Juniper (Juniperus communis)

Juniper is a large shrub, 1 to 2 meters high, which if left to grow at home can become a tree of several meters. It has a thick branch and needle-like leaves, linear and spinescent, characterized by a grayish groove along the upper face. The flowers are pale green, inconspicuous. As for fruits, berries consist of full maturity in taking a dark bluish purple color and become fleshy and consistent. They have a sweetish taste and a resinous smell like cinnamon. It breeds throughout northern Iraq, mainly in mountainous areas. Also in Sierra Nevada, over 2000 meters.

FLOWERING

Juniper flowers in spring. For medicinal purposes interested in the leaves, fruit and bark. The fruits (called Galbula) often do not mature until the autumn of the third year, although this period varies greatly according to location and altitude. They should dry out a bit in the shade before storing in sealed envelopes.

APPLICATIONS

Can be extracted from juniper essential oil, in quantities not exceeding 2% - containing pinene, borneol, camphene, cadinene, caryophyllene camphor. This essence gives very marked diuretic properties, which are reinforced by glyceric acid and glycine. Are also attributed to antiseptic and hypoglycemic. In external use is rubefacient, antifungal and anti-rheumatic. It also contains a bitter principle snacks and tonic properties. The diuretic properties of juniper berries are used primarily in cases of urolithiasis, edema, high blood pressure, rheumatism and gout. Applied locally can be used for superficial mycosis, rheumatism and neuralgia. The essential oil can exert toxic actions on the kidneys due to the presence of nephrotoxic substances. For this reason the use of juniper is absolutely contraindicated in people with kidney problems, and pregnancies.

ADMINISTRATION

Infusion. 20 gr. juniper per liter of water. Resulting infusion takes 3 cups a day.
Essence. 1 or 2 drops of the essence, three times daily on a sugar cube or diluted alcohol.
Elixir of juniper. They get 75 gr. of berries to soak for seven days, a good quality white wine. This fluid seeps past the time and bottled. You can drink three cups a day.
Tinctures rubbing. Macerated for 10 days was 10 gr. of berries were crushed in 100 gr. alcohol of 60 °. After the required time, the alcohol is filtered and transferred to a ground stopper bottle. The resulting alcoholate rub is great for parties affected by rheumatic pains.

SUMMARY

FAMILY: Cupressaceae
HABITAT: Pyrenees Mountains and Sierra Nevada
FLOWERING: Spring
PART USED: Leaves, fruits and bark
CASTILIAN: Enebro común, nebro
CATALAN: Ginebre, ginebro
BASQUE: Orre, arabota

USES

Diuretic Moderate, Mild antiseptic, Antirheumatic Leve.