apply the drug to the affected area once a day.
Treatment of nail and skin fungus is carried out with a pure product. It is used to remove a splinter - applied to the affected area and on gauze, which is placed on top. After 15 minutes, the splinter rises above the surface of the skin and can be easily removed.

Birch tar with milk

The combination of milk with a tar product has an effect on cystitis and atherosclerosis, but before using the medicine you should consult a specialist. You can use the following traditional medicine recipes:

Add 5-10 drops of the pharmaceutical drug to a glass of cold fresh milk, divide into three servings and take before meals throughout the day. This method is proposed for the treatment of catarrhal cystitis.
For atherosclerosis, add 1 teaspoon of pure pharmaceutical product to a glass of milk. The prepared drug is drunk an hour before meals. The procedure is repeated three times a day. One course of treatment lasts one and a half months. Then they take a break for 1 month and continue treatment. It is necessary to conduct 3-4 courses.
To cleanse the body, it is recommended to drink a tablespoon of milk with one drop of pharmaceutical preparation on an empty stomach.

Birch tar with bread

The tar product is consumed with rye bread to cleanse the body: blood vessels, liver. For treatment, before going to bed on the first day, eat a small piece of bread with 5 drops of the pharmaceutical drug. The procedure is not very pleasant, but you can’t drink it. Every day the dose is increased by one drop until it reaches 10. In subsequent days, the number of drops is reduced to 5. This course of treatment lasts 24 days. The effect is observed already in the second week, the well-being and condition of the skin improves. It is recommended to carry out this procedure once every six months.

Video

Attention! The information presented in the article is for informational purposes only. The materials in the article do not encourage self-treatment. Only a qualified doctor can make a diagnosis and give treatment recommendations based on the individual characteristics of a particular patient.

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Instructions for using birch tar

Health 01/09/2018

Our ancestors knew about the benefits of birch tar for a long time; they learned to obtain it by long-term distillation of birch bark and used it for health improvement and for various household needs. Now birch tar is produced industrially and is used in pharmacology and cosmetology. Tar has a specific pungent odor and an oily, thick consistency; it is made from birch bark plants, which is why you can sometimes see the name birch bark tar. Today we, dear readers, will consider in detail the areas of application of birch tar.

The healing properties of birch tar

Tar has many beneficial and medicinal properties that are used in the treatment of various diseases. Let's look at its main beneficial properties:

Tar has a pronounced antimicrobial effect;
Relieves inflammatory processes;
Reduces pain in soft tissues;
Reduces itching when applied topically;
Accelerates tissue healing;
Has anthelmintic properties;
Relieves tissue swelling;
Improves blood circulation.

The list of diseases for which tar can help is quite extensive, mainly all kinds of skin problems. You can buy tar in health stores, green pharmacies, online stores, and sometimes it is also found in regular pharmacies.

Birch tar - benefits and harm

Birch tar can be found in the formulation of many pharmaceutical preparations, mainly ointments for external use, such as ichthyol ointment, Vishnevsky and Wilkinson ointment. Tar soap and tar shampoo are popular at all times and help cope with many skin and hair problems. But the medicinal properties of tar do not end there; they are much broader and traditional medicine uses them widely.

The use of birch tar for skin diseases

The use of birch tar for skin diseases is recognized by both folk and traditional medicine; tar can be used to treat

dermatitis,
eczema,
neurodermatitis,
psoriasis,
scabies,
bruises,
trophic ulcers,
bedsores,
burns, frostbite,
calluses,
fungal skin infections.

Instructions for using birch tar must be included if you buy it at the pharmacy. It can be used in its pure form for various skin problems, but most often and more effectively it is used in a mixture with other components.

To prepare the ointment at home, take pure pharmaceutical tar and melted pork internal fat, which are mixed in equal quantities. Apply a thin layer of ointment to the affected area under a bandage twice a day.

Birch tar is useful in the form of baths, for which an alcohol solution of tar is prepared. You need to take 1 part of pure tar and 5 parts of alcohol; 100 grams of this solution is enough for a bath. Take baths for itchy dermatitis; they relieve itching well and dry the skin in affected areas.

Another way to use tar externally is tar water. To prepare it, ½ liter of tar is mixed with a liter of boiled water, left for at least 12 hours, then carefully drained, leaving sediment at the bottom of the container. Tar water is used for rubbing for any skin problems; it can be used for treatment.

