Juniper - medicinal properties and contraindications. Common juniper - medicinal properties of berries and needles What are juniper benefits for the body

People have long known and used the healing properties of juniper. The ancient Greeks, Romans and Egyptians already used juniper as a medicine.

In places where juniper grows, the air is always clean. One hectare of juniper thickets releases almost 30 kg of phytoncides per day - this is 6 times more than other coniferous species and 15 times more than deciduous trees. According to experts, this amount of juniper is enough to clean and improve the air of a medium-sized city.

In folk medicine, juniper berries are used to prepare infusions and decoctions, which are used as a diuretic, expectorant, appetite stimulant and digestive improver.

Common juniper Juniperus communis L. is a coniferous evergreen plant, a species of the juniper genus of the large Cypress family (Cupressaceae). There are other names for it - heather, juniper, grouse bush.

Common juniper is common in the forest zone of the European part of Russia, in the Urals, in Siberia, it grows in the undergrowth of coniferous, especially in light pine and mixed forests, along river banks, in moss swamps, on forested mountain slopes, in clearings.

Siberian juniper grows in Southern Siberia, and in the Caucasus, long-leaved Caucasian juniper, known locally as juniper, is the Turkic name for junipers. For medicinal purposes, only common juniper is used; other species are not used.

Common juniper description

Usually it is a tree-like shrub 1 - 3 meters high, less often a tree 8 - 12 meters high with a cone-shaped crown and branches pressed upward. Leaves in the form of prickly needles remain on the shoots for up to 4 years.

The needles are triangular, 1÷1.5 cm long, prickly, the needles are collected in a ring shape, 3 in each bunch, and there are 3 seeds in juniper berries. All these signs, coincidences, evergreenness, longevity, balsamic aroma of the plant always seemed very surprising to people and gave rise to various superstitions.

For a long time, juniper was considered a symbol of eternal life. People planted juniper near the threshold of the house, put its branches behind icons, attached it to the ceiling, considered it protection from evil spirits, and believed in the protective power of juniper.

Previously, huts were fumigated with juniper to purify the air, and the floors were wiped with pine needles if there was a sick person in the house. Juniper was used to clean and steam barrels, tubs for cucumbers, cabbage, and mushrooms - they were disinfected before preparing pickles.

Monoecious, more often dioecious plants. Male inflorescences in the form of sessile spikelets 2 - 4 mm long, yellowish in color with anthers, are located at the ends of the branches. From inconspicuous female inflorescences located in the axils of the leaves of young branches, after pollination in May - June, numerous, almost sessile fruits - cone berries or juniper berries - are formed.

In the first year they remain green, ovoid, ripen in late summer in the second year, becoming soft, bluish-black with a waxy coating. On one plant you can see both green annual and mature black cone berries.

Juniper bears fruit from 5 to 8 years of age, good harvests are repeated after 3 to 4 years, and lives long - about 600 years. Birds happily eat the berries, dispersing the seeds over long distances.

Ripe fruits and branches of juniper are used as medicinal raw materials. Juniper berries are collected in the fall in September - October, picking the berries or shaking the bush onto a burlap spread, then sorted and dried, spread out on paper, in the air in the shade, in attics, in air or heat dryers at a temperature of 30 - 40 ° C, stirring occasionally . Well-dried berries can be stored for 3 years.

Juniper branches are dried by hanging in bunches in a cool room where the air is not very dry, so that the needles do not fall off.

The medicinal properties of juniper are due to its complex chemical composition. Juniper berries contain a lot of sugars - about 40%, resins - about 9%, flavone glycosides, tannin, pectins, essential oil - up to 2%, complex composition; coloring matter uniperin, wax, fatty oil, organic acids - malic, formic, acetic - a mixture of which gives them a typical aroma and spicy tart taste; bitter substances, mineral salts. The needles contain a lot of ascorbic acid and essential oil.

Juniper berries medicinal properties

The essential oil contained in the berries has a strong diuretic, expectorant, choleretic and antimicrobial effect. Preparations from juniper berries are used for chronic diseases of the kidneys and bladder - chronic nephritis, pyelonephritis, cystitis, acute and chronic urethritis. It is used as a diuretic for edema of various origins.

Juniper berries also have a tonic, tonic, and laxative effect. In traditional folk medicine they are used for asthenia, anemia, joint diseases, chronic skin diseases, furunculosis, cholelithiasis and kidney stones, chronic respiratory diseases, rheumatism, neuralgia, gout, liver diseases associated with stagnation of bile, gastrointestinal tract , to stimulate appetite.

A decoction of juniper berries and branches is used externally for baths and compresses for joint diseases, gout and rheumatism, and skin diseases.

The scientific name of the genus Juniperus is from the Celtic word juneprus - prickly, the species name communis translated from Latin - “common”. The Russian name “juniper” from the words “mezh” and “spruce” means “growing between fir trees.”

