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Juniper Herb - Uses And Side Effects

Herbalists use the dried ripe fruit of the plant Juniperus communis (family Cupressaceae), also called female cones or berries. Some people also use the heartwood and tops. Juniper should be used fresh because it's so abundant.

Juniper is found throughout Europe at the edges of woods, in heath and scrub and on moorland, mostly on lime-rich soils. In some countries it is a protected species. It is one of Britain's native conifers; it has a widespread but local and decreasing distribution. Juniper is, however, often grown in parks and gardens and there are now many cultivated varieties. Juniper berries have long been used for medicinal purposes and as a spice. They were believed to resist the plague and cure the bites of snakes. Nowadays they are mostly used for flavouring certain meats, liqueurs and especially gin. The English word gin is derived from an abbreviation of Hollands Geneva as the spirit was first called, which in turn came from the Dutch word gene ver and from Juniperus, the original Latin name for the plant.

Common doses of Juniper

Juniper comes as capsules, tablets, an oral liquid, and an essential oil. Some experts recommend the following doses:

• For intestinal gas and sharp intestinal pains, 0.05 to 0.2 milliliter of juniper oil.
• Studies have used the following doses:
• For low blood sugar, 250 to 500 milligrams per kilogram of body weight taken daily.
• To reduce inflammation, 0.2 milligram per milliliter.
• To combat bacteria, 20 milligrams per milliliter.

Uses of Juniper herb

Juniper has been used to clear uric acid from the body. It is high in natural insulin, and has the ability to heal the pancreas where there has been no permanent damage. It is useful for all urinary infections and for water retention problems, as well as gout. Chewing the berries treats inflamed and infected gums. Juniper is used externally as a compress to treat acne, athlete's foot, and dandruff. Specifically, juniper may help to :-

• Fluid retention in children
• Intestinal gas
• Intestinal pain
• Kidney infection
• Swelling caused by kidney obstruction
• Wound infections

Side effects of Juniper

Call your health care practitioner if you experience any of these possible side effects of juniper:

• blisters
• diarrhea (with large amounts)
• skin burning or redness.

Juniper also may irritate the urinary tract, especially the kidneys. Juniper sabina, a closely related species, has been used to induce abortion, although studies don't support this use.

Interactions

Combining herbs with certain drugs may alter their action or produce unwanted side effects. Tell your health care practitioner about any prescription or nonprescription drugs you're taking.

Important paints to remember

• Don't use juniper if you're pregnant.
• Avoid this herb if you have kidney disease.
• Check with your health care practitioner before using juniper if you are elderly, have diabetes, or have a history of skin irritation or allergic reactions.
• Don't apply juniper to open wounds or skin abrasions.
• Be aware that this plant and others in the Juniper class are considered poisonous and can cause diarrhea and urinary tract irritation. Tell your health care practitioner about significant diarrhea or burning on urination.
• Know that more potent juniper preparations may cause skin and mucous membrane irritation or blistering.
• Don't use juniper instead of prescribed diuretics.

What the research shows

Most information about juniper comes from animal studies. The traditional use of this plant as a diuretic and for kidney infections hasn't been studied in people, although evidence suggests it may work like the drug streptomycin to combat infections. Most promising is the plant's effect on lowering blood sugar, but scientists must conduct studies on people before juniper can be used as an oral antidiabetic drug.

Other names for Juniper

Other names for juniper include a 'ra'r a'di, ardic, baccal juniper, common juniper, dwarf, gemener, genievre, ground juniper, hackmatack, harvest, horse savin, juniper mistletoe, Juniperi fructus, yoshu-nezu, and zimbro.

Products containing juniper are sold under such names as Cold-Plus, Comsilk Buchu Formula, Formula 600 Plus for Men, Naturalvite, PMS Aid, Regeneration Softgels, and SKB.