Trees of the Ukrainian forest

Trees — what bark, leaves, sap and needles heal

Name: Dryflower
Address: UA
Price range: $$

Eight trees of the Ukrainian forest — oak, birch, pine, juniper, willow, hazel, walnut, bird cherry. Each has its year, part and method: oak bark — astringent, birch sap — spring cleansing, pine buds — for bronchitis, willow bark — natural aspirin.

Editorial reference, not medical advice. Special caution with juniper (don't confuse with savin juniper!), willow bark (Reye's syndrome in children), bird cherry (hydrocyanic acid in pits).

01 / 8

English oak

Quercus robur · Fagaceae

Where it grows: Deciduous and mixed forests of Polisia, Podilia, Forest-Steppe
Part used: Bark from young branches (before leafing), acorns
Harvest season: Bark — early spring, before bud break. Acorns — September-October.

For

Powerful astringent — stops bleeding, tones mucous membranes, antiseptic

Treats

Diarrhea, bleeding gums, stomatitis, foot sweat, gynecological inflammations

How to use

Bark decoction — mouth rinse for gum inflammation, 4–5 times a day. Foot bath in decoction — for excessive sweating. Oak bark — the strongest natural astringent in our pharmacopoeia.

Caution

Don't drink internally for long courses — blocks iron absorption and some medications. Constipation — avoid.

02 / 8

Silver birch

Betula pendula · Betulaceae

Where it grows: Polisia, Carpathians — the national Ukrainian forest tree
Part used: Buds, leaves, sap, chaga (fungus on the trunk)
Harvest season: Buds — February-March. Sap — March. Leaves — early summer. Chaga — winter.

For

Diuretic effect, blood cleansing, antioxidant support (chaga)

Treats

Edema, early kidney issues, skin rashes, chronic fatigue, early gastritis (chaga)

How to use

Birch sap — a traditional Ukrainian spring drink, a glass on empty stomach in the morning throughout March. Leaf tea — diuretic, for edema. Chaga — 3-week courses, cold-water infusion (do NOT boil!).

Caution

Birch pollen allergy — drink with caution. Acute nephritis — only with a doctor. Chaga incompatible with penicillin and IV glucose.

03 / 8

Scots pine

Pinus sylvestris · Pinaceae

Where it grows: Pine forests of Polisia, Volyn, Lviv region, parts of Carpathians
Part used: Buds (early spring), resin, needles
Harvest season: Buds — before opening (March). Needles — year-round. Resin — when trunk is damaged.

For

Expectorant, airway antiseptic, vitamin C (needles)

Treats

Bronchitis, persistent cough, tonsillitis, scurvy (historically — sea voyages), skin wounds

How to use

Bud decoction — for bronchitis, ¼ cup 4 times a day. Needle infusion — winter vitamin C source (1 tbsp per cup, don't boil). Resin — a natural plaster for cuts. Classic Ukrainian sauna — pine branches on the shelf.

Caution

Acute glomerulonephritis, hepatitis — avoid. Pregnancy — only short courses.

04 / 8

Juniper

Juniperus communis · Cupressaceae

Where it grows: Carpathian forest edges, dry heights of Polisia, Crimea
Part used: Berries (blue-black «cone-berries»), needles
Harvest season: Berries — autumn of year 2 (year 1 green, year 2 blue-black)

For

Diuretic, urinary tract disinfection, digestion

Treats

Cystitis, chronic pyelonephritis, rheumatism, flatulence, low appetite

How to use

Chew 3–5 berries on empty stomach in morning — a classic Carpathian morning practice for digestion. Decoction — a tablespoon 4 times a day for bladder inflammation. In sauna — a bunch of juniper branches acts as a natural aromatherapy antiseptic.

⚠ Danger

⚠ Don't confuse with savin juniper (Juniperus sabina) — poisonous, abortifacient! True juniper — shrub 1–4 m, prickly needles. Pregnancy, acute kidney disease — STRICTLY FORBIDDEN.

05 / 8

White willow

Salix alba · Salicaceae

Where it grows: Riverbanks, lakesides, marshy places across Ukraine
Part used: Bark (young, from branches), leaves
Harvest season: Bark — early spring, from young branches 2–3 years old

For

Natural aspirin, pain reliever, fever reducer

Treats

Headache, muscle and joint pain, fever, mild rheumatism, colds

How to use

Bark decoction — 1 tsp per cup, after meals 3 times a day. Willow is the historical source of salicylic acid, from which aspirin was synthesized in 1897. Acts slower than pharmacy aspirin, but gentler on the stomach.

Caution

Aspirin allergy — do NOT drink. Children under 16 — forbidden (as with aspirin, because of Reye's syndrome). Don't combine with blood thinners.

06 / 8

Hazel

Corylus avellana · Betulaceae

Where it grows: Deciduous forests of the Carpathians, Podilia, Polisia
Part used: Nuts (September-October), leaves (June-July), bark
Harvest season: Nuts — when they start to fall on their own. Leaves — before yellowing.

For

Nutrition, vascular support, prostatitis (bark), blood cleansing (leaves)

Treats

Exhaustion, anemia, varicose veins, prostatitis, weak vessels

How to use

A handful of nuts daily in autumn — a natural adaptogen, easily absorbed protein. Leaf decoction — for varicose veins, ½ cup twice a day in 3-week courses. Hazel oil (cold-pressed) — on salads and as cosmetics.

Caution

Nut allergy — caution (one of the 8 most common food allergies). Overweight — remember the high calorie content.

07 / 8

Walnut

Juglans regia · Juglandaceae

Where it grows: Yards, gardens, avenues of central and southern Ukraine
Part used: Kernels, green hull of unripe fruit, partitions, leaves
Harvest season: Green fruits — June. Ripe — September-October. Leaves — May-June.

For

Brain and memory (omega-3 in kernels), iodine for thyroid (partitions), skin infections (leaves)

Treats

Memory decline, hypothyroidism, chronic skin conditions (eczema, psoriasis), type 2 diabetes

How to use

5–7 kernels daily — studies confirm cognitive benefit in older adults. Partition-in-water infusion — for hypothyroidism, ½ cup in the morning. Green hull (as ointment) — for eczema. Classic Ukrainian green-walnut preserves — a dessert «pharmacy» for winter.

Caution

Overweight — limit, high-calorie. Gastritis, chronic colitis — leaves with care. Iodine in partitions — caution with hyperthyroidism.

08 / 8

Bird cherry

Prunus padus · Rosaceae

Where it grows: Damp forests, riverbanks — especially Polisia, Volyn
Part used: Ripe black berries (July-August), flowers (May)
Harvest season: Berries — full ripeness (black, soft). Flowers — peak bloom.

For

Astringent for the gut, natural air antiseptic

Treats

Diarrhea, gut disturbances in children, room antiseptic during respiratory infections

How to use

Dried berry decoction — for diarrhea, ¼ cup 4 times a day (remove pits!). Flowers in the house in May — naturally reduce airborne bacteria, but for that very reason should not be placed in the bedroom (strong effect).

⚠ Danger

⚠ The pits contain hydrocyanic acid — do NOT crush. Fresh berries with pits in quantity — poisoning. Strong flower scent in a closed room causes headaches.

Trees — what bark, leaves, sap and needles heal

Editorial reference, not medical advice. Special caution with juniper (don't confuse with savin juniper!), willow bark (Reye's syndrome in children), bird cherry (hydrocyanic acid in pits).