Contraindications:

The plant is poisonous. It must be taken in strict accordance with the recommendations.
The use of drugs orally is contraindicated in acute inflammation of the kidneys - nephritis, nephroso-nephritis.

Juniper berries medicinal properties and contraindications use

For edema, kidney stones, bladder inflammation:

1. Berry decoction: 1 tsp. crushed berries, pour 1 cup of boiling water, simmer over low heat for 20 minutes, strain. Drink 1/3 glass 3 times a day during the day as a diuretic.

2. Berry infusion: 1 tsp. Brew crushed berries with 1 cup of boiling water, leave for 30 minutes, covered. Drink throughout the day.

Infusions and decoctions of juniper berries are used externally as an analgesic and disinfectant for rinsing with gum inflammation.

An infusion or decoction of berries can be taken for diseases of the upper respiratory tract to thin and facilitate the discharge of sputum, as a choleretic agent.

In the resorts of Crimea in the Miskhor region, the healing properties of juniper thickets on the mountain slopes are used to treat diseases of the upper respiratory tract. In the warm coastal climate, majestic, slender juniper trees grow.

Juniper fruits, as a rule, are prescribed in combination with other medicines, as part of medicinal decoctions and teas.

For diseases of the kidneys and urinary tract:

1. Juniper fruits - 1 part
licorice root - 1
bearberry leaves - 1

Pour one tablespoon of the mixture into 1 glass of boiling water and leave for 20 minutes. Take 1/4 cup 3-4 times a day for 20 minutes. before meals as a diuretic.

2. Juniper fruits - 1
steelberry root - 1
violet herb - 1
elderberry flowers – 1
goldenrod herb - 1
quince seeds - 1
mallow leaves - 1

One tbsp. l. pour a glass of boiling water over the mixture, boil for 10 minutes, leave for 1 hour. Take 1/3 cup 3-4 times a day before meals for chronic nephritis .

3. Juniper fruits - 1
lovage root - 1
violet herb - 1
flax seeds - 1

1 tbsp. l. pour 1 glass of boiling water over the mixture, boil for 10 minutes, leave for 1 hour. Take 1/3 cup for inflammation of the bladder .

4. Juniper fruits - 1 part
strawberry leaves - 1
lingonberry leaves - 1
horsetail grass - 1
cumin fruits - 1
licorice root - 1

1 tbsp. l. pour 1 cup of boiling water over the mixture, leave for 30 minutes, strain. Take 1/2 cup 3 times a day for 20 minutes. before meals for urolithiasis .

For diseases of the liver and gallbladder:

Juniper fruits - 1 part
chicory root - 1
dandelion root - 1
smoker grass -1

Two tbsp. l. pour 1 cup of boiling water over the mixture and leave for 30 minutes. Take 1/2 cup 2 - 3 times a day for 20 minutes. before meals for cholecystitis .

To stimulate appetite, improve digestion and strengthen the stomach:

Common juniper berry syrup:

1 tbsp. l. dry crushed fruits, pour 1 cup of boiling water, simmer over low heat for 20 minutes, strain. Add honey or sugar until syrup is obtained. Take 1 tbsp. l. in 20 - 30 minutes. before meals.
2 tsp. Pour 1 cup of boiling water over crushed dry berries, leave in a thermos for 6 hours, strain. Add 2 tbsp. l. sugar, simmer over low heat until syrup forms. Take 1 tsp. in 20 - 30 minutes. before meals.

Helps increase appetite, activates motor and secretory functions of the intestines, and has a disinfecting effect inside the intestines.

For rheumatic pain, gout, arthritis:

1. Decoction of juniper berries: pour 100 g of crushed dry berries into 1 liter of water, boil for 20 minutes, strain. Apply warm baths and compresses to sore joints.

2. Alcohol tincture: pour 15 berries with 100 ml of alcohol, leave in a glass container with a lid closed for 10 days in a dark place, strain, squeeze. Use for rubbing painful joints and muscles.

This tincture is used for inflammation of the middle ear - a cotton wool soaked in the tincture and slightly wrung out is inserted into the ear. It quickly relieves pain and has an anti-inflammatory effect.

Aromatic restorative juniper baths:

Prepare a decoction: pour 100 - 200 g of raw materials (berries and twigs) into 1 liter of boiling water, simmer over low heat in a sealed container for 20 minutes, strain. Add to bath. Take a bath for 20 minutes. per day at a temperature of 38° C.

Juniper essential oil is used in a solution to treat poorly healing wounds and ulcers. For rheumatism, juniper oil is used to rub joints, it is added for inhalations and baths.
Juniper oil has strong disinfectant properties, so it was used to treat sexually transmitted diseases (gonorrhea) 2 - 5 drops per dose. For the same purpose, a decoction of berries was prepared - boiled twice and drunk throughout the day.

