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Limited evidenceJoints & skin

Birch Bark Extract (Betulin)

A triterpene extract whose only well-tested use is a topical gel for wound healing in the rare skin disease epidermolysis bullosa. As an oral supplement for skin or metabolism there is essentially no human evidence.

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What the science says

  • Topical gel for epidermolysis bullosa wounds Moderate evidence

    A phase III randomized trial (EASE) with 24-month follow-up tested a standardized birch triterpene gel (Oleogel-S10) on wounds in epidermolysis bullosa. Wound closure improved versus control gel, though the difference narrowed over long-term follow-up. This is a regulated topical medicine, not the oral extract sold as a supplement.

  • Oral betulin for metabolism or skin ageing Limited evidence

    Claims about betulin improving lipids, insulin sensitivity or skin ageing rest on cell and rodent work. A review of birch bark extract found no controlled human trials of oral use for these outcomes.

Dosage & safety

Studied doseNo established oral dose. The studied product is a topical gel containing about 10% birch triterpenes applied to wounds at each dressing change; oral capsules typically supply 100–500 mg of extract with no trial support.
SafetyThe topical gel commonly causes application-site pain and itching. Oral betulin has not been characterized for safety in humans; avoid in pregnancy, breastfeeding, and alongside medication without medical advice. Birch allergy is a plausible concern for sensitized people.

How to take it

TimingThe studied gel is applied to the wound at each dressing change, not on a clock schedule.
With food?Not relevant — the evidence is for a topical gel, and no oral dose has been characterised.
Worth knowingApplication-site pain and itching are common with the gel; capsules of birch bark extract have no wound-healing evidence behind them at all.

Frequently asked questions

Does birch bark extract help wound healing?

Yes, but only as a regulated topical gel: a phase III trial (EASE) found a birch triterpene gel improved wound closure in the rare skin disease epidermolysis bullosa, a moderate-grade finding. The difference narrowed over 24 months, and it says nothing about oral birch bark supplements.

Do betulin supplements help cholesterol or blood sugar?

Claims that oral betulin improves lipids, insulin sensitivity or skin ageing rest on cell and rodent work. A review found no controlled human trials of oral birch bark extract for these outcomes, so the evidence is limited.

How much birch bark extract should I take?

Birch bark extract has no established oral dose; capsules typically supply 100–500 mg of extract with no trial support. The studied product is a gel with about 10% birch triterpenes applied at each dressing change.

Is birch bark extract safe to take orally?

Oral betulin has not been characterised for safety in humans, so avoid it in pregnancy and breastfeeding and do not combine it with medication without medical advice. Birch allergy is a plausible concern, and the topical gel commonly causes application-site pain and itching.

Scientific references

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