Juniper - it is an evergreen shrub or cypress tree. In appearance, juniper looks like a tiny cypress. This plant is a real long-liver: it can live from 600 to 3000 years in comfortable conditions.
Did you know? In ancient Greece, juniper was considered the best cure for snake bites, and the ancient Romans crushed its berries added to wine, which was then taken for liver diseases or as a powerful diuretic. In Russia, dishes were made from his bark, and branches were used to protect the home from evil forces.
Many peoples juniper bushes are revered as a symbol of eternal life.
Juniper chemical composition
Juniper cones contain up to 40% carbohydrates, and in addition they contain resins, waxes, tannins, and dyes, more than 2% of essential oils, organic acids, macro- and microelements (copper, iron, manganese and aluminum), and also vitamins. The composition of the essential oil present in the berries includes terpenes camphene, terpeniol, cadinene, pinene and borneol.
Important! Juniper has toxic properties, which is why it is necessary to observe the exact dosage when using it.
Needles plants - It is a real storehouse of ascorbic acid, and about 8% of tannins, saponins, gum and essential oils are present at the juniper root.
Calorie and nutritional value of juniper berries
Calorie juniper is 116.3 kcal. The nutritional value of the plant is very low, because it contains only about 40% of carbohydrates, although there are no proteins and fats at all.
The use of juniper for the human body
Juniper allocates a huge amount of phytoncids, which explains its beneficial properties and makes it possible to use in a variety of diseases.
Did you know? Scientists have discovered that per day a hectare of juniper grove produces 30 kg of phytoncids, and this amount of antibacterial substances is enough to completely clear the atmosphere of the megalopolis from pathogens.
Due to the pronounced antimicrobial action, juniper is ideal for use in the treatment of many ailments. The oil obtained from it has a pronounced disinfecting, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and analgesic effect, which allows its use with trichomonas coleitis, radiculitis, neuralgia, polyarthritis, rheumatic joint pains. Juniper-based drugs are an effective cough medicine. They have expectorant, anti-inflammatory and anti-bactericidal action. The benefits of juniper berries are due to their choleretic, diuretic and anchoring effect. In addition, the use of juniper eliminates flatulence and dyspeptic disorders, improves appetite and digestion.
Use in traditional medicine: the prevention and treatment of juniper diseases
The juniper hundreds of years ago found application in traditional medicine. The high therapeutic effect of a decoction of juniper cones makes it possible to use it in the treatment of many diseases of the respiratory system. It contributes to the rapid dilution, separation and removal of sputum in asthma and tuberculosis. Juniper baths are taken to relieve pain and relieve inflammation in gout and polyarthritis, the plants are washed with poorly healing wounds with a decoction, and the infusion is rubbed with arthritis.
Did you know? In the old days, juniper was used to fumigate the huts and clothes of the sick. A decoction of juniper needles washed the floors and walls in the house where the infectious patient was. Juniper branches took with them to the bath, and also placed them in tubs and pans with pickles to prevent mold.
Juniper berries contain an impressive amount of essential oils and resins, thanks to which they have a tart smoky aroma that has a sedative and anti-stress effect on the human body. In addition, juniper oil is characterized by a pronounced tonic and invigorating effect.
Important! Preparations made from juniper are not recommended for women who are preparing to become mothers, as the plant causes a reduction in the muscle layer of the uterus, and this can cause miscarriage.
Fresh juniper berries - an excellent prophylactic and therapeutic agent for gallstones, and during rampant flu and viral infections, juniper decoction is able to work wonders. In order not to get sick, eat one tart berry every day, and you will not be afraid of viruses.
For the treatment of cough
Long walks through juniper groves are the best remedy for respiratory diseases. They are shown to those who suffer from asthma, bronchitis and tuberculosis. The thing is that the phytoncides that juniper secretes have a pronounced antiviral and anti-edema effect, which allows you to quickly get rid of the disease. Now on the basis of juniper developed many drugs for the treatment of the respiratory system. However, the best results in the treatment of cough gives the use of fresh berries.
To get rid of dry coughing, buy or collect about 0.5 kilograms of juniper berries. They must be taken on the first day of one berry, on the second - two each, and so on until you reach the twelve fruits. Then start the countdown and eat one less fruit each day than you did yesterday. Juniper decoction is also effective when coughing occurs on the background of a cold. It also helps with purulent pleurisy and pneumonia. However, in order for the medicine to cope with the illness, it is necessary to know exactly how to brew the juniper. Take a tablespoon of the fruits of the plant and fill them with two cups of boiling water, boil for 20 minutes, strain and bring the volume of the drug to half a liter with water. Take a decoction of a tablespoon four times a day.
For the treatment of herpes
Treatment of herpes in traditional medicine is limited to taking antiviral drugs that do not completely cure the disease, but only translate it into remission. At the slightest hypothermia or weakening of the immune system, the disease makes itself felt with double strength. However, not everything is so hopeless.
