Bhurja
Betula utilis
Bhurja (Betula utilis) is a plant drug, also called Bhurjah and Bhojapatra.
| Botanical name | Betula utilis |
|---|---|
| Family | Betulaceae |
| Order | Fagales |
| Taxon identifiers | GBIF 5332157 · Wikidata Q930814 · NCBI Taxonomy 228163 |
| Sanskrit | भूर्जः (bhūrjaḥ) |
|---|---|
| Hindi | भोजपत्र (bhojapatra) |
Sources: Wisdom Library 'Local Names of Plants and Drugs': 'Bhojapatra [भोजपत्र] … identified with Betula utilis D. Don … synonym Betula bhojpattra'; DDSA A Practical Hindi-English Dictionary: भोजपत्र = the bark of the birch tree (used to write on).; wisdomlib Ayurveda glossary: 'Bhūrja (भूर्ज) refers to the medicinal plant known as Betula utilis D. Don', dealt with in the 15th-century Yogasārasaṅgraha of Vāsudeva; Apte quotes Rājanighaṇṭu: भूर्जः कटुः कषायोष्णो भूतरक्षाकरः परः.. How we source.
The evidence at a glance
12papers on this site for this drug, published 2002 to 2026, every one with a DOI.
- 2Other clinical studies and reviews
- 10Laboratory and animal studies
A count is not a conclusion and a tier is a study design, not a verdict. Everything listed here is laboratory or animal work, which does not show an effect in people. Each paper is listed with what it measured on the page below. See the research index for how papers are tiered.
Names and identification
| Language | Name |
|---|---|
| English | Bhurja |
Ayurvedic pharmacology (Dravyaguna)
| Property | Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Rasa (Taste) | Kashaya | Primary taste |
| Guna (Quality) | Laghu | Physical quality |
| Virya (Potency) | Ushna | Heating/Cooling effect |
| Vipaka (Post-digestive) | Katu | Post-digestive effect |
Dosage forms and preparation
Dosage Forms: Churna (bark powder), Kashayam (decoction), Lepa (paste), Taila (oil), Capsule
Standard Dosage: 3-6g bark powder twice daily; 50-100ml bark decoction; external paste as needed, traditionally used on wounds
Optimal Timing: With meals for general use; external paste applied morning and evening for skin conditions; decoction before meals
Storage: Cool, dry place in airtight containers. Bark powder is relatively stable but protect from moisture.
Marker Compounds: Betulin, Betulinic acid, Lupeol, Oleanolic acid, Beta-sitosterol, Methyl salicylate (bark oil)
Synergistic Combinations
- With Guggulu, traditionally paired for anti-inflammatory and wound-healing use
- With Haridra for skin conditions
- With Manjishtha, traditionally paired for blood purification
- With Lodhra for astringent formulations
Published research
Literature indexed in PubMed that concerns this subject, grouped by study type. A paper appearing here is a record of what has been published, not evidence that the subject works, and laboratory or animal results do not transfer to people. Study titles link to PubMed so you can read the source rather than take our word.
Other clinical studies and reviews2
- 2024. Impact of climate change on the Himalayan alpine treeline vegetationHeliyon. PMID 39698095 · doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e40797
- 2002. Common environmental allergens causing respiratory allergy in IndiaIndian journal of pediatrics. PMID 12003301 · doi:10.1007/BF02734234
Laboratory and animal studies10
- 2026. Assessment of Genetic Variability and Population Structure of Betula utilis subsp. jacquemontii in the Western Himalayan Region of IndiaBiochemical genetics. PMID 39918715 · doi:10.1007/s10528-025-11032-3
- 2024. Exploring water relations and phenological traits of Betula utilis (D. Don) in western Himalayan treeline ecotoneScientific reports. PMID 39242651 · doi:10.1038/s41598-024-66682-x
- 2024. Accelerated succession in Himalayan alpine treelines under climatic warmingNature plants. PMID 39558135 · doi:10.1038/s41477-024-01855-0
- 2023. Phytochemical investigation, structural elucidation, in silico study and anti-psoriatic activity of potent bioactive from Betula utilisJournal of biomolecular structure & dynamics. PMID 36214696 · doi:10.1080/07391102.2022.2130981
- 2023. Design and evaluation of sodium alginate-based hydrogel dressings containing Betula utilis extract for cutaneous wound healingFrontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology. PMID 36777244 · doi:10.3389/fbioe.2023.1042077
- 2023. Biochemical characterization of extremozyme L-asparaginase from Pseudomonas sp. PCH199 for therapeuticsAMB Express. PMID 36828987 · doi:10.1186/s13568-023-01521-2
- 2021. Phytochemical profiling of the stem bark of Betula utilis from different geographical regions of India using UHPLC-ESI-MS/MSAnalytical science advances. PMID 38715855 · doi:10.1002/ansa.202000073
- 2020. Betula utilis extract prolongs life expectancy, protects against amyloid-β toxicity and reduces Alpha Synuclien in Caenorhabditis elegans via DAF-16 and SKN-1Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Toxicology & pharmacology : CBP. PMID 31669661 · doi:10.1016/j.cbpc.2019.108647
- 2018. Identification of birch pollen species using FTIR spectroscopyAerobiologia. PMID 30532346 · doi:10.1007/s10453-018-9528-4
- 2016. Isolation, Characterization and Anticancer Potential of Cytotoxic Triterpenes from Betula utilis BarkPloS one. PMID 27453990 · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0159430
Reviewed by Dr. Awadesh Pratap Singh, BAMS, on 11 October 2026. What that review covered.
Consult a qualified vaidya before acting on anything here. Ayurvedic practice is prescribed to a person, not to a condition: the same dravya is given, withheld or substituted depending on your constitution, your agni, the season and what else you are already taking. A page cannot know any of that. Self-prescribing from a reference is how the wrong preparation, the wrong dose or the wrong anupana gets used.
Educational reference only. Nothing on this page is medical advice, a diagnosis, or a recommendation to take anything. Traditional uses and research findings are reported as published, not as claims about what any product does. If you take prescribed medication, raise any interaction with the prescriber rather than acting on a page. See our editorial standards.