Contraindications:

Juniper berries have a strong irritating effect on the kidneys, so they should not be consumed in case of acute inflammation of the kidneys - nephritis, nephroso-nephritis, as this can cause an increase in the inflammatory process.
An overdose of the drug should not be allowed.
You cannot use preparations from juniper berries orally for a long time, as this can lead to debilitating urination.

The use of juniper in cosmetology

In cosmetology and dermatology, the bactericidal and anti-inflammatory properties of juniper are used to treat skin rashes and to strengthen and grow hair.

Cosmetologists from Germany, Poland, and Bulgaria use the bactericidal properties of juniper in their practice. Juniper baths and rubs are prescribed for dermatitis, skin rashes, and lichens.

In hair treatment, herbal preparations occupy a large place; preparations with juniper have always been highly valued.

For increased hair loss:

1 tbsp. l. Grind raw materials (needles, fruits, young twigs), pour 400 ml of boiling water, leave until cool. Rub into scalp daily. The infusion strengthens hair, promotes its growth, and eliminates baldness.

Watch the video:

Juniper beneficial properties video

Economic uses of juniper

Juniper wood is reddish, has a pleasant aroma, is highly durable, and is used for making canes, pencils, chess, and toys.

Juniper berries are a favorite spice of hunters; they are used as a seasoning for game dishes. Can be used in preparing marinade for fatty meat, fish, cabbage, beets to improve taste and aroma.

In ground form, dried berries are used as part of special spicy mixtures. Juniper is often used in German and northern French cuisine.

The berries are used in the alcoholic beverage industry for the production of juniper vodka. Juniper berries are the main aroma and flavor component of gin.

The plant is used as an ornamental, grown in gardens and parks, various types and varieties of juniper are used.

There are fewer and fewer juniper thickets left in nature; they renew themselves and grow very slowly. Therefore, you need to treat them with care. Branches should not be broken; they must be carefully cut if necessary. The berries need to be shaken off carefully, holding the trunk of the plant with your hand.

Dear readers! In the article Juniper medicinal properties and contraindications juniper berries use we looked at the main properties of this wonderful healing plant and its use to improve our health.

In the northern hemisphere, an amazing species of conifers is found everywhere in the forests - the common juniper. Its unique fruits, cone-berries, when ripe, acquire a rich blue hue and are covered with a bluish coating. It takes more than two years for the fruit to fully ripen. On one plant you can find both green and already ripe fruits.

The average height of the plant is 3-5 meters; specimens reaching 12 meters are rare. Growing up, they acquire a cylindrical shape, characteristic of the Cypress family.

Juniper can grow for a very long time - there are specimens whose age reaches 600 years.

People did not ignore this unusual plant and, in the process of getting to know it, began to endow it with magical properties. Mainly due to its bactericidal properties and high content of phytoncides. People of the Middle Ages did not know anything about germs and bacteria, but they noticed that fumigating a room with juniper branches, taking a bath with a broom from it, and washing floors with a decoction of pine needles had a positive effect on human health.

Northern cypress (another name for juniper) was used to sterilize barrels before harvesting cucumbers. Endowing its branches with mystical properties, they were kept behind icons and consecrated in the temple. They give it the ability to protect people and livestock from the evil eye and evil spirits. Our ancestors long ago appreciated its healing properties - it became not only a doctor, but also a participant in the legends of Ancient Greece and a Slavic amulet.

Wood has not received widespread industrial use, despite the fact that it is very durable and beautiful. It is used to make canes, souvenirs, toys and jewelry.

But the cone-berry is rich in organic acids, essential oils and sugars. It is often used in the food industry. The fruits are infused with vodka and gin. They are ideal for cooking game and other types of meat. Red cabbage and beets complement the flavor. The needles and fruits are used for smoking. Since ancient times, people have added fruits to gingerbread, confectionery and fruit drinks. Sugar is obtained from them, and beer and wine are also brewed. In ancient times, yellow dye was obtained from the cones for dyeing fabrics.

Medicinal properties and contraindications

Juniper phytoncides are several times higher than those of other conifers. The therapeutic effect can be achieved simply by walking through a juniper planting. In medicine, juniper needles, roots, branches and fruits are used. It is rich in such useful substances as:

flavonoids,
wax,
pectin,
ascorbic acid,
tannins,
essential oils,
macro- and microelements,
organic acids,
sugars.

Thanks to extracts obtained from the plant, drugs have been invented that can relieve pain, relieve coughs with viscous sputum, provide easy disinfection and an antimicrobial effect. They have a diuretic, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, choleretic and wound-healing effect.

Like any medicinal plant, in large doses, veres (the popular name for juniper) can cause poisoning. It is not necessary to extend the course of treatment for more than 2 months.

Juniper is not prescribed to people with different types of nephritis (kidney diseases). In these cases, the use of drugs containing juniper extracts may lead to the appearance of blood particles in the urine.

