01/06/2024
🌿Juniper (Juniperus spp.)🌿
-Common names*: Cedar, Cedron, Sabina, Bellota de Sabina-
Juniper is traditionally used to aid urinary tract imbalances such as cystitis and urethritis. The berries are recommended for this use but leaves can also be effective. Juniper can be combined with Uva Ursi or Manzanita (both an Archtostaphylos) to make a highly effective therapy for the urinary imbalances mentioned above. It is important to note that long term use is not recommended and anyone with a kidney infection or chronic kidney disease should avoid Juniper.
Juniper has an emmenagogue action, meaning it stimulates the uterus and could help bring on slow-to-start, crampy me**es. For this reason it should be entirely avoided during pregnancy.
Eating a few juniper berries before a meal will increase stomach excretions in turn stimulating the appetite, harmonizing the digestive system and reducing flatulence. The tea may be used to ease an upset stomach.
This herb can be used internally and externally to reduce joint and muscle pain making it an ally to folks with arthritis and rheumatism.
Finally, there have been studies that show Juniper may have a considerable ability to inhibit the herpes simplex virus type 1.
Collection and parts used: The ripe berries (blue and purple in color). The leaves can be harvested year round as needed.
Hope you enjoyed learning about this beautiful plant! Enjoy the day🖤
*Common names: common names are not always accurate or true-to-name and can cause confusion as to which plants I am referring to. This highlights the importance of Latin names. Please research the plants I mention by their Latin names, which I will always provide, so you are getting the correct and safest information😉🌿
Sources:
Los Remedios, Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West by Michael Moore
Medical Herbalism, The Complete Illustrated Holistic Herbal by David Hoffman
