Juniper is a member of the Cupressaceae family which is also referred to as pine family. The herb is botanically referred to as Juniperus communis. Other popular names through which Juniper is famous include the following – Common Juniper, Baccae juniperi, zimbro, Juniperi fructus, Mountain Berry, ginepro, Melmot Berry, Kuei, Horse Savin, Hapusha, Hackmatack, genievre etc.

Juniper is really a small evergreen plant that always covers the ground where it is grown. The plant is indigenous to the northern hemisphere and could be found till the Himalayas. The herb could be predominantly noticed in the following regions – Europe, Northern Asia as well as in Northern America particularly in Texas.

Juniper is popular because of its use within gin exactly where it is included as the leading flavoring agent. It is stated that every part of this plant smells excellent particularly the berries. The purple, violet as well as black colored Juniper berries have got enormous healing qualities, and also were utilised by Ancient Greek, Native American Indians and Arab medical practitioners. The berries of Juniper are often gathered throughout autumn when they’re regarded as ripe and mature. The therapeutic part of Juniper is its berry. For therapeutic preparations essential oils are often obtained from Juniper berries.

Juniper “berries” are in fact not berries at all, yet tiny pine cones from the juniper bush. You may love or hate their distinct piney flavor. In either case, these little pine cones have some health advantages, which includes acting as antioxidants and efficient antibacterials for bacteria-related conditions.

Juniper berries have got a stinky, pinelike taste and therefore are utilized to spice up numerous cuisines, which includes European and Indian recipes, together with game dishes. Juniper berries were utilized in historical Greece like a health-related remedy, and reported health benefits live on today. Chiro Web, a network of websites along with chiropractic as well as health-focused resources, notes one of juniper’s main medicinal components is 4-terpinen, that might assist lower uric acid levels, manage the herpes simplex virus as well as calm digestive upset.

Plant description

Juniperus communis is an evergreen and spreading multi-stemmed or columnar, coniferous and dioecious shrub to 1 meter tall or erect small tree reaching the height of 3 meters with depressed crown. Bark is scaly, very thin, fibrous and reddish brown. Leaves are persistent and needle like to narrowly lance shaped about 5-12 mm long. Leaves are whitish-silver above and dark green below arranged in whorls of 3s and are sessile. Fruit is a globose to sub-globose berry about 6-12 mm in diameter and is green when young turning red and bluish black when matured. The berry cone has three fused scales and each scale has a single seed. Each cone berry has two to three seeds which measures -5 mm. Male cones are yellowish, sessile or stalked about 2-3 mm long.

Health benefits of Juniper berry

Juniper berries have the following qualities – anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-septic, anti-spasmodic, anti-inflammatory, anodyne, astringent, carminative, diuretic, stimulant, stomachic and emmenagogue.

1. Antibacterial Properties

Together with antioxidant powers, juniper berries might also have anti-bacterial qualities. A German research published within the international peer-reviewed journal “Natural Products Communications” in 2010 analyzed the chemical composition of countless essential oils, which includes oil from juniper berries. The antibacterial elements of the oils were examined against a number of different strains of bacteria, which includes that from spoiled food, food-poisoning-related bacteria and both animal- and plant-based pathogens. Juniper oil limited bacteria’s activity, displaying its potential as a good anti-bacterial tool.

2. Regulates Digestion

Bitter herbs are recognized to help to improve digestion, as well as juniper is recognized as a bitter. Bitters like juniper boost the manufacture of saliva, digestive enzymes, as well as stomach acid secretions. Many of these play a role in an immediate breakdown of food along with a regulating digestion.

Try using juniper berries if you suffer frequently from heartburn or even indigestion. Juniper oil likewise helps to eliminate excessive gas through the body, which could reduce pain and discomfort associated with gas buildup.

3. Beautification Of Skin

Whenever crushed and utilized straight to the skin in controlled amounts, juniper berry helps with beautification of the skin. In reality, they are utilised in several cosmetic products (just like lipstick, eye shadows and so on) like a primary ingredient. They assist in cleansing the pores of the skin preventing clogging of pores to ensure the skin in shiny as well as well-nourished.

4. Diuretic Properties

Along with enhancing all round digestion, consuming juniper berries may possibly reduce the signs of bloating as well as water retention. In accordance with the University of Michigan, juniper is really a diuretic, meaning it improves urine output. Diuretics are helpful when attemping to fight excessive water retention within the body, that is brought on by overeating sodium or even from inflammation and injury. The University notes that due to its diuretic action, juniper prevents urinary tract infections by assisting to eliminate bacteria and toxins within the urinary system.