The use of birch tar for psoriasis

For psoriasis, the benefits of birch tar do not appear immediately, but after some time; tar is used by traditional healers in addition to medications prescribed by a doctor. The disease is complex and difficult to treat, so consultation with a dermatologist is necessary. To prepare the ointment, mix a spoonful of tar and castor oil, add 2 tablespoons of natural honey and half a beaten egg white. Mix everything well until smooth and leave in a cool place for a day to infuse. After this, mix again and apply to the affected areas once a day under a bandage.

On the first day of treatment, mix one drop of tar with a teaspoon of liquid honey and drink on an empty stomach. Then add a drop every day, bringing the amount of tar to 10 drops. Take this amount for another three days, then reduce it a drop per day. If honey is contraindicated, you can replace it with a spoonful of milk or fresh apple juice and take the drug in the same way as with honey.

Birch tar for nail fungus

Fungal infections of the nail plates are a very common disease that requires long-term treatment. The pharmaceutical industry produces many antifungal agents, but they are all quite expensive.

There is an excellent inexpensive remedy that helps cope with fungus - this is ordinary birch tar. But it will only help at the initial stage, when the disease is not too advanced. Be patient and do the procedures daily to not only stop the spread of the fungal infection, but also get rid of it forever.

There are many methods of using birch tar to treat nail fungus; let’s look at the simplest and most accessible ones.

Before applying the tar, steam your feet well in hot water with the addition of natural laundry soap and baking soda. After the bath, cut your nails, remove keratinized areas of skin using a pumice stone or a special nail file, wipe your feet dry, paying special attention to the skin between the toes and nails, since a humid environment promotes the spread of fungus. Apply tar to the affected areas, wrap in linen or cotton cloth and put socks on top. Leave it overnight and wash it off in the morning. A more gentle way is to soap your toes and nail plates with tar soap instead of pure tar.
Grate a piece of tar soap on a fine grater, mix with a small amount of water and baking soda so that the consistency is not very liquid. Rub into clean, dry affected areas overnight. In the morning, rinse with warm water, wipe dry and put on clean socks.
Grate the tar soap, fill it with hot water, stir until the soap dissolves, and keep your feet in this soap bath for 10-15 minutes. After that, just dry your feet with a clean towel and put on clean socks. It is best to do these procedures at night.

To get all the benefits of birch tar during treatment, you need to be especially careful about hygiene. You should also be prepared for the fact that you will have to throw away sheets, towels and socks, since tar stains are difficult to remove.

How to make tar soap yourself

There is nothing better than making soap at home, because in this case you will be confident in its quality. It's not at all difficult to do this. For the base, you need to take a standard piece of baby soap without additives or fragrances, grate it and pour in ½ cup of warm boiled water.

Keep this mixture in a water bath until the soap is completely dissolved, then add 2 tablespoons of sea buckthorn oil (available at the pharmacy).

Wait until the mixture cools a little and add 1 tablespoon of natural pure tar, mix, pour the resulting tar soap into any molds and leave until completely hardened. The soap is ready!

Birch tar is good for hair; it copes well with dandruff, especially if its appearance is associated with oily seborrhea. Shampoo with tar and tar soap are sold in stores and pharmacies; you can simply wash your hair with this soap once a week. But if you have natural, pure tar, you can make your own dandruff remedy. To do this, mix a spoonful of tar and castor oil and dilute this mixture in 1/2 cup of vodka. Rub into the scalp an hour before washing, then wash your hair with regular shampoo. Such procedures relieve itching, reduce oily scalp, and dandruff will gradually disappear.

For hair loss, mix pure tar with glycerin in equal proportions and rub into the scalp twice a week. Many people are put off by the specific smell of tar, but after washing and drying their hair it quickly disappears.

Before using tar, carry out a test to exclude the possibility of an allergic reaction. To do this, apply a drop of tar on the bend of your elbow and do not wash it off for 24 hours. Irritation, redness, severe itching at the application site indicate individual intolerance to tar.

And to get you in the mood, I want to invite you to take a walk around our evening New Year’s Yaroslavl.

24 comments

Answer

Elvira
16 Mar 2018 at 18:09

"Tar" literally means "burnt" or "burnt." The name of the product comes from an Indo-European root meaning “to burn, to burn.”

What is tar?

Tar is a liquid product that is formed during the pyrolysis (dry distillation) of wood. In Russia, tar was traditionally made from birch bark, the outer layer of birch bark. At the same time, from 75 kilograms of birch bark, 22.5 kilograms of pure tar are obtained.

