Birch buds contain essential balsamic oil, which includes betulin, resinous substances, alkaloids, flavonoids, fatty acids, vitamin C, PP, carotene and saponins, tannins and minerals (magnesium, calcium and iron).
Birch buds have diuretic, choleretic, diaphoretic, blood purifing, analgesic, antiseptic, wound-healing action.
Birch buds reduce inflammation, have a strong antibacterial effect, killing microbes of the intestinal-typhoid series. Tincture of birch buds (1:5) exhibits antimicrobial activity against antibiotic-resistant forms of 144 strains of staphylococci isolated from patients with various forms of purulent infection.