Juniper berries: use, medicinal properties and contraindications

A fruit bath will help relieve a nervous state. They are dried and crushed, filled with water and brought to a boil. When the broth is infused, you can add it to a bath with hot water. You can stay in the bathroom for 15 minutes before going to bed. For a stable effect, it is advisable to take a bath 2-3 times a week.

In the treatment of obliterating endarteritis and gout you will need 20 grams of finely chopped juniper fruits. They must be boiled in 300 ml of water and evaporated over low heat for another 20 minutes. The broth is infused for about 2 hours at room temperature. The concentrate is filtered and the required amount of boiled water is added to obtain 300 ml. Can be used no more than 4 times a day, 5 ml.

Most common cold symptoms, such as a sore throat and cough, can be eliminated with a decoction of heather cone berries. Add 10 grams of fruit to 500 ml of water and boil over low heat for half an hour. The decoction must be filtered and taken 10 grams once a day.

In the treatment of stomach ulcers The fruits of the bush are also used. For 200 ml of water you will need 20 grams of crushed fruits. They are boiled for 20 minutes and the decoction is taken after meals, 3 times a day, 20 ml. Be sure to consult your doctor - according to some sources, berries should not be taken if you have a stomach ulcer.

There are several recipes diabetes treatment based on juniper cones. The mixture may also include violet, dandelion root, blueberry fruits and leaves, burdock root and nettle leaves.

How choleretic agent, just mix 10 grams of fruit with 200 ml of water, boil and leave. Use the infusion at room temperature 3 times a day, 100 ml.

To treat digestive problems You can make a syrup based on juniper berries. The fruits (1 tablespoon) are dried and finely chopped, then boiled (250 ml) for 30 minutes and filtered. Add honey or sugar to the decoction and take 1 tbsp. spoons three times a day 30 minutes before meals.

Juniper needles: application, medicinal properties

The needles, rich in essential oils and vitamins, are also widely used in folk medicine. For example, you can replace cones and berries in a bath decoction for neuroses. This bath will help relieve itching due to allergies. An infusion of branches and pine needles can be used internally - it will also help cope with an allergic reaction. To do this, pour 1 tablespoon of pine needles into 1 glass of water and heat in a water bath for 5 minutes. It is necessary to take 3 times a day, 1/3 cup.

The antibacterial effect of pine needles will help cope with psoriasis, radiculitis, eczema and dermatitis. For a compress, you need to fill a large jar with crushed pine needles and add alcohol. The needles should be infused in a cool place for two months. A diluted alcohol infusion can be used to rinse the throat and mouth for stomatitis, pharyngitis and sore throats.

Essential oil: use, medicinal properties and contraindications

Juniper essential oil has a strong disinfectant effect. In the last century, it was used in surgery to disinfect surgical threads. Its ability to relieve pain helps with rheumatism, gout, arthrosis and arthritis, and joint pain. Has an expectorant effect, helping to relieve cough.

Antibacterial properties are used in the treatment of Trichomonas colpitis. Essential oil is added to the aroma lamp at the rate of 2 drops per 5 square meters. meters of space.

Before using in the bath, the oil must be mixed with an emulsifier. You can use cream, honey or sea salt as a base. At one time, add 3-6 drops and take a bath for 20 minutes. For massage, 5 drops per 10 ml of massage oil or cream are enough.

Treatment of colds is more successful if hot and cold inhalations are performed. It is enough to drop 2-3 drops of oil into hot water or just on a scarf and inhale the aroma for 7 minutes.

In cosmetology it is used in mixtures and in single-component form. The oil has a tonic effect on the skin, relieves puffiness, and helps with varicose veins and cellulite. To do this, it is mixed with oil, rosemary, lavender, pita, pine, mint and orange. The mixture of essential oils cannot be used in its pure form, only after enriching the base oil or cream with it, in a ratio of 7 drops of the mixture per 10 ml of base.

You can add a few drops of oil to shampoo immediately before use. This will help normalize the functioning of the sebaceous glands and get rid of dandruff.

You can wipe your face with water or tonic with a few drops of oil for acne and other inflammatory processes. The oil is suitable for all skin types, promotes rejuvenation, improves tone and eliminates excess oily skin. Before use, it is necessary to conduct a test on a small area of skin, as there may be individual intolerance.

Prepare oil for compresses you can do it yourself.

Any glass jar (preferably dark glass) is filled with finely chopped pine needles.
Pour in vegetable oil so that the needles are completely under the oil.
The jar is covered (but not hermetically sealed) and left in a water bath for 6 hours.
At the end of cooking, the oil is allowed to cool and the needles are squeezed out.
Store the filtered oil in a closed bottle in a dark, cool place.

Juniper root: use, medicinal properties and contraindications

Heather root and bark are also harvested and used in folk medicine. They are cleaned, finely chopped and dried in a well-ventilated area in attics and sheds at a temperature not exceeding 30 degrees and minimal humidity. The root contains tannins, diterpene alcohols, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial components. The substances it contains help in the treatment of:

bronchitis;
skin diseases;
sexual impotence;
pulmonary tuberculosis.

