Juniper (always a green bush) has exceptionally aromatic fruits that add flavor to dishes and soothe various ailments. It grows slowly, but is a long-lived shrub, often over 100 years old. He likes weak, sandy, barren soil - hence its name.

Juniperis a valued spice, but it was of particular importance in Old Polish cuisine - it was greasy and rather difficult to digest. Its aromatic branches were used for smoking meats and cold cuts, and the fruit was used inseasoningvenison, pea and bean dishes.

Juniper: a plant full of he althy surprises

For herbal purposes,juniper fruits are used , the so-called pine cones. They have exceptionally large amounts of volatile oil (up to 2%), which contains numerous terpenes, incl. pinene, camphene, limonene and the most valuable - terpineol.

Szyszkojagody juniowiec mature for 2 years. In the first year they are still green, finally light blue or slightly violet; in the second year, when they mature, they turn navy blue. There are two-year-old ripe and green one-year-old fruits on the bush at the same time.

In addition, they contain tannins, resin compounds, bitterness, valuable flavone glycosides, sugars, and mineral s alts. Juniper berries used internally show diuretic, bactericidal and disinfecting properties, stimulate bile secretion and facilitate digestion. They help with liver failure, digestive disorders, inflammation of the urinary tract, excessive intestinal fermentation. On the other hand, externally - in the form of infusions and liniments - they are used in neuralgia, rheumatism, and radiculitis.

Juniper: how to collect it?

Fully ripe fruit is dark purple in color, almost black, with a bluish coating. They are harvested in late autumn, preferably only after the first frost, and very slowly dried at a temperature no higher than 40 ° C. You have to be careful not to dry them - after pressing the berries in your fingers you should feel an elastic layer around the seeds. The dried fruit has a strong, balsamic smell and a sweet, slightly resinous taste. It is best to keep them in a paper bag or a slightly open container so that they do not become moldy.

Juniper will help with colds

In the fight against cold infection, it's worth ituse both the disinfecting properties of juniper infusion (drink a glass once or twice a day) and the warming effect of oil massage (preferably massage your chest at night). In addition, it is also worth taking inhalations with the oil, which have a disinfecting effect, help fight viruses and unclog the nose.

Juniper counteracts cellulite

The diuretic effect of juniper fruit in combination with its choleretic properties and stimulating effect on the liver turns out to be helpful in the fight against cellulite, as it facilitates cleansing the body of toxins. Anti-cellulite treatments should be supplemented with massages with juniper oil, which warms the skin strongly, improves its microcirculation and accelerates the removal of deposits remaining in the cells.

Juniper facilitates digestion, improves appetite

Thanks to the large amount of tannins and terpenes, juniper fruits have a beneficial effect on the digestive system. They stimulate the production of bile, which helps to deal with fatty, hard-to-digest foods. They stimulate the metabolism and regulate the work of the intestines, thus preventing constipation and flatulence. Juniper berries are therefore a valuable spice for meat dishes, incl. venison, cabbage dishes, sauces, marinades.

Important

Don't overdo it

Juniper fruits can irritate the stomach and kidneys, so they should be used in small amounts. You can chew no more than 3-4 fruits a day, the oil must not be taken at all - it is used only externally. Juniper fruit infusions and extracts are contraindicated in acute inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, severe kidney and liver diseases, and also for pregnant women.

Juniper supports liver function

Juniper fruit infusion increases bile secretion, therefore it is recommended in liver failure and bile flow disorders. Instead of drinking an infusion, you can chew juniper berries, and then - thanks to their anti-inflammatory properties and a large amount of aromatic oil - they will additionally help fight the unpleasant "stomach" smell from the mouth.

Juniper relieves neuralgia

Juniper extract irritates the skin, causing its hyperemia and strong heating. This property can be used in the treatment of rheumatic pains and radiculitis. Juniper ointments are most often used, but at home, you can also massage the sore spots with juniper oil mixed with edible (in a ratio of 1: 3) or take a bath with pine needles decoction.

You must do it

Juniper brew recipe

A tablespoon of crushed juniper fruits (it is best to crush them a littlemortar) pour a glass of boiling water and leave, covered, for 15 minutes. Drain. Drink 1-2 tablespoons during the day as a diuretic and choleretic agent. The infusion can also be added to an anti-rheumatic bath.

Juniper tincture recipe

2 tablespoons of juniper fruit lightly crush, pour 200 ml of spirit and set aside for 14 days. Then strain. For biliary problems and arthritis, take 5 drops of the tincture on a teaspoon of sugar or diluted with water 3 times a day. You can also use the tincture for rubbing in rheumatic and rheumatic pains, neuralgia and radiculitis.

Juniper wine recipe

Crush 2 handfuls of fresh juniper berries in a mortar, put them in a pot and cover with water to cover the berries. Simmer for 30 minutes. Drain and squeeze the fruit, add 2 tablespoons of sugar to the broth and heat it over low heat until the liquid thickens. Pour a liter of red wine, mix it, set aside for 3 days in a warm place, then pour into bottles. If you have bladder problems, drink one shot in the morning.

Juniper fights dandruff

Juniper fruit extract has strong disinfecting properties - according to many scientists, juniper oil has a bactericidal effect comparable to antibiotics. Therefore, juniper infusion can effectively fight yeasts that cause dandruff - it is best to rub it into the scalp and rinse with lukewarm water after 20 minutes.

Juniper protects the urinary tract

The terpenes and flavonoids abundant in juniper berries are, among others, strong bactericidal effect, and terpenes additionally diuretic. Therefore, juniper is excellent for treating urinary tract infections. It is best to support the treatment recommended by your doctor - just drink a teaspoon of blueberry infusion 3 times a day.

Important

Juniper from the pharmacy shelf

Extracts or fruit are part of many herbal mixtures, mainly used in diseases of the urinary tract - infections of the bladder, urolithiasis (eg Diuroflos). They are also a component of mixtures recommended for disorders in the secretion of bile, liver disorders (eg Hepatina, Cholagoga). Juniper oil is one of the ingredients of warming and anti-inflammatory liniments recommended for colds (eg Pulmonil). And when used in aromatherapy, bathing or rubbing, it soothes rheumatic pains and infections of the upper respiratory tract.

Mikołaj Rey on the trail of juniper

Interview with Laura Bziukiewicz, owner of the Kurpie Museum in Wach. Source: Dzień Dobry TVN / x-news

Recipe for Kurpie cabbage with barley and juniper

Source:Good Morning TVN / x-news

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