An excellent herbal remedy for herpes is tea with juniper, the beneficial properties of which are due to the high content of phytoncides and antiviral substances in the plant. Making tea is easy. Take half a teaspoon of dried fruit or needles and pour 250 milliliters of boiling water, letting the medicine stand for 25 minutes. Take the drug should be three times a day.
To improve digestion
Digestive disorders can give a person a huge amount of unpleasant moments. Pain, bloating, intestinal colic and indigestion will disappear if you systematically take tincture of juniper. To prepare it, you need to pour 15 berries with 100 milliliters of 70% alcohol. Insist drug 10 days. After this period, filter the tincture and squeeze the berries. You need to take medicine 30 days three times a day, but not more than 25 drops.
Pharyngitis for gargling
Those who suffer from chronic pharyngitis, know how painful this disease can be. Malaise, fever, as well as pain, tickling and dry throat, accompanied by a dry cough can permanently chain the patient to bed. The infusion and decoction of the juniper for gargling are considered to be the right remedies for this ailment. To prepare juniper infusion, take a tablespoon of bark or plant berries, pour them into a thermos and pour half a liter of boiling water, let it brew for an hour and use to rinse the throat.
Excellent results are obtained by gargling with juniper decoction. To prepare it, take a tablespoon of chamomile, calendula and juniper. Fill all with liter of boiling water and boil for 10 minutes. Let the broth stand for 45 minutes and strain.
With pyelonephritis and cystitis
Pyelonephritis is a kidney disease that is inflammatory and infectious in nature; it occurs against the background of kidney damage by pathogenic microorganisms that enter them from the lower parts of the ureter. Very often, pyelonephritis develops on the background of cystitis.
Important! When using juniper, the course of treatment should not exceed one or a maximum of two months, since otherwise inflammation of the kidneys is possible due to constant irritation of their parenchyma with tannins, resins, and essential oils present in the plant.
For the treatment of pyelonephritis or cystitis, it is necessary to prepare a collection consisting of equal parts of juniper berries, bearberry leaves and licorice root. A tablespoon of the collection should be poured a glass of boiling water and insist 20 minutes. Take the fourth part of the glass 4 times a day. No less effective is a herbal blend consisting of equal amounts of juniper fruits, stalice root, violet grass, elderberry flowers, goldenrod grass, mint leaves and quince seeds. A tablespoon of a mixture of herbs poured a glass of boiling water and insist 10 minutes, take the drug in 1/3 cup 3 times a day.
Diuretic
Drugs made from juniper are often used as a diuretic. To make a decoction, you will need to take a tablespoon of dry or fresh berries and pour them with a glass of boiling water. Boil the drug for 10 minutes over low heat and let it brew for 30 minutes. Take a decoction of 1/3 cup three times a day. Juniper tea also has a pronounced diuretic effect. To prepare it, you will need to pour a teaspoon of dry crushed cones and let the medicine stand for 30 minutes. Take the third part of the glass three times a day.
Useful properties of the juniper bath
A decoction of juniper berries is added to baths in the treatment of arthritis, rheumatism and gout. After 2-3 baths, patients feel significant relief: the intensity of pain decreases, inflammation disappears and swelling in the affected joint decreases. For the preparation of therapeutic baths, you need to pour 100 grams of dry crushed berries with a liter of boiling water and boil for 20 minutes. Apply in the form of heat. For the preparation of baths in the treatment of poorly healing wounds, eczema and dermatitis, you will need to take 200 grams of dry raw materials and pour a liter of boiling water. Boil for 20 minutes in a tightly closed container.
Harvesting and storage of raw juniper for medical purposes
When collecting juniper, it is very important not to confuse the plant varieties, since for medical purposes only the common juniper is used, but its poisonous relative - the Cossack juniper, it is better to stay away.
Did you know? When collecting juniper, one should pay attention to its smell: the more intense the aroma, the greater the number of volatile products contained in its needles.
Ripe juniper berries usually have a blue-black color. Shishkoagod begin to collect in September and end in late October. In the process of gathering under the bush they spread thick paper, cardboard or cloth, put on mittens, grab the branches and shake the bush strongly. After that, just pick the fallen berries. Next, the fruit is cleaned of pine needles and plant debris, and then spread out in a dark, well-ventilated place. When drying in dryers, it should be remembered that the temperature in the device should not exceed 40 °, since otherwise its therapeutic properties may be reduced.
Contraindications and harm from juniper
Drugs from juniper are prohibited to take those who suffer from kidney disease, gastrointestinal tract organs and are susceptible to the occurrence of hypertensive crises. In addition, in any case, when treating with juniper, observe the dosage, since its excessive intake can cause undesirable and sometimes even life-threatening consequences. In fruits, bark, and also juniper needles are hidden powerful therapeutic potential, able to give health, strength and longevity, and that the plant is fully able to open it, you need to know how to properly prepare medicinal drugs.