Medicinal (pharmaceutical) products based on juniper.

Pharmacies sell preparations based on juniper. Most often these are essential oils from different manufacturers. The bottle (or instructions) should indicate that this oil is for external or internal use. It is enough to take 1 drop orally in the morning and evening before meals. First diluted with honey or warm water. The drug cannot be used in its pure form, not internally or externally.

You can also purchase juniper fruits at the pharmacy. Shelf life is no more than 3 years. Based on them, you can independently prepare decoctions and infusions with the properties described above.

Rollers filled with juniper sawdust are sold not only in pharmacies, but also at fairs and souvenir stalls in the south. The material from which the cover is made must be made of natural fabric. Vapors of essential oils and phytoncides pass through it, helping to cope with insomnia, nervousness, and have a preventive effect on colds and flu.

Common juniper is a rare and protected species. In most regions of Russia, cutting down and using it for economic purposes is prohibited. This is due to a very complex and lengthy method of reproduction. Uncontrolled berry picking further complicates the reproduction process.

One hectare of this beautiful plant can purify the air of a small city, saturating it with phytoncides.

Its unpretentiousness to soils and ability to grow on slopes is used in strengthening screes. The rational use of northern cypress, so rich in beneficial properties, is an integral part of a cultural society.

Common juniper is a seemingly ordinary, simple evergreen shrub. But this is a mistaken opinion. Literally at first glance, it simply amazes with its power, and the beneficial properties of the plant surprise even experts in traditional medicine.

Juniper needles are a valuable source of essential oils. They are present not only in the needles, but also in the fruits. In addition to essential oils, it contains many other useful components: various resins, wax, sugar, organic, inorganic, tannins.
Such a rich composition gives juniper unique medicinal properties and makes it popular among fans of traditional medicine.

Medicinal properties of common juniper

Let's talk about the healing properties of the plant. They are, without exaggeration, unique. Mostly berries or pine needles are used for treatment. They also prepare ointments, decoctions and healing baths, but more on that below, but for now let’s talk about what diseases juniper is used for.

There are a number of such diseases, here are just a few:

asthenia
anemia
a variety of kidney and liver diseases

If the digestive system is not functioning well, this plant can be used as a laxative, and by the way, quite a strong one!

Juniper berries

The berries of this plant are credited with anti-inflammatory and phytoncidal properties, which can provide an expectorant and tonic effect.

There is a very good recipe for using berries for treatment. You will need to prepare a simple decoction. It is prepared as follows:

Take 6 common juniper berries and fill them with a glass of water.
Place on the stove, bring to a boil, boil for 10 minutes and turn off.
After straining thoroughly, the broth can be consumed 1/3 cup 3 times a day.

Juniper berry tincture

Grind the fruits and pour them with an alcohol solution in the following proportions: 10 parts alcohol and 1.5 parts juniper fruits.
Strictly by weight it turns out to be 1 liter. alcohol 70% and 150 grams of berries.
The tincture will be ready in a few days. Take it 10 drops three times a day.

This tincture has excellent expectorant properties. It can be used if you need to do inhalations, for example, for pneumonia.

Juniper needles - its medicinal properties and uses

The strongest aromatic properties of juniper needles can be used for respiratory diseases. It is also used to disinfect rooms in which patients were located.

This procedure is an excellent preventative measure for healthy people. In order for juniper vapors to fill the room, all you need to do is pour boiling water over the pine needles and let it brew for a while.

After some time, the aroma will spread throughout the room. It will protect you from all kinds of viruses and germs.

A decoction of juniper needles can be added to baths. Lying in such a bath, a person inhales the healing aroma of pine needles, and water soaked in essential oils will have a soothing, anti-inflammatory effect on the skin, as well as kill bacteria, tighten pores, and normalize sweating.

Such baths, with a decoction of common juniper, help get rid of gout, rheumatism, and joint diseases.

Juniper essential oil also has healing properties. For example, they can cure hearing diseases.

To do this, place 3 - 5 drops of oil on cotton wool and apply this swab to the middle of the ear. After some time, the pain should go away.

You can purchase juniper oil at any pharmacy or place an order online. Its price is on average 150 rubles. for 25 ml.

There are more expensive varieties, mostly produced abroad. The price for them is always higher for some reason, on average 3 times. Do they have any special advantages over oil produced in our country? Personally, I doubt it, and I don’t advise you to overpay. What is more expensive is not always better!

The use of common juniper in folk medicine

Juniper has the ability to have a general analgesic effect on humans. If you need to get rid of a headache, muscle or joint pain, you need to take the following bath:

Pour 200 grams of berries into 2 liters of boiling water and boil for 20 minutes. Then pour this broth into the bathroom, after straining.

A decoction of juniper berries is very beneficial for women's health. It relieves inflammation in the fallopian tubes and normalizes the functioning of the ovaries.