5. Antimicrobial and Antifungal Properties

In accordance with researchers at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, juniper berry fights both gram-negative as well as gram-positive bacteria. Gram-negative bacteria are definitely the reason for E. coli, pneumonia and gonorrhea, whilst gram-positive bacteria cause Staphylococcus aureus. S. aureus is a very common infection that individuals get in hospitals and it’s also frequently resistant to anti-biotics; you’ve probably heard it known as MRSA. Since pharmaceuticals are frequently ineffective at dealing with MRSA, juniper berry happens to be an effective option to assist combat bacterial infections.

6. Anti Aging

Juniper berries can’t just assist you to appear younger yet likewise stay younger as well as preserves your young people since it is a restorative for healthy and balanced respiratory system, digestive system, blood circulation. anxious in addition to excretory system. a healthy as well as balanced mind and also physical body could keep you youthful for extended. Together with these benefits, juniper berries could additionally possess some side results. Be aware just before consumption. It may result in allergies, itching, swelling, skin irritability and in addition difficulty in breathing. If you get on lithium medication do not eat these berries since they react negatively along with lithium. Do talk to your healthcare professional if important. Also much usage of juniper berries may also result in diarrhea, convulsions or even DNA damage.

7. Enhance Immunity

You ought to have got a powerful immune system to stay away from diseases. Juniper berries have got tremendous anti-oxidant qualities which help in consolidating your defense mechanisms.

8. For The Kidneys

The most essential health advantage of Juniper berries is its powerful action upon the working of the kidneys in human beings. The herb is really a natural diuretic and boosts the urge to urinate frequently.Typically, the herb was utilized to avoid the development of kidney as well as bladder stones. The herb consists of terpinene-4-ol that is an important oil and also the major reason behind the diuretic effect. In Europe, the majority of the herbal diuretic supplements that are offered include Juniper in one form or the other as well as in different ratios.

9. Beneficial for skin

Juniper has additionally been utilized in dealing with common skin disorders like itching, scabs as well as leprosy. Native American Indians utilized Juniper to deal with skin wounds. However, modern science doesn’t suggest using herbs to open wounds. As well as other herbs, Juniper is additionally utilized to deal with psoriasis of the scalp.

10. Appetite Booster

In case you notice a appetite loss, juniper berries will help you out. They’re recognized to enhance one’s appetite, and for that reason could be fairly beneficial to assist you to put on weight by boosting your food-intake.

11. Reduces pain

Juniper will help with decreasing pain related to fragile joints & muscles, and due to conditions just like rheumatism and arthritis. This particular practice is often noticed in Sweden. Numerous use Juniper berry oil in vapor form to deal with bronchitis.

12. Anti-Inflammatory Properties

Because of the anti-inflammatory qualities of juniper berries, they turn out to be quite helpful towards diseases just like gout, cystitis, bronchitis and so on. Additionally they offer assist to relieve swelling.

13. Treatment of rheumatism

Juniper berries can be used as manufacturing therapeutic drugs for the treatment of rheumatism as well as for reducing pains related to arthritis.

14. Prevents Cancer

These types of berries are amazing in avoiding some kinds of cancer because of its anti cancer causing residential properties. It produces anti oxidants that fight cancer cells leading to agents.

15. Menstrual cramps

Menstrual cramps are sometimes probably the most problematic facets of a woman’s life, however these may also be decreased considerably with the aid of the juniper berry. Some herbalists make use of the juniper to enhance the uterus tone and to help those who have slow or even late starting periods.

16. Prevent Brain Disorders

A healthy brain is extremely important for the smooth functioning of various portions of the body. In case your brain gets afflicted with any disease, it not just affects the brain, but additionally a few of the other parts of the body. Juniper berries assist in keeping the brain fit and free of seizures as well as other such afflictions.

17. Contraceptive

Women of conception age from particular tribes utilize the juniper berry like a contraceptive. Pregnant women are motivated not to consume juniper berry since it can easily stimulate uterine contractions.

18. Useful Against Snakebites

Juniper berries have been discovered to be quite beneficial towards snakebites because of their therapeutic properties.

19. Promote weight loss

Juniper berries might even be a helpful weight reduction remedy, thanks to the fact that they assist to flush waste through the body, encourage sweating, as well as stimulate your organs to work better.

20. Prevent Urinary Infections

Juniper berries assist in keeping infections of the urinary tract away and for that reason assist in maintaining a healthy excretory system. This particular property is accentuated by the fact that they’re such good diuretics.