But you can also get it from pine, juniper, beech, aspen and some other trees.

The highest quality is considered to be tar made from living or freshly cut down trees 12-14 years old.

In most languages, initially only the product that was obtained from pine trunks and used in tarring ships was called tar. In Rus' it was called “vara” or resin.

You can prepare tar from hard and brown coal, peat, shale, and oil. But in this case, the resulting product is very different from traditional birch tar and is called bitumen, or pitch.

During the production of tar, 2 fractions are formed: low-boiling, or medical tar, and resin, which is used for technical needs.

History of tar

In the old days, tar was exported from Russia to other countries, where it was called “Russian oil.” The person producing tar was called a tarmaker, tarmaker, or tarmaker.

In many countries, this product was used as a means of punishment. In Russia, they smeared it on the gates of women leading dissolute lives. In the United States, criminals were tarred and feathered. After such an execution, they were driven out of the city streets or forced to stand in a visible place.

Tar was also used in heraldry. The coat of arms of the city of Velsk, located in the Astrakhan region, contains an image of a barrel filled with tar and standing in the middle of a golden field, which indicates the income the city receives from the sale of this product.

Folk art was not left aside either. But here you can notice one rather strange feature. In Russia, the negative features of the substance are emphasized. Everyone knows the saying that a fly in the ointment can spoil a whole barrel of honey. At the same time, residents of other countries attribute opposite properties to this product. What's the matter? Are the tastes of Russians and representatives of other nationalities really so different?

It turns out that the matter is completely different. The conversation is about completely different substances: pine and birch tar. Pine tar is added to flavorings and foods. But birch tar, even in microdoses, can ruin the smell and taste of any product. The proverb states that although birch bark is white, tar is black. But the same fly in the ointment that spoils a barrel of honey can cure a person from many diseases. It is not for nothing that the Finns endow this product with miraculous powers, claiming that if it is impossible to cure a disease with the help of a bath, vodka and tar, then it is fatal.

Medical Talmuds of the Middle Ages claim that during smallpox epidemics, tar water helped stop the spread of the disease. For preventive purposes, small children were given a few drops of tar.

Types and varieties of tar

In Russia, tar was known in several varieties:

1. pit - pure tar;

2. birch bark, or raw tar - this is the name given to pure birch tar, which was mined in the Tula and Pskov provinces;

3. Kargopolsky - pure birch tar with the consistency of hemp oil, characterized by a bluish tint, was used for tanning leather of the highest grades;

4. Finnish - has a more liquid consistency compared to Kargopol, has a greenish tint and a slight reddish tint; it was used to lubricate the wheels of carriages in cold weather, when the wheel tar could not be used because it had hardened;

5. Vologda - birch, having a small admixture of resin and a greenish-brown color, it was used to tan lower grades of leather;

6. aspen - aspen bark is used for its production; it has a sharp, characteristic odor;

7. distilled tar, or spirit resin, or shushmin, or half-shank, or rug - is a mixture of birch bark tar with pine resin; in ancient times, such tar was widely used: it was used in the manufacture of yuft leather and the construction of buildings, it was used to lubricate the wheels of carts;

8. wheel tar – a product consisting of a mixture of pine resin and purified birch tar;

9. steam, or cauldron – formed by distilling birch bark in cauldrons and subsequent cooling of the steam;

10. korchazhny – the lowest grade of black color;

11. smolye - the remains of distillation of birch tar, to which admixtures of spruce and pine resin are mixed;

12. resin-tar - birch and pine blocks are used to distill it;

13. kolenka, or kolenitsa - the dirtiest and most unsuitable type of tar, which was obtained by distilling the remains.

As you can see in the old days there were many varieties of tar that were used in a variety of ways. As chemistry and industry developed, they were replaced by more specialized drugs. At the moment, only tar remains in production and sale as a medical and cosmetic product.

What does tar consist of?

To list all the components of tar, it will take several pages, since it contains more than 10,000 different substances. Therefore, we will focus only on the main components, which include phytoncides, alcohols, organic acids, aldehydes, toluene, benzene, phenol, cresol, xylene, guaiacol and resinous substances.

Among all the variety of components, it is impossible to single out one active ingredient: the product belongs to drugs that have a complex effect.

Properties

Birch tar has the appearance of a black, oily, thick liquid, which in reflected light takes on a bluish or bluish-greenish tint.

Concentrated tar is characterized by a specific smell, which, like the taste, is called yuft. Yufta is the name given to the leather of animals (pigs, horses, cattle) obtained by combined tanning.

