juniper

Of the juniper is a native heather from the cypress family. It is an evergreen plant with antiseptic properties. Its berries are dried and can be used as a condiment or medicine.

Occurrence and cultivation of juniper

Botanically, the juniper berries are so-called cones. They are ripe when they have fully developed their blue-black color. Their collection time is from April to July. juniper will also be Junniperus communis called. It usually grows as a shrub. It rarely reaches the size of a tree. It has a columnar, cylindrical habit. It grows on dry limestone soil. It can often be found in the lowlands (Lüneburg Heath) or in the low mountain range. Juniper is slightly poisonous, especially harmful to small animals. People with kidney damage should not ingest the berries on the tree.

Juniper bears about 2 cm long needles and small flowers that can be found in the leaf axils. Botanically, the juniper berries are so-called cones. They are ripe when they have fully developed their blue-black color. Their collection time is from April to July. Juniper berries have a typically spicy taste. In the case of junipers, in addition to the berries, the plant parts needles, shoot tips, wood and roots are used because of their medicinal properties. Ingredients of the plant parts are the bitter substance juniperine, betulin, camphor, citric acid, flavones, zinc, essential oil, pentosan, phosphorus, tannin and tannic acid, resin, linolenic acid, manganese and menthol, terpinen-4-ol, oxalic acid and umbelliferone. Juniper will too Fire tree, Krametbaum or Frankincense tree called.

Effect & application

Juniper has a digestive effect. It helps with a disease of the urinary organs up to respiratory tract infection. It is also used for infectious diseases. Dried juniper berries have a direct effect on the smooth muscles in the digestive tract. These muscles have the function of moving the intestinal contents in the gastrointestinal tract. If it is irritated, it contracts and digestion is disturbed.

The juniper berries have an antispasmodic effect on these muscles. They also have a diuretic effect. The kidney tissue is irritated by the ingredients of the juniper berries and a stronger blood circulation is stimulated. Juniper berry extracts are dehydrating. They increase urine output by stimulating the kidneys. The urinary tract, bladder and urethra are flushed, so to speak, and germs are flushed out. With this effect, juniper can help with the onset of cystitis.

Furthermore, juniper berries have an antibacterial, blood-forming and blood-purifying effect. They stimulate the metabolism and are also said to help with rheumatism, gout and arthritis. They are also used for coughs and colds, headaches and migraines, varicose veins and poorly healing wounds. Juniper berries have proven themselves as an old home remedy for a variety of ailments. With juniper essential oil, for example, a steam bath can make breathing easier in bronchitis. It reduces the build-up of slime.

A juniper syrup helps against bacterial coughs. This requires 100 g of juniper berries in 400 ml of water. The boiling water is poured over the crushed berries, then the liquid is passed through a sieve. Honey can also be added to this syrup. 4 tablespoons daily is recommended for an adult if he has a bacterial lung disease. Juniper berries can also be brewed as a tea. Juniper tea has a detoxifying effect, stabilizes concentration problems and also helps with nervous heart problems.

Juniper tincture is very effective in treating digestive or urinary disorders. Juniper tincture can also be used externally. It helps with joint problems, rheumatism or gout. Juniper spirit gel or ointment with juniper extracts have the same effectiveness. Processed in a herbal powder, juniper helps against functional intestinal problems. Juniper is also found in herbal bladder and kidney tea. Juniper is also available as capsules. A means for the digestive tract and to stimulate the metabolism. The rubbing alcohol gel also contains juniper.

Importance for health, treatment & prevention

Juniper is gas inducing, appetizing and diuretic. It helps with digestive problems in the upper abdomen, known as dyspepsia. Health characteristics include complaints in this area, a feeling of fullness after eating, malaise and a burning stomach. In the functional form, the irritable stomach, no organic causes can be identified. In organic dyspepsia, reflux disease or a stomach or intestinal ulcer can be the cause.

In addition to its effectiveness in the digestive tract, juniper provides valuable ingredients that are used in flushing therapy for urinary tract infections. Processed juniper as a gel, tincture, ointment or juniper spirit is very useful for rubbing in painful joints and for treating rheumatic complaints. The health-promoting effect of juniper is also used in dishes, the dried, ripe berry cones serve as a spice - Juniperi pseudo-fructus - in marinades for meat, especially game and in sauerkraut.

When using it, it should be noted that juniper active ingredients should be avoided during pregnancy and inflammatory kidney diseases. Also, a cure with juniper should not be used for too long, as prolonged use of the diuretic effect can irritate the kidneys. Juniper helps keep people healthy. It is a natural remedy, a home remedy that has been popular for centuries for treating a wide variety of ailments and ailments. A simple means of preventing diseases is the juniper berry cure.

For this purpose, the berries are chewed. It is said to strengthen immunization and help against infectious diseases. It also prevents bad breath. It is also important for the juniper berry cure to only use it for a limited period of time. Furthermore, the shoot tips or needles of the juniper tree can also be used pure. They are boiled for a foot bath. Such a foot bath with juniper needles promotes blood circulation and relieves congestion in the legs. Tar-like kade oil from the wood of the juniper tree helps against psoriasis.