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Juniper Bush | | Name : | Juniper Bush | | Synonyms : | Hapusha(Sanskrit name)
Juniperbush
Juniperbark
Juniperberry
Kuei(Chinese name)
| | Parts Used : | Berries and new twigs | | Habitat : | Found in dry, infertile, rocky soil in North America from the Arcticcircle to Mexico, as well as in Europe, northern provinces of China,and Asia. Canada to Alaska, south to mountains in Georgia, easternTennessee, north to Illinois, Minnesota; west to New Mexico, California.Found over a large part of the northern hemisphere. | | Description : | Juniper is an evergreen shrub usually grows from 2 to 6 feet highin the United States, but may reach a height of 25 feet in Europe.Usually low-spreading or prostrate conifer. The bark is chocolate-browntinged with red shredding off in papery peels. The needle-shaped leaveshave white stripes on top and are a shiny yellow-green beneath. Theyoccur on the branches in whorled groups of three and have two whitebands on the upperside that are mostly broader than the green margins.Pale yellow or white flowers, appearing the second year, occur inwhorls on one plant, green female flowers consisting of three contiguous,upright seed buds on another plant. Flowering time is April to June.The fruit is a small, fleshy, berry-like cone which is green the firstyear and ripens to a bluish-black or dark purple color in the secondyear. The bluish-black, rounded to broadly oval fruits (August toOctober) usually with 3 seeds are used in medicine and as a flavoringin gin and other alcoholic beverages.
Also; Prickly juniper (Juniperus oxycedrus) used the same way.
Grow in full sun in all climate zones and most soils.
Juniper berries (Juniper utahensis) were known to the Shoshone Indiansas 'Sammapo.' Washo Indians: 'Paal.' Paiute Indians: 'Wapi.' For rheumatism,the Native Americans put the green boughs of Juniper on the patientas he reclined, then they steamed the boughs and the patient dranktea from the leaves. Also, they used a tea from juniper berries, takenon 3 successive days, a cupful at a time, for birth control. | | Constituents : | Alcohols, cadinene, camphene, flavone, flavonoids, glycosides, podophyllotoxin(an anti-tumor agent), vitamin C, volatile oils, resin, sabinal, sugar,sulfur, tannins, and terpinene
Analgesic, antibacterial, antiseptic, carminative, diuretic, diaphoretic,disinfectant, rubefacient (causes redness of the skin), stomachic,tonic, uterine stimulant, anti-rheumatic | | Uses : | Juniper is normally taken internally by eating the berries or makinga tea from them. It is useful for digestiveproblems resulting from an underproduction of hydrochloric acid,and is also helpful for gastrointestinal infections, inflammations,gout, palsy, epilepsy, typhoidfever, cholera, cystitis,urethritis, rheumatism,weak immune system, sciatica,to stimulate appetite,helps eliminate excess water, and cramps.
Relieves inflammation and sinusitis.Helps in treatment of pancreas, prostate, kidney, and gallstones,leukorrhea, dropsy, lumbago, hypoglycemia,hemorrhoids, scurvy, killsworms, treats snakebites,cancer, and ulcers. Regulatessugar levels. The lye madeof the ashes will cure the itch, scabs, and leprosy. Used as a diuretic.
Juniper berries (Fructus juniperi) are most effective when used incombination with other herbs such as broom,uva ursi, cleavers, and buchu.Dried berries are excellent as a preventative of disease and shouldbe chewed or used as a strong tea to gargle the throat when exposedto contagious diseases.
When juniper oil is used in a hot vapor bath, it is useful to inhalethe steam for respiratory infections, colds,asthma, bronchitis,etc. The pure oil should not be rubbed on the skin as it can be veryirritating and cause blisters.
The first day, take 4 berries, all of them at once or over the courseof the day (at the beginning of the treatment, either way is possible).From the second day on, take one more berry each day than you didthe previous day, until the daily dose totals 15 berries. The moreberries you take each day, the more important it is to distributethem over the course of the day. It is advisable to divide the berriesinto 3 or 4 daily doses, drinking at least 1 full glass of water witheach dose. Once you have reached a daily total of 15 berries, reducethe amount by one berry per day until you finally reach the initialdose of 4 berries again. This will stimulate appetite and glands.It should be performed twice a year, each time for a period of 24days.