Physical properties

Tar is almost insoluble in water and floats on its surface. But alkalis and alcohols can easily dissolve it. Tar can be mixed with chloroform and ether.

The relative density of the substance is 0.925-0.95.

Medicinal properties

For external use, tar:

- relieves irritation, itching and inflammation;

- has an anesthetic and antiseptic effect;

- promotes healing of wounds and burns;

— stops purulent processes;

— relieves boils and skin fungus;

- normalizes sleep.

If you take tar internally, it will have a beneficial effect on all systems of the human body:

— activates the immune system;

- will speed up metabolism;

- lowers blood pressure;

- strengthens the heart muscle.

Until recently, tar was used not only as an external remedy, but also for internal use. But studies have shown that, in addition to beneficial substances, it also contains toxins that can harm human health. Therefore, doctors recommend using tar only as an external remedy. Currently, it is not pure tar that is usually used, but pharmacological preparations made on its basis. Due to purification, the concentration of toxins in them is reduced.

But, oddly enough, the toxic substances that make up tar can in some cases become useful. In particular, they have found their application in oncology in the destruction of tumors.

What does tar cure?

Birch tar is known as an indispensable remedy in the treatment of dermatological diseases: scabies, psoriasis, scrofula, eczema, smallpox, erysipelas, neurodermatitis, pyoderma, scaly and multicolored lichen, diathesis, athlete's foot, seborrhea, burns, frostbite, bruises, dry calluses, trophic non-healing ulcers, leprosy, acne and rashes. The product is used to treat bedsores and restore skin pigmentation. It accelerates blood movement, stimulates regenerative processes in cells, and promotes skin rejuvenation.

Until recently, psoriasis was one of the incurable diseases. But the use of ointments and compresses made from tar gave hope for the discovery of an effective medicine. A study of the properties of the product showed that it is capable of inhibiting DNA synthesis if it contains any defects.

But tar will be useful not only for skin ailments. It will help get rid of tuberculosis, otitis, tonsillitis, abdominal dropsy, duodenal ulcer, urethritis, night blindness, stomatitis, scurvy, mastitis, mastopathy, bronchial asthma, erosive proctitis, inflammatory diseases of the rectum, hemorrhoids, gangrene, joint diseases , benign and malignant neoplasms, stop bleeding, normalize the functioning of the digestive system.

Another unique property of tar is its ability to inhibit the growth of benign tumor cells, preventing their transformation into malignant tumors. Therefore, the product is widely used for mastopathy, ovarian cysts, adenoma, fibroids.

The use of purified tar in oncology departments makes it possible to neutralize the negative effects of chemotherapy.

Basically, skin diseases are treated with highly concentrated unrefined tar. To speed up the treatment of severe stages of scabies and psoriasis, tar is mixed with sulfur or salicylic acid. A product infused with alcohol or fat is used in medicine. Tar is the main ingredient in widely used medications: Vishnevsky and Wilkinson ointments, tar soap and tar water.

In veterinary medicine, tar is used to treat the hooves of horses and cattle. It is used to treat lichens.

Tar in medicine

Tar soap is a soap that contains 10% birch tar. This soap acts as a natural antiseptic, helping with most skin problems. But tar not only disinfects, but also increases blood flow to the skin, thereby accelerating its regeneration.

Tar soap is recommended for use in the treatment of acne, scabies, dandruff, seborrhea, and lice. Will come to the rescue with bedsores, burns, frostbite and the appearance of calluses. It is enough to smear problem areas with tar soap before going to bed so that by the morning the calluses will soften.

If you wash dogs and cats with tar soap, the fleas will disappear, since they cannot stand the specific smell of tar.

Contraindication for use is dry skin. Frequent use may cause the skin to dry out.

Tar water

Many folk recipes involve the use of tar water. Most often, this remedy is used to treat children and those people who cannot stand the tar smell.

To prepare tar water, tar is diluted with boiled water, cooled to room temperature, in a ratio of 1:8 and infused for two days. Remove the film from the resulting solution and carefully pour it into another container. Store in the refrigerator. Properly prepared tar water is similar in color to dry white wine.

If possible, take spring water. In this case, there is no need to boil it.

Tar water restores skin pigmentation, improves the functioning of the digestive system, heals ulcers in the stomach and duodenum, removes waste and toxic substances from the body, has a diuretic effect, treats smallpox, erysipelas, scabies, leprosy, sore throat, dropsy, gangrene, tuberculosis, bronchial asthma , acute and chronic bronchitis, pneumonia, constipation, diseases of the intestines, liver, pancreas, diseases of the cardiovascular system, relieves fever, purulent and suffocating cough.