In case of disorders of the nervous system, juniper decoctions help. This is an excellent sedative. This decoction can also remove worms from the body.

If you use this plant as a spice, it will have a positive effect on your appetite. Also, over time, the digestion process normalizes.

Removing warts using juniper ointment

Using this ointment you can get rid of warts quite effectively. To prepare it you need only black fruits. They ripen only in the second year of the plant’s life.

The ointment is prepared as follows:

Black juniper fruits are thoroughly crushed and mixed with vegetable oil (any oil will do: olive, flaxseed or refined sunflower).
The composition is mixed and placed in a water bath, making sure to tightly cover the container with a lid.
The ointment takes 1 hour to prepare. Then you need to strain it through regular gauze and you can lubricate the warts with it.
You need to stick a patch on top of the ointment. This procedure is repeated until the wart disappears.

Contraindications

It is not advisable to use common juniper in one form or another:

people with diseases of the genitourinary system
hypertensive patients ()
pregnant women
people with individual intolerance and allergies to the plant
for kidney diseases

You also need to know the following!

If you eat a lot of berries at once (about 50), you can get severe poisoning of the body. This feature is explained by the fact that juniper berries contain a large percentage of formic acid and all kinds of essential oils. So be careful!

For the same reason, pregnant women should not eat juniper berries, as I already mentioned above.
Author of the article: Shibarova I.S. - herbalist

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Juniper wood is incredibly aromatic - the specific, pleasant woody smell of juniper is its calling card.

Many people know it from souvenirs from Crimea: coasters for mugs and hot drinks, combs, various memorabilia.

This plant has been known to mankind since time immemorial, and even in ancient times, the healers of that time widely used juniper for therapeutic purposes.

What about today? The benefits of civilization and the achievements of modern pharmacy have in no way diminished the healing significance of juniper.

Until now, people actively use it for medicinal purposes, and we will tell you exactly how later.

General information and interesting facts

Juniper is a typical representative of evergreen conifers, the cypress family, People also know him under the name Veres.

It grows in almost the entire northern hemisphere: in Europe, Asia, Transbaikalia and Yakutia, in Crimea and other regions with different climates.

Juniper is very hardy, on average it can live up to 500, or even 1000 years! You can talk about a plant like juniper for hours - it is so unique and has a rich history.

Here are just some of the facts that most nature lovers know:

Juniper groves existed on our planet 50 million years ago.

As already mentioned, a tree can live and bear fruit for almost half a thousand years.

Juniper berries are tiny cones because the tree is a conifer.

Juniper has no equal among representatives of the plant world in its ability to purify the air.

It has been proven that a juniper plantation with an area of 1 hectare per day can completely cleanse the atmosphere of a huge metropolis from most bacteria and dangerous compounds. Such an array releases 30 kg of phytoncides in 24 hours. Impressive, isn't it?

Juniper branches are an invariable component of bath accessories; they not only disinfect all bath utensils, but also have a powerful healing effect for those who come to the steam room.

In Ancient Rus', the wood of this coniferous tree was used to make dishes for long-term storage of finished products; in such heat, even milk did not turn sour, juniper wood has such a strong antibacterial effect.

Over the years, juniper wood only becomes stronger. Aged raw materials are used to make beautiful and expensive canes, as well as stationery pencils.

But the most interesting thing is that juniper brings benefits not only in reality, but also in a dream: a dream about a juniper tree promises very quick and very positive changes in life, as well as health and wealth.

In addition, juniper is an excellent addition to various culinary experiments. With it you can prepare unusual fruit drinks, savory meats, spicy vegetables and other interesting dishes.

Therefore, if necessary, be sure to plant this amazing, beautiful and incredibly useful tree or shrub on your site.

Juniper - medicinal properties

Juniper has no equal in its bactericidal properties, but this is not the only thing the plant is famous for.

Like all conifers, it is rich in bioactive oils, phytoncides, bitterness and other elements that can cure even the most complex diseases.

Juniper needles, roots and cones are used for medicinal purposes.

1. With the help of juniper, you can disinfect any objects, including the bedding of people suffering from infectious diseases.

2. Remedies prepared on juniper roots completely heal ulcers and other stomach ailments, and perfectly treat tuberculosis, even advanced ones.

3. A water decoction of juniper branches is an excellent cure for dermatitis (eczema, diathesis, allergic rashes, relieves itching from insect bites).

4. Juniper cleanses the kidneys, relieves swelling, removes toxins - it has very high diuretic properties.

5. Promotes the outflow of bile, has a beneficial effect on the condition of the liver.

6. Has an analgesic effect, relieves toothache and headaches, juniper oil helps with migraines.

7. Pillows stuffed with juniper shavings and placed at the head of the bed calm the nervous system, promote rapid sleep and sound sleep.

