Juniper berries is helpful to magickaly prevent sickness.
Article Content:
- .Basic Botanical Info of Juniper Berry.
- .Juniper Berry Plant Description.
- .History Juniper berry.
- .Juniper Berry Phytochemicals and Constituents.
- .Historical and Traditional Uses and Etymology:Juniper Berry.
- .Juniper Berry Modern Common Uses Guide.
- .Therapeutics and Pharmacology:Juniper Berry.
- .Applications of Juniper.
- .Juniper Berry Administration,Dosage and Preparations.
- .Research Update:juniper berries.
Juniper Berry Administration,Dosage and Preparations.
How To Prepare:
Whole, crushed, and powdered Juniper Berry can be used in teas, alcohol extracts, and wine. The essential oil is also used in remedies.
To prepare a tea, pour one teacup of boiling water over 0.5 grams of crushed Juniper Berry. Take 3 times daily.
Juniper is sometimes combined with other herbs for bladder and kidney teas. It is also used in bath salts as a treatment for rheumatism.
The ripe, berries and needles from the tree are used in herbal medicine. Juniper is available in bulk form as whole berries, or as a supplement in the form of capsules or tinctures.
The recommended tincture dosage is 10-20 drops four times daily.
Teas are often taken to relieve digestive problems. To make a tea, 1 cup of boiling water is poured over 1 tablespoon of juniper berries. The mixture is covered and steeped for 10-20 minutes. One cup can be drunk two times daily. The tea should not be used for longer than two weeks at a time. A clean cloth may be soaked in the cooled mixture to create a compress.
When should I be careful taking it?:
In studies of female animals, juniper has caused the muscles of the uterus to tighten. In addition, it appears to interfere with fertility. Therefore, juniper should not be taken, applied, or inhaled by women who are pregnant or trying to become pregnant.
Juniper may cause irritation to the stomach in individuals who have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), stomach ulcers, and other gastrointestinal (GI) disorders that result from excess acid secretion. Therefore, juniper should be avoided by individuals with GI conditions. Juniper can also cause irritation to the kidneys, so it should be avoided in individuals with kidney disorders.
Special Cautions:
Protracted use of Juniper Berry can irritate and damage the kidneys.
Avoid If...Do not take Juniper Berry if you have a kidney inflammation. Special Information If You Are Pregnant or Breastfeeding,Do not take Juniper Berry during pregnancy.
Precautions:
Very little information is available on how juniper might affect an infant or a small child. Therefore, its use is not recommended while breast-feeding or during childhood.
Allergic reactions such as rashes and breathing difficulties have been reported after using juniper products, handling juniper plants, or inhaling juniper pollen. Limited scientific literature suggests that individuals of Oriental heritage may be more likely to have juniper allergies than Europeans or Americans.
Because juniper has been shown to reduce blood levels of sugar in both diabetic and non-diabetic laboratory animals, individuals who have diabetes should monitor their blood sugar levels more closely while taking juniper.
A tar derived from juniper oil occasionally is used to treat inflammatory skin conditions such as psoriasis. It should be used only with medial supervision, though, due to a possible association with skin cancers.
Juniper should be used only for short periods of time. High doses or prolonged use of juniper may irritate the kidneys and urinary tract, causing damage. People with kidney problems should not use this herb.
Juniper stimulates contractions of the womb. Pregnant women should not use juniper. Breast-feeding women also should not use juniper.
Juniper may increase blood sugar levels in diabetics. Therefore, diabetics should consult with their doctor before using juniper.
When taking juniper for a bladder infection, consumers should see their doctor if the infection is still present after several days of use, or if lower back pain, fever, or chills develop.
What side effects should I watch for?:
Major Side Effects: Kidney damage or seizures have been reported in some individuals who took more than 10,000 mg (10 grams) of juniper per day or who took high doses of juniper for longer than 4 weeks.
Less Severe