Adults drink tar water one tablespoon before eating. In case of severe disease, it is recommended to increase the dosage to 2-3 spoons. Children are recommended to take 2 teaspoons after meals. In case of sore throat, tar water is also used to gargle.

If pigmentation is disturbed, the skin is lubricated with tar water.

Pure tar

It is also possible to use pure birch tar.

It is used in the treatment of diseases of the respiratory system and increases the effectiveness of therapy for oncology. Take 10 drops of tar diluted in 80-100 grams of boiled water 4 times a day.

Tar with milk

To increase the effectiveness of treatment, the tar is diluted with warm milk. This remedy is recommended for thrombophlebitis, stroke, diabetes mellitus, catarrhal cystitis, malignant neoplasms in the throat, stomach and lungs.

For atherosclerosis, half a teaspoon of tar is diluted in a glass of warmed homemade milk. Drink a glass of medicine an hour before meals 3 times a day for 45 days. After a month's pause, the treatment is repeated. You will need to undergo 3-4 courses of therapy per year.

For mastopathy, a special treatment regimen is used: 3 drops of tar are added to 50 milliliters of milk for three days, 5 drops for the next 3 days, and 7 drops for the last 3 days. Take the medicine 3 times a day. Then they take a 10-day break and repeat the course in the reverse order: first add 7 drops, then 5 and finally 3. If necessary, the course is repeated after 2 months.

For tuberculosis, emphysema and other infections, the treatment regimen is slightly different: during the first week 1 drop of tar is added to 50 milliliters of milk, the second week 2 drops are added, the third - 3, etc., bringing the number of drops to ten. Then they take a week's break and repeat the course in reverse order, gradually reducing the number of drops.

For diabetes mellitus, thrombophlebitis, stroke, they act according to the previous scheme, but the number of drops is increased daily. There is no need to take a break.

For throat and stomach cancer, start with one drop of tar and gradually increase to twenty. Then they begin to reduce the number of drops.

For genitourinary infections, it is enough to increase the intake of tar to 10 drops.

In case of cystitis, add 5-10 drops of tar to a glass of milk. Drink three times a day 20 minutes before meals.

Tar with honey

Tar with bread

For skin diseases, ointments will provide an effective result. But for different diseases, their composition can differ significantly.

A highly effective medicinal product is prepared from lamb or pork fat: tar is mixed with fat in equal proportions. This ointment is used for skin diseases and for wound healing.

In the presence of pyoderma, ulcers and infected wounds, pure birch tar is mixed with petroleum jelly in a ratio of 1:10.

For psoriasis, damaged areas are smeared with purified tar mixed with birch ash in a 3:1 ratio.

You can treat psoriasis with another ointment, for which you combine crushed celandine grass, carrot juice and tar in a ratio of 1:1:4.

For demodicosis, an ointment made from a mixture of tar and trichopolum will help.

An ointment obtained by mixing 2 tablespoons of tar, a tablespoon of sulfur, a tablespoon of honey, half a tablespoon of beeswax, 4 tablespoons of sunflower oil, a tablespoon of vinegar essence and a tablespoon of copper sulfate will help cure eczema. The resulting mixture is heated over low heat for a quarter of an hour.

In the case of a trophic ulcer, compresses are made by moistening the bandage in a product obtained by combining equal parts of tar and Kalanchoe juice. The ulcer will heal in 5-6 days.

Scaly lichen is treated by applying compresses made from a mixture of tar and fish oil, mixed in a ratio of 1:3, to the affected areas for 30 minutes. The procedures are repeated for 10 days.

For athlete's foot and nails, mycosis of the folds, it is best to use 5-10% sulfur-tar ointments.

To destroy boils and abscesses, mix tar, homemade cream and chicken protein in equal proportions. Such an ointment can become a worthy replacement for Vishnevsky’s liniment. In addition, it does not corrode the skin.

An ointment made from tar, sulfur and petroleum jelly mixed in equal proportions will help you quickly get rid of burns. To increase the effectiveness of the product, it is recommended to replace Vaseline by half with fish oil.

Tar for joints

For joint diseases, therapy that alternates the effects of tar and clay will have an effective effect: tar softens salts, and clay draws them out.