8. Juniper is a good general tonic during the season of colds and increased stress.

9. Juniper smoke is suitable for fumigating rooms; it kills germs and pathogenic bacteria.

10. Infusions disinfect the organs of the urinary system.

11. Alcohol tinctures of juniper– salvation for arthrosis, arthritis, joint pain, swelling, tumors, diseases of muscle tissue.

12. Used in gynecology, treats trichomonas colpitis.

13.Juniper - a natural antidepressant, normalizes high blood pressure, replaces pharmaceutical sedatives.

14. During viruses and colds, juniper is the first assistant. For influenza and acute respiratory viral infections, juniper preparations are drunk, dripped into the nose, rubbed into the sternum and neck, and aromatized in the room.

15. Yes recipe for treating sinusitis based on juniper oil: mix 2 drops of oil per 50 ml of warm water and use the liquid to rinse the sinuses.

16. Juniper remedies improve appetite and eliminate flatulence.

17. Juniper oil is used to cauterize herpetic rashes.

18. Juniper improves metabolism.

19. Ephedra berries cleanse the blood- they need to be eaten dry, starting with 5 pieces, increasing the portion by 1 piece daily, reaching 15 berries - decreasing by one per day until you return to the original 5 cones.

20. Juniper improves the condition of nervous disorders and normalizes blood circulation.

For a therapeutic effect, use juniper baths or rubbing the whole body with a decoction of pine needles.

21. Juniper oil is diluted with water and instilled into the ears to treat otitis media.

22. A variety of dental problems are treated with hydroalcoholic agents - inflammation of the oral mucosa, periodontal disease, bleeding gums, bad breath and others.

Not everything that juniper is capable of can be covered in one publication. This is an excellent natural remedy for a hundred diseases.

You should always have it on hand and, before going to the pharmacy, try to take advantage of its miraculous abilities for the benefit of health and longevity.

Juniper - contraindications

It cannot be argued that such a powerful healing plant as juniper has exceptional benefits. If used carelessly, it can cause serious problems.

It is better not to use products based on juniper during pregnancy.

People with acute diseases of the kidneys and excretory system.

Children under three years old.

For those who constantly suffer from excessively low blood pressure and insufficiently active work of the heart muscle.

In any case, despite the huge list of beneficial properties of juniper, before you start using it to treat existing ailments, do not be lazy and consult your doctor. Stay healthy.

Since ancient times, people have used common juniper not only in traditional medicine recipes, but also in cooking. Not only berries are useful, but also other parts of the plant. It is important to follow the rules of use and take into account contraindications.

Juniper - what is it?

This coniferous plant, which is evergreen, can grow as a bush reaching a height of up to two meters, or as a slender tree with a height of up to five meters. Juniper is a unique plant that, instead of leaves, has hard needles reaching a length of up to 1 cm. The fruits are cones that can be collected for 2-3 years of life. They start out green and then turn blue-black.

To harvest common juniper, it is necessary to collect only ripe fruits. The harvest is carried out in September, and for it you should spread a litter under the bush and shake off the berries on it. Drying is allowed only naturally, since if you do it in a dryer or oven, you can lose most of the benefits. Berries should be stored in closed jars for no more than three years. They also collect needles, bark and roots.

What are the benefits of juniper?

The plant has a rich chemical composition, which provides a large number of beneficial properties. If you are interested in what juniper treats, then you should know:

Folk remedies increase bile formation and bile excretion.
It is an antiseptic and fights inflammation well.
Proven to be effective against swelling, dermatitis, and scabies.
Decoctions and infusions help relieve inflammation in the lungs and bronchi.
It has a positive effect on blood circulation, heart condition, and the plant also normalizes blood pressure.
Berries are recommended for colic and constipation.

Juniper - use in folk medicine

The presented plant is used to treat various diseases and its properties have been confirmed by scientists. Juniper tincture and other folk remedies are used for digestive problems and to fight worms. The plant is effective for urinary tract diseases. Juniper berries and needles of this plant are widely used in recipes to strengthen the immune system.

Juniper for cystitis

With the onset of cold weather, many women face a problem such as cystitis. For treatment, many people use folk recipes, so the healing properties of juniper will help with this problem. The plant has a diuretic and antiseptic effect, all thanks to the presence of essential oil. In addition, it fights bacteria well. The effect of the product, the recipe for which is presented below, occurs after four hours.

Ingredients:

crushed fruits - 1 teaspoon;
boiling water – 1 tbsp.

Preparation:

Pour hot water over the common juniper and keep it covered until it cools.
After this, strain and add a couple of tablespoons of granulated sugar. Place on low heat and cook in a water bath until syrup is obtained.
Take 1-2 teaspoons of thick juniper infusion before meals three times a day.

Juniper for colds

Since ancient times, people have been actively using the properties of juniper to cope with colds. The plant helps reduce the symptoms of cough, destroys viruses and germs and has a general strengthening effect. You can use essential oil for aromatherapy to purify the air and speed up healing.

