Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Birch polypore (Piptoporus betulinus) has a long history of traditional use for treating skin infections and wounds. Historical records and ethnobotanical accounts indicate that various indigenous and rural European populations utilized the fruiting bodies of this fungus topically to clean wounds, stop bleeding, and prevent infection. In particular, its application as a wound dressing or poultice is well documented and often attributed to its absorbent and mildly antiseptic properties. Archaeological evidence even points to its use by Ötzi the Iceman, a 5,300-year-old mummy, who was found carrying pieces of birch polypore, possibly for medicinal purposes. However, while laboratory studies have confirmed that birch polypore extracts possess antimicrobial activity against certain bacteria and fungi, these findings are preliminary and largely in vitro, rather than clinical. There are no robust clinical trials demonstrating clear efficacy in treating or preventing skin infections in humans. The evidence for its use is therefore primarily based on traditional practices, supported by some laboratory data but lacking in high-quality human studies. As such, its use for skin infections is justified mainly by tradition, with a moderate but unproven scientific basis.

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