Maskwio’mi (Birch Bark Extract): A Case Study Exploring The Use Of A Traditional L’nu Medicine On Skin Conditions

According to the Canadian Dermatology Association, more than 1 in 4 Canadians live with chronic skin conditions. There are many different treatment options, including prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs, natural remedies, and herbal folk medicines. Folk medicines have a long history, and birch trees (genus betula) have shown great utility for treating skin conditions in societies of temperate and boreal climate zones and have been listed in pharmacopoeias for several centuries. Maskwio’mi (maskwi = birch, o’mi = gathering or oil) is such a traditional skin remedy from the L’nu (Mi’kmaq) people of Atlantic Canada. This case study is part of a larger study and the first to document usage of maskwio’mi for skin conditions, with a goal of future in-depth clinical studies and hopes of recognizing it as a natural health product.