The juniper plant is used for hot water inhalations, for which you can take a handful of pine needles or 3-4 drops of essential oil.
It is recommended to rub the chest and back together. Mix a large spoon of vegetable oil and six drops of ether, and then rub the skin thoroughly until completely absorbed. After this, wrap yourself up and drink tea.

Juniper for joints

The plant is used externally to cope with various problems. It has been proven that juniper is effective for treatment, since it relieves the inflammatory process, reduces pain and other unpleasant symptoms. You can use the plant in two ways:

Baths. Take 200 g of pine needles and branches and fill them with a liter of hot water. Keep covered until cool. Pour the finished infusion into the bath and take it for half an hour. Carry out the procedures daily until the condition improves.
Ointment. To prepare an effective remedy, grind six parts of bay leaves and part of the pine needles in a coffee grinder. Mix the powder with ten parts of high-quality butter and rub the prepared product onto sore joints.

Juniper in cosmetology

A wide range of beneficial properties allows the plant to be used for cosmetic purposes and to combat various problems.

Essential oil can be used to care for all skin types. When used regularly, juniper, whose beneficial properties have been proven by scientists, moisturizes well, reduces swelling, increases elasticity, etc.
In addition, it is worth noting that the oil perfectly cleanses the dermis and helps fight wrinkles and other signs of skin aging.
When figuring out how juniper is useful for humans, it is worth mentioning that this remedy helps narrow pores and even out the complexion, and it also effectively copes with rashes and inflammation.
It is recommended to add a few drops to hand cream to heal small cracks and soften the skin.
Common juniper is also used to care for hair, which becomes shiny, strong and elastic. Strengthens hair growth and reduces the risk of hair loss. Another important property is that juniper oil works well against dandruff and itching.

Juniper for face

There are a large number of ways to use juniper oil for facial care:

To prepare a mask to cope with acne, beat the yolk and add three drops of ether to it. After mixing, apply to face for 15 minutes and then rinse.
The properties of juniper can be obtained by preparing a simple tonic, for which add 3-4 drops of ether to 200 ml of mineral water. Mix and use the product twice a day, thoroughly wiping your face.
Good results can be obtained by making cosmetic ice, for which add a small spoon of honey and five drops of juniper berry ether to 200 ml of water. Pour the finished product into ice trays and freeze. Rub ice over your face morning and evening.

Juniper for hair

There are several ways you can use essential oil to care for your hair.

The easiest way to use juniper to make your hair healthy is to add a few drops to your usual shampoo. You can also do aromatic combing by applying a few drops to a wooden comb and combing through your hair.
The mask has proven itself well for normalizing the activity of the sebaceous glands and improving the health of curls. Mix 3 tbsp. spoons of base oil and five drops of juniper ether. Heat the vegetable oil in a water bath and add ether. Rub into the scalp and then distribute the mixture over the entire length. Keep the mask on for an hour, but no more.

Juniper for cellulite

You can cope with the unsightly “orange peel” using simple procedures using juniper ether. It helps remove excess fluid and activates the lymphatic system. With regular use, you can improve blood circulation and improve metabolism. Juniper oil for cellulite is used for massages, healing baths and wraps. Thanks to its warming effect, it removes toxins from the body along with sweat.

To increase effectiveness, it is recommended to mix 3-4 drops of juniper ether with chamomile, sesame or thyme oil. Rub the product into problem areas using circular and pinching movements. It is important to move along the legs not from top to bottom, but from bottom to top, taking into account the movement of lymph. If you are making wraps, then wrap everything on top with film and leave for half an hour.

Juniper for weight loss

To cope with excess weight, it is customary to use juniper ether, which improves metabolism, gets rid of cellulite and improves the functioning of digestion. There are several ways to use this tool:

You can take the ether orally by drinking 200 ml of warm water with a couple of drops of juniper oil before meals.
To cope with extra pounds, take a body cream and add 4-5 drops of essential oil to it. Apply the product to problem areas after a shower, rubbing well in a circular motion.
Juniper oil for weight loss can be added to baths. Add enough water to cover your thighs and stomach. Separately, mix 8-10 drops of ether with 1 tbsp. spoon of sea salt and add to the bath.

Juniper - contraindications

The presented plant has a wide range of beneficial properties, but before you start using it, you need to familiarize yourself with the existing contraindications:

Some people may be allergic to juniper, so you should do an allergy test first. To do this, apply a couple of drops to the back of your wrist and leave for a couple of hours. If no reaction occurs, then you can safely use the treatment. Please note that you should not use oil in large quantities, as this may cause burns.
Taking folk remedies orally is prohibited for pregnant women, as they cause uterine contractions, which increases the risk of miscarriage.
Common juniper is prohibited for people with chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and kidneys. If you neglect this prohibition, you can provoke an exacerbation of diseases.
You should not take products with juniper in large quantities, as this can cause problems with the heart and blood vessels.
Giving such products to children under three years of age is strictly prohibited.