On the first day, the damaged joint is treated with tar and left for 15-20 minutes. After a tingling or tingling sensation appears, wipe off the tar with a soft cloth, and after an hour wash it with a washcloth and soap. The next day, a compress of white, blue or red clay is applied to the joint: the clay is diluted with water until creamy and the joint is smeared with it, without covering it with anything. The compress is removed if the pain becomes very severe. Then they take a two-day break. On the fifth and sixth days, treatment is resumed, after which they rest for three days. On the tenth and eleventh day, the therapy is repeated.

Tar in pediatric therapy

Tar is also used to treat children.

Diathesis is very common in children. In such cases, traditional medicine recommends spreading the rash areas with baby cream or butter, adding a few drops of tar to them.

For a cold, brew a teaspoon of anise fruit with a glass of boiling water and leave for half an hour. Add a drop of tar to the strained infusion and give the child 30 milliliters 3-4 times a day 30 minutes before meals.

Birch tar for hemorrhoids

For patients with hemorrhoids, traditional medicine suggests using effective methods.

Half of the red brick is heated well on an electric stove, gas or open fire and placed in an empty iron bucket. Then 2-3 drops of tar are dripped onto the brick. They bare their butts and sit on a bucket for 5-20 minutes. Treatment is carried out before bedtime for a week. After the first procedure, the pain will decrease, and after a week the hemorrhagic nodes will disappear.

Steam a tablespoon of tar with two liters of boiling water. When the solution has cooled a little, pour it into a basin and sit there, wrapped in a blanket to keep warm.

Tar tablets

Another option for tar therapy is the use of tablets.

For tuberculosis, tar is mixed with licorice root powder to obtain a thick mass from which pills are formed. They drink them 3 times a day, 2 pieces.

For intermittent fever, tablets are prepared in the same way, but licorice powder is replaced with quinine bark. Drink 5 tablets three times a day.

Balneotherapy for psoriasis

In addition to using tar-based ointment, baths will provide significant benefits for psoriasis.

Dissolve 75 milliliters of tar and soap alcohol in 100 milliliters of water and add to the bath. Baths are taken for 15-30 minutes.

A few more recipes

Finally, we will offer a few more remedies.

For sore throat, you can mix tar with calendula oil in a ratio of 1:3 and simmer the mixture for 40 minutes in a water bath. The medicine is dripped onto the tongue, 5-6 drops each, and dissolved within 2-3 minutes.

For mastopathy, it is recommended to take a piece of instant sugar and drop a drop of tar on it. Sugar is sucked until it dissolves. Every day the number of drops increases and then begins to decrease. Take a break for 2-3 months and repeat the course. When starting treatment, you should be patient: it will take up to two years for a complete recovery.

A remedy made from tar, lemons and garlic will help get rid of tuberculosis. First of all, take 5 medium lemons and, without peeling them, grind them using a meat grinder. Add 4 chopped heads of garlic. The lemon-garlic mixture is poured with a liter of boiled chilled water and left for 5 days. Strain. Drink the medicine three times a day, 20 minutes before meals, 15 milliliters, adding one drop of tar.

For those suffering from pneumonia, another medicine will come to the rescue. A tablespoon of crushed buds and young birch leaves is poured into a glass of boiling water and left for an hour. After straining, add 2-3 drops of tar. Drink 2-3 times a day, 100 milliliters, 20 minutes before meals.

ATTENTION! ALL OF THE ABOVE REMEDIES BELONG TO TRADITIONAL MEDICINE. BEFORE USING THEM, CONSULT A DOCTOR IS REQUIRED.

Tar in cosmetology

In cosmetology, it is recommended to use tar for seborrhea, dandruff, acne and other rashes, to stimulate hair growth. It is part of many cosmetics: ointments, creams, pastes, soaps, lotions, shampoos. The concentration of tar in preparations ranges from 1-30%.

Hair tar

Birch tar will help relieve itching and irritation caused by dandruff and normalize the functioning of the sebaceous glands. It will remove the keratinized layer of cells, activate cellular respiration, saturate tissues with oxygen, increase blood circulation, and launch regeneration processes.

To combat dandruff, as well as its prevention, it is recommended to combine a tablespoon of tar with two tablespoons of castor oil and dilute the resulting mixture in 100 grams of alcohol. The solution is rubbed into the scalp and left for 2-3 hours.

Another remedy for dandruff: a tablespoon of tar is mixed with three tablespoons of burdock oil and dissolved in a glass of vodka. Rub into the scalp and do not rinse for 2 hours.