21. Lowers Blood Sugar

Juniper berries lower blood glycemic levels, in accordance with research published in 1994 in “Planta Medica.” The study’s researchers, led by Fermin Sánchez de Medina from the Universidad de Granada in Spain, discovered that juniper berries reduce glycemic levels by enhancing the secretion of glucose-induced insulin. Researchers gave the berries to rats along with artificially induced hyperglycemia, plus they produced considerable decrease in glucose levels.

22. Reduce gas

Juniper berries have got a carminative effect, which means they are able to assist to avoid or even  reduce the existence of gas within the stomach and intestines. For all those along with flatulence problems, these berries could be a godsend!

History of the Use of Juniper

Evidences have been discovered that the juniper berries were utilised since the ancient times. Traces of the plant were found in several historical sites in Egypt along with tombs. However, there weren’t any evidences attesting that the Egyptians grew the juniper plant, some were found within the tomb of Tutankhamun. Then the berries from Egypt might have been exported from Greece. They’d records of utilizing the juniper berries as herbal medicine. Also, throughout Olympic events, the Greek athletes utilize the berries to improve their stamina. The Romans also have used the juniper plant because of their benefits. The berries were replaced to black as well as long peppers that are extremely expensive coming from India.

The plant was also broadly grown in European countries particularly Hungary. The oil made out of Hungary originated from fresh berries. The production then prolonged to Great Britain along with other northern European colonies after war has ensued. This was because of the increase of the price of foreign oil.

Ancient Uses

Juniper Berries were utilised like a flavoring for gin, a kind of liquor made in the 17th century within the Netherlands. The Western American Native Tribes have used these berries to control appetite during times of famine as well as hunger. Alternatively, Juniper Berries was basically meant for medications due to its being a diuretic and good cure for arthritis as well as rheumatism.Apart from the therapeutic and cookery benefits derived from Juniper Berries, the Native Americans also provide used the seeds of the berries for adornment and jewelry. The Swedes utilized the extracts from Juniper Berries like a external medication to treat inflamed joints and wounds.

Modern Uses

Juniper Berries are externally utilized for the management of athlete’s food, acne, and dandruff. Additionally it is useful for the management of cystitis as well as urethritis because of its antiseptic features. The anti-biotic abilities of Juniper Berries are great for dealing with numerous wounds or sores like psoriasis, eczema, along with other skin problems.

Juniper Berries are extremely abundant with nutrients that offer numerous health advantages to most people. They’re full of Vitamin B as well as Vitamin C, and small quantities of calcium, protein, carbohydrates, fiber, lipid, and ash.

Culinary uses

• Add dried berries to vegetable pates venison, game and marinades.
• Juniper berries are used to make sauce and used to flavor pheasant, quail, rabbit, veal, pheasant, venison and other meat dishes.
• Grounded dried berries are used for preparing mush or cake.
• Use the berries as a spice to flavor liquors, gin, bitters, cordials and Swedish beer.
• Roasted seeds are used as a substitute for coffee.
• Use the Juniper leaves (fresh or dried) to flavor grilled fish.
• Leaves and woods are used on barbeque to add subtle flavor meat.

Side Effects, Overdose & Other Considerations

Even though Juniper works well for the kidney function, long-term utilization of the herb may harm or even irritate the kidneys. Overdose of the herb can lead to smelly urine and often blood within the urine. Herbalists suggest utilizing Juniper supplements for not greater than 4 weeks at a time. According to experts, inhaling the herb in vapor form is definitely the safest method.

Pregnant women need to stay away from this herb as it might result in uterine contractions. The herb ought to be prevented by those people who are positively trying to get pregnant. Other side effects of the herb consist of – skin irritations, diarrhea as well as seizure. Prevent the herb in individuals struggling with low blood sugar and people along with stomach & intestinal disorders. Also, Juniper supplements should be stopped fourteen days before a scheduled surgical treatment.

• Avoid the juniper berry in case you have serious kidney problems as it might worsen the problem as well as result in further damage.
• If you utilize a lot more than the recommended quantity, it’s likely that you can have problems with diarrhea, kidney pain, hypertension, fast heartbeat as well as purplish urine.
• When taken internally, it may impact the absorption of iron as well as other minerals.
• Open wounds are best not dealt with with juniper since it may cause irritation as well as swelling.
• Diabetics needs to be careful while using the juniper as it can certainly boost the levels of glucose within the body.

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