As a spice, juniper is often used to enhance flavor, and counteractflatulence. Juniper oil, derived from the berries, penetrates theskin readily and is good for bone-jointproblems; but the pure oil is irritating and, in large quantities,can cause inflammation and blisters. Breathed in a vapor bath, itis useful for bronchitis, consumption,and infection in the lungs. Juniper tar, or oil of cade, is producedby destructive distillation of the wood of another species (Juniperusoxycedrus) and is used for skin problems and for loss of hair. | | Dosage : | Infusion: steep 1 tsp. crushed berries in 1/2 cup water for5-10 minutes in a covered pot and strain. Take 1/2 to 1 cup per day,a mouthful at a time. If desired, sweeten with 1 tsp. honey (or rawsugar) unless used for gastrointestinal problems.
Tea: use 1 tbsp. crushed berries in 4 cups water, cover saucepanwith a lid. Boil down slowly to 2 cups. Strain and drink 1 cup duringthe day and a second cup at bedtime.
Jam or Syrup: Adults take 1 tbsp., 2 times per day, in water,tea, or milk. Children take 1 tsp., 3 times per day, in water. Takean hour before meals as an appetizer.
Dried berries: Chew a few a day. | | Safety : | Considered toxic.
May interfere with iron absorption and other minerals when takeninternally.
The pure oil should not be rubbed on the skin as it can be very irritatingand cause blisters.
In large doses, or with prolonged use it can irritate the kidneysand urinary passages; therefore it is not recommended for those withbladder and kidney problems. Also large and/or frequent doses maycause kidney failure, convulsions, and digestive irritation. Avoidif acute cystitis or acute kidney problems are present until consultinga doctor.
Not recommended during pregnancy nor nursing mothers, as it is auterine stimulant. May be taken during labor and delivery. | | Myths : | According to legend, when the Virgin Mary and the infant Jesus werefleeing from Herod into Egypt, they took refuge under a juniper bush.
Juniper has long been associated with ritual cleansing. It was burnedin temples as a part of the regular purification rites. There areseveral medicinal recipes that have survived in Egyptian papyri datingto 1550 BC. Folk medicine in central Europe used the oil extractedfrom the berries to treat typhoid fever, cholera, dysentery, tapeworms, and other ills associated with poverty.
In the 1500s, a Dutch pharmacist created a 'new' inexpensive diureticusing the juniper berry. He called the new product gin. The drinkcaught on, for other reasons, and today the juniper berry is justone of several ingredients.
Juniper gives the flavor to gin and other alcoholic beverages. Ginis a prevarication of the French word for juniper; genievre. Junipermakes a green dye the Native American weavers used to make Sally bagsand Cornhusk bags. Juniper knots, used as torches, were used to lightthe dance floor in front of the Native American camps. Juniper berries(Juniperus monosperma), the bark, and needles were used for a brown-tandye. They used the green juniper needles only and burned them, savedthe ashes and added this to the dye. This was a fixant for the dye.
The Juniper berries were pierced by the Native Americans and usedas beads. They placed the ripe berries over ant hills, scattered about,the ants ate out the sweet streak near the seed, leaving the desiredperforation by which to string the beads.
In Sweden, the berries are made into a conserve. In Germany, a fewberries are used in flavoring of sauerkraut. Laplanders drink a teaof the berries. Germans love the berries in Hasenbraten, Rehbratenand Schwabisches Sauerkraut. Wacholder Branntwein is a popular juniperberry flavored spirit sold in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Hunters,trappers and Native Americans used the berries to flavor wild duck,goose, quail, rabbit, venison, etc. A French source says the berriesare used to flavor marinates, thrushes, blackbirds, etc. In France,Vin de Genievre and Juniper Hippocras are made with berries. The Laplandershave a kind of beer, flavored with juniper berries and also add juniperto add flavor to spruce beer.
The infusion of juniper berries is a popular domestic diuretic inCzechoslovakia. It contains considerable tannin and theine, a drugthat goads body and nervous activity. | | Nutrient : | Sugars and vitamin C | | Sold : | Extract: use 10 to 20 drops in liquid, up to 3 times daily.
Tea: drink 1 cup, up to 3 times daily. |
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