Juniper

Juniper is a small shrub, from 4 to 6 m tall, and widely spread across the northern hemisphere. Its leaves are coniferous and green, while the berries take two years to mature and it is quite possible to find blue-black (ripe) and green (unripe) berries on the shrub at the same time.

Juniper is one of the three trees they built the Salomon’s temple of, as mentioned in the Old testament. It is believed to have protected prophet Elijah from Jezebel’s seduction with the help of an angel, and to have helped Jesus on the run for Herod’s massacre of innocent children.

The medicinal use of this small tree reaches into the early ages of Greek and Arab doctors. During the outbreaks of plague and smallpox people chewed on juniper berries, while burning its wood and branches all over cities and villages to disinfect air, for its essence destroys bacteria, germs, and viruses.

Many cultures applied different usage to juniper’s healing qualities. Indians used it to cure the cold, flu, arthritis, muscle pains and kidney troubles. The indigenous inhabitants of Eurasia valued its antiseptic effects for it effectively protects wounds from tetanus and other infections. It has been used to cure skin warts and other skin growths, gout, cancer, irritated stomach, various kidney and urinary tract diseases, bronchitis, intestinal infections, herpes, external wounds, and others.

The primary ingredients of this herb contain essential oil, sesquiterpene, flavonoids, glycosides, tannins, podophyllotoxin and vitamin C. Even today, juniper berries prove useful in healing infections, especially of the urinary tract, bladder, kidneys and prostate. Its antiseptic qualities help remove toxins from the body, support an active battle against bacteria and yeast, increase the flow of digestive fluids, improve digestion, eliminate gas and stomach cramps. Like a diuretic, they drain water and therefore contribute to weight loss, while its antiseptic qualities perfectly ease pains and infections, caused by rheumatism and arthritis. On top of all mentioned qualities, they also have a soothing effect on asthma, cold (they ease the cough) and cystitis.

Despite juniper berries being harmless to healthy people, extensive use is not recommended for people with kidney difficulties and pregnant women. The same applies for juniper essential oil.

Juniper essential oil

The essential oil is produced by steam distillation of ripe juniper berries and contains over 70 different ingredients: alpha pinene, beta pinene, limonene, myrcene, sabinene, terpinene and others. It offers the following therapeutic effects: antiseptic, antitoxic, aphrodisiac, astringent, diuretic, detoxifying, emmenagogue, rubefacient.

It improves blood flow and helps remove toxins and uric acid from the body and therefore successfully helps with diseases, connected to irregular blood circulation and accumulation of toxins in the blood – rheumatism, arthritis, gout, kidney stones. With quick absorption through the skin, it relaxes muscle cramps, tightens loose muscles and gives them a sense of hardness, helps heal toothaches, strengthen the attachment of gums to the teeth and protects them from loosening and falling out, stops hair loss, widens blood vessels and tissue under the skin, consequently stimulates healing deeper tissue, reinforces the fight against cellulite and premenstrual bloating (eases the pain and helps regulate the cycle), cleans pores and sebum in glands that reduce acne breakouts and other skin conditions.

Juniper essential oil is suitable for all skin types and very effective in healing problems with acne, eczema, oily skin, psoriasis, dandruff; it decelerates the formation of wrinkles. Most of all, it is excellent for soothing and preventing skin infections, it stimulates scar fading and healing of open wounds or bruises; perfect for massaging muscles that are tired or damaged from rheumatism, and painful joints with gout.

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