Juniper berries: medicinal and beneficial properties, contraindications

Juniper is known for its unique coniferous aroma. Often this plant is used for decorative purposes, but it is no less known in the recipes of traditional medicine. What are the medicinal properties and contraindications of juniper berries? What are they special about? Let's take a closer look.

The chemical composition and calorie content of berries

The calorie content of juniper berries is 116.5 Kcal per 100 g of product.

There are no fats and proteins in the fruits, and the amount of carbohydrates is 31 g for every hundred grams of berries.

Berries are also rich in many useful substances, including:

• vitamins C, E.
• minerals: copper, manganese, potassium, calcium, iron, zinc;
• sugar;
• starch;
• organic acids.
• pectin,
• cellulose
• pitches
• wax.

Juniper berries: healing and beneficial properties

The beneficial properties of juniper berries have long been used in traditional and traditional medicine.

After ripening, the juniper berries are picked (usually this happens in the fall) and dried. In this case, drying should be carried out naturally. Only in this case, the amount of nutrients in the fruits will remain.

Juniper berries are valued for their unique healing properties, including:

• bactericidal;
• antiseptic;
• anti-inflammatory;
• diuretic;
• painkiller;
• tonic;
• expectorant;
• regenerative;
• laxative.

What diseases can fruits help?

The fruits of juniper are actively used in the treatment of the following diseases and conditions:

• Pathology of the liver and pancreas.
• Gastrointestinal Disorders.
• Diseases of the urinary system.
• Respiratory diseases.
• Various inflammatory processes.

The use of juniper berries in folk medicine

The use of juniper berries in folk medicine is extremely wide and varied. Healing infusions and decoctions are prepared from the fruits, but juniper ointment and plant essential oil bring no less benefit.

Due to the high content of vitamin C, juniper tincture is considered very useful for the human body, as it has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. Ready-made infusion is useful for people suffering from edema, cystitis, gallstone disease, rheumatism and nervous disorders. Also, many dentists recommend an infusion of berries to rinse the mouth if there are problems in the latter.

The recipe for juniper tonic tonic

Ingredients:

• juniper berries - 1 tbsp. l (10 pieces.);
• vodka - 0.5 l;
• sugar syrup - as needed.

Cooking:

1. Pound the berries with a rolling pin and pour vodka.
2. Pour the mixture into a glass container, cover tightly and send to a dark place for 2 weeks.
3. After the set time, strain the mixture. The tincture is ready.

Tip. If the drink is “hard” in taste, you can add a little fructose and sugar syrup to it. After this, such a drug must be insisted for 2 more days.

Healing juniper broth is useful for stomach ulcers, loss of appetite and digestive problems. The liquid helps to eliminate bile from the body, relieves rheumatic pain, helps in the restoration of potency. The infusion is also relevant for women - it is used for malfunctions of the menstrual cycle.

Juniper broth to improve the digestive tract

Ingredients:

• juniper berries - 2 tbsp. l .;
• water (boiled) - 250 ml.

Cooking:

1. Pour the berries with water and cover tightly.
2. Put the container in a water bath and simmer for 15 minutes.
3. Remove the pan, wrap with a towel and let cool.
4. Strain and drink the broth three times a day in a sip.

Juniper essential oil

Juniper oil has a positive effect on the state of the body and has the following healing effects:

• anesthetic;
• cleaning;
• tonic;
• warming;
• firming.

Apply oil for the treatment of arthritis and gout. It is also recommended in the care of paralyzed patients. In addition, the oil effectively relieves stress, having a calming effect.

Juniper ointment

An ointment made on the basis of essential juniper oil accelerates wound healing, has a detrimental effect on pathogenic microorganisms, and promotes the regeneration of body cells. The tool is widely used for burns, frostbite or purulent wounds.

For the preparation of juniper ointment with your own hands, you will need the following ingredients:

• ripe juniper berries - 1 tbsp .;
• oil (any vegetable) - 2 tbsp .;
• beeswax - 2 - 3 tbsp. l

Cooking:

1. Soak the berries in purified or distilled water, leave for several hours (preferably at night).
2. Drain the water, crush the fruits a little and put in a clean container.
3. Fill the raw materials with oil and send to a steam bath or a double boiler.
4. Bring water to a boil and boil the mixture for several minutes.
5. Remove from heat and, having cooled slightly, separate the butter from the berries, pouring it into a clean pan.
6. Add wax to the resulting product and again send it to the water bath until the latter is completely dissolved.
7. Pour the finished ointment into a jar with a lid, cool until completely cooled, and send it to the refrigerator for storage.

Rub the ointment into problem areas for pain in muscles and joints.

Cooking use

The aromatic qualities and vitamin composition of juniper berries have led to its widespread use in cooking.

• The fruits of the plant can be applied fresh or in powder form from dried berries.
• Cones are also used as seasoning for sauces and marinades.
• Juniper goes well with pepper, cloves, bay leaf, caraway seeds, rosemary, onions and garlic.
• Use juniper seasoning and in the process of preparing fruit drinks, jelly and syrups.

By the way, juniper berries can be used daily for brewing tasty and fragrant tea, which serves as a good way to raise immunity.

Preparing a drink is simple: 2 tsp. fresh berries are poured with two glasses of boiling water and insisted for 10 minutes.

On such a decoction you can cook kvass. You can also drink it chilled in the summer heat.

Juniper berry extract: benefits and harms

Juniper extract is considered no less useful than decoctions and tinctures. It contains at least 170 useful substances, including camphor, terpineol, kafen, etc. These strong solvents help to remove salts and toxins from the body.

Juniper extract is also known for the following beneficial properties:

• bactericidal;
• anti-inflammatory;
• diuretic;
• choleretic;
• warming;
• painkiller

It has a quick warming, anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect, causes vasodilation, which helps to lower arterial and intracranial pressure, relieve pain and fatigue from muscles, ligaments and joints, increase their mobility.

1. Rubbing juniper extract or oil into your feet also helps eliminate sweating, fungus, and bad foot odor.
2. When used externally in the chest area, the drug facilitates coughing and sputum excretion, accelerating recovery.
3. The internal use of juniper extract allows you to improve metabolism, digestion, eliminate constipation and reduce the level of bad cholesterol in the blood.
4. The tool tones with nervous exhaustion.
5. Due to the action of potassium and magnesium, which are part of the extract, the heart muscle and vascular walls are strengthened.

Juniper Extract is widely used for:

• Prevention of spring hypovitaminosis.
• Treating asthenic conditions.
• Reduces sweating feet, eliminates fungus and unpleasant odors.
• Therapy of arthritis, arthrosis, osteochondrosis, rheumatism, neuralgia.
• Prevention of problems of the cardiovascular system: atherosclerosis, heart failure, weakened vascular tone.
• Treatment of respiratory diseases: lingering cough, bronchitis, pneumonia.

Juniper Berry Themed Cosmetics

Juniper and its derivatives will not only help improve health, but also preserve beauty. Based on this plant, therapeutic cosmetics is made, which is distinguished by its natural composition and high efficiency.

Most often in the production of medicinal cosmetics are used:

1. Juniper essential oil. It is known for its anti-cellulite effect.This component can often be found in the composition of means to reduce sagging skin and restore its tone. Also, the oil has a strong drying and antibacterial effect. For this reason, it is often used in the manufacture of cosmetics for youthful facial skin.
2. Juniper fruits. Berries have a strong anti-aging property, so their extract often forms the basis of anti-aging cosmetic preparations. In addition, this component is often used for the manufacture of shampoos, due to its properties, eliminate dandruff and give hair shine.

Contraindications

The composition of juniper berries is undoubtedly useful, but, like all natural remedies, the fruits of this plant have a number of contraindications to use.

Berries should not be used in such cases:

• during pregnancy and lactation;
• with pathologies of the kidneys or bladder;
• with diseases of the duodenum, colitis and gastritis.

You should also take into account several relevant recommendations:

1. Uncontrolled consumption of juniper berries can provoke irritation of the renal parenchyma and even cause bleeding. The course of treatment with fruits should not be more than 2 months.
2. Traditional and traditional medicine allow the use of berries of an exceptional one plant variety - juniper. All other varieties of shrubs perform only decorative functions. Moreover, the juniper variety, called Cossack, is considered poisonous and unacceptable for human consumption.

Juniper berries are an excellent raw material for the preparation of various medicinal products. It is used to treat joint diseases, pathologies of cardiovascular diseases and respiratory organs. In addition, the juniper fruits are perfectly combined with many dishes, which makes them a good component for creating culinary masterpieces.