Rinsing with a tar solution obtained by diluting tar five times with water will help improve the condition of your hair.

You can also use a mask of 25 ml of castor oil, 25 ml of calendula tincture and a tablespoon of tar to enhance hair growth. This mask is applied to the hair for 1 hour and washed off with shampoo.

Tar against acne

Tar will also help those who suffer from frequent acne breakouts and excessive oily skin. It will stop inflammatory processes, relieve irritation, cleanse the skin and make it soft and velvety. For skin care you can use tar soap, lotions and masks.

To prepare the lotion, tar is mixed with alcohol (95%) in a ratio of 1:10, and a few drops of salicylic alcohol are added.
For the mask, combine tar and honey in a ratio of 1:3.

Contraindications

Despite the enormous benefits of tar, not everyone can use it, as it can cause an allergic reaction and even cause the development of dermatitis.

Tar therapy is contraindicated for:

individual intolerance;

any problems with the kidneys, since the medicine puts a lot of strain on these organs;

pregnancy and lactation.

To identify the presence of individual intolerance, it is necessary to do a skin test before using the product by smearing the bend of the elbow with tar.

If you use birch tar on large areas of the skin for a long time, you may experience weakness, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, digestive tract disorders, and convulsions.

During the combustion of any organic substances, tar is always formed, which goes into the smoke. Such a product can cause significant harm to humans if it enters the body along with the air, as it has a carcinogenic effect. Particularly dangerous is the tar that is formed during the combustion of combustible fossil materials (for example, oil, coal).

Marina Maksimova

The use of tar against various diseases has been known for a long time. The essential oils included in the composition have a wide range of therapeutic effects on the human body. The drug has an unpleasant odor, but quickly eliminates symptoms and does not require a long period of treatment.

Like any type of medicinal product, tar requires compliance with certain features in treatment. The instructions for using birch tar contain general recommendations for treatment; for more correct use, you should consult your doctor to prescribe a dosage, depending on the type of disease.

Release form

Birch tar is produced in the form of a medium-thick liquid with a sharp, specific odor. Can be from dark brown to black. Most often it comes in dark glass bottles.

Ingredients of the drug:

purified tar;
phenol;
xylene;
betulin;
essential oils;
resin.

Tar has the following beneficial qualities for the body:

In addition to its medicinal qualities, birch tar is widely used for cosmetic purposes to improve the condition of skin, hair and nails.

pharmachologic effect

The drug has natural antiseptic properties, reduces inflammation, and eliminates the unpleasant symptoms of itching. The drug improves tissue repair processes and accelerates blood circulation in damaged areas.

Birch tar has a wide range of uses, but is most often prescribed for the following situations:

In addition to all the above indications, tar is widely used to cleanse the body and prevent diseases.

Contraindications

The drug is well tolerated by the body and has virtually no contraindications for treatment:

However, tar is prohibited from being used during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Experts also prohibit the use of the substance if kidney function is impaired. Otherwise, an exacerbation of the disease may occur.
Tar is strictly prohibited in the presence of exacerbation of chronic diseases. Also, before starting treatment, you should conduct a test for individual sensitivity to the components.

Directions for use and dosage

Outdoor use

Tar is used to eliminate a large number of problems, but immediately before use it is recommended to dilute it with certain ingredients, depending on the type of disease.

The most commonly used methods are:

Elimination of psoriasis– you need to take the liquid substance and mix it in equal proportions with butter. Add half a dose of copper sulfate and boil the resulting mixture. Apply with a cotton swab directly to the plaques once a day, the course of treatment is determined individually.
Elimination of ulcers and lichen lesions of the skin. It is necessary to mix tar and petroleum jelly in equal proportions and apply to the damaged area with a cotton swab once a day. If necessary, you can use a bandage. Duration of treatment is 7 days.
Elimination of foot and nail fungus– it is recommended to use applications impregnated with birch tar. Before application, it is recommended to thoroughly clean the surface of dirt and dry it for a period of treatment until the symptoms completely disappear.

Depending on the degree of damage, the drug may have different intensity of use. Experts recommend using the substance before bedtime and fixing it with bandages. In the morning, the skin surface should be cleaned with a soap solution and a special cleanser.

Inside

Greater results in treatment can be achieved if birch tar is used internally, but this type of treatment requires careful adherence to the dosage to prevent cases of poisoning.

When using birch tar, you should consult a doctor and select an individual dosage in accordance with the characteristics of the body.

Tar water

Birch tar has a rather unpleasant smell and taste, so not every person can consume this type of substance. If necessary, you can use tar water, which has medicinal qualities and is used for both internal and external use.

Tar water is prepared as follows:

you need to mix 3 liters of purified water and 150 ml of tar substance;
mix the resulting composition and close the lid tightly, place in a cool, dark place;
Mix the water daily with a wooden spoon;
After 3 days, remove the top layer, pour the liquid into a glass container and consume as needed.

Care should be taken to ensure that the top layer is removed, otherwise symptoms of poisoning and other negative consequences may occur.

The liquid should be transparent, without any impurities. This liquid is stored in a tightly closed container for no more than 3 days. If any sediment appears, water must not be used for treatment.

Birch tar in cosmetology

There are a large number of different cosmetic products that are produced on the basis of birch tar. However, if necessary, it is possible to use a pure substance that is available in the pharmacy.

Using tar can eliminate the following problems:

In the presence of inflammatory and purulent formations, it is recommended to apply the substance in a targeted manner until the unpleasant symptom completely disappears.

When using birch tar, you should first of all determine your skin type and do not use large amounts for dry skin, as the substance tends to dry out the epidermis, which can lead to additional problems.

Recipes for cleansing the body

The use of birch tar to eliminate toxins and waste from the body allows you to quickly and without harm cleanse the body and improve the functioning of internal organs.

You can use the following methods to cleanse the body:

Use for weight loss

Reducing excess weight with the help of birch tar is achieved due to the following beneficial qualities:

To lose weight, it is recommended to use tar water. Before meals, it is recommended to drink 20 grams of water, twice a day. The duration of such use is no more than 10 days. After which it is recommended to take a break of 10 days and repeat the therapy. However, it should be noted that this method of weight loss is recommended to be combined with physical activity, otherwise the result will not be observed.

The use of tar for weight loss is prohibited in the following situations:

age under 18 years;
chronic diseases;
allergic reactions;
weakened immune system;
increased sensitivity of the body.

To prevent the development of poor health, it is recommended to visit a specialist who will select the right nutrition to strengthen the effect obtained from using tar and reduce the likelihood of stomach upset.

Side effects

The use of birch tar may result in the following types of adverse reactions in the body:

If such unpleasant symptoms appear, it is recommended to stop using birch tar and consult your doctor.

Use during pregnancy and lactation

Experts categorically prohibit the use of birch tar during pregnancy and breastfeeding. The active components of the substance tend to penetrate deeply into soft tissues and negatively affect the development of the fetus.

The ability to spread through the bloodstream allows the substance to pass into breast milk and be passed on to the baby. Medical professionals recommend stopping the use of birch tar several months before planning a pregnancy.

Application for children

special instructions

The use of birch tar requires compliance with the following features:

it is necessary to carefully monitor the absence of contact of the substance with the mucous membrane of the eyes;
use with caution in old age;
when applied in a thick layer, it can cause clogging of pores, which will lead to the formation of acne;
if long-term treatment is necessary, it is recommended to monitor the condition of the urine, since long-term use of birch tar can negatively affect the condition of the kidneys;
It is not recommended to use birch tar on open areas of the body in the summer, as the substance tends to increase skin sensitivity to sunlight;
If itching occurs on the skin, the drug must be removed and the epidermis washed with soap and water.

Following the instructions will help reduce the likelihood of an adverse reaction and speed up the achievement of results.

Overdose

When used externally, no cases of overdose were observed. However, improper use of the substance inside the body can cause poisoning and stomach upset.

The most common manifestations of overdose are vomiting and nausea. If you have these types of symptoms, it is recommended to rinse your stomach and contact the nearest medical facility.

Drug interactions

The drug is not recommended for use with other types of substances with similar effects on the body. Preparations containing sulfur and salicylic acid tend to enhance the effects of birch tar on the body. Therefore, this feature should be taken into account before use.

Storage conditions and expiration dates

The birch tar substance should be stored in a dark place out of reach of children. The shelf life of the substance is 5 years from the date marked on the packaging. Do not use after expiration date. When heated or frozen, it tends to lose its medicinal qualities.

Price

Analogs

Birch tar is a natural preparation, so there are no analogues that would match the composition and effect on the human body.

Each type of drug may have its own characteristics of use and cause individual side effects. Before use, it is recommended to consult a doctor and obtain an individual dosage, depending on the type of disease.

The use of birch tar can eliminate a large number of problems and improve the functioning of human internal organs. Widely used for cosmetic purposes and against skin diseases.