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Juniper Berries
Juniper berries are used as a diuretic and to treat bladder and kidney conditions.
The berries have been used in herbal medicine for more than 300 years, and are
actually the cones of the small, evergreen juniper shrub. New berries appear
on mature shrubs in the fall and take 2-3 years to fully ripen, so Juniper shrubs
often have unripe green and ripe blue berries at the same time. Juniper berries
contain up to 2 percent volatile oil and 10 percent resin. Usually, a tea is
prepared from juniper and a mixture of other herbs, but for treating certain
conditions, the berries themselves are eaten. Juniper berries are also used
as a flavoring agent in gin and certain luncheon meats.
Juniper is a remedy for cystitis, helps to relieve fluid retention, and helps
to settle the digestive system. Unfortunately, the diuretic action of the berries
can irritate the kidneys when taken in large doses and it is no longer recommended
for treating kidney disorders. It is imperative that pregnant women not take
juniper berries as they increase intestinal movement and may also stimulate
contraction of the uterus. Juniper berries should not be taken for more than
6 consecutive weeks.
To treat chills, stomach upset, or menstrual pain, you should sip a weak infusion
of juniper berries (1 tablespoon of juniper berries added to one cup of boiling
water and steeped for twenty minutes) twice a day, and for cystitis and other
urinary infections, you should take 2mL of the tincture, three times a day.
Juniper berries are found in Europe, southwestern Asia, and North America where
the shrub grows in southern coastal sites, moorland, and mountainous regions.
The berries can be gathered when they ripen in the spring.
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