Herbs
Blueberry
Basil
Birch
Common ivy
Celery
Black elder
Common houseleek
Comfrey
Hawthorn
Oak
Common mistletoe
Sage
Chamomile
Caraway
Nettle
Cabbage
Spearmint
Wormwood
Leek
Horsetail
Shepherd's purse
Rosemary
Marshmallow
Yarrow
Plantago
Common heather
White willow
Poplar
Walnut
Chestnut
Beech
Ginkgo
Greater burdock
Valerian
Blackberry
Common hop

Diseases

Herb name: Beech, Fagus sylvatica

Family: Fagaceae

Useful plant parts: Wooden material.

Description: Beech is a deciduous tree species which is known for its grey or greyish green colored bark and for its somewhat fragile and elyptical leaves which can be from 5 to 15 centimeters long, and 4 to 10 centimeters wide. The fruits are small and sharply three–angled, usually from 10 to 15 milimeters long. These fruits are edible, but are often bitter because of the high content of tannins.

Certain mushroom species are known to grow often near beeches: Amanita muscaria, Amanita pantherina, Amanita phalloides, Amanita regalis, Boletus aereus, Boletus splendidus, Boletus torosus, Craterellus cornucopioides, Hericium erinaceus, Lentinula edodes, Macrolepiota procera, Pleurotus ostreatus, Russula emetica, Russula heterophylla, Russula cyanoxantha, but also and many other species as well.

Collecting period and locations: The main source of useful properties is the tar which can be obtained by dry distillation of beech wood. The wood can be collected in various periods throughout the year. As for the locations, beeches are very common trees which can often be found in deciduous forests. However, it does not prefer humid areas, so it can mostly be found at a bit higher altitudes.

Medicinal properties and applications: The tar made by the process of dry distilling beech wood can be used to make various types of grease which can be used to treat various skin diseases, and rheumatic problems as well. It can also help treat gout.

Active compounds: The tar made from beeches contains guaiacol and various cresols.

Recipe: Since the process of dry distillation is more complicated than other procedures mentioned in the descriptions of certain plant species, we will not go into details related to the mentioned process. However, one can buy products based on beech tar, which can than be applied to the skin, where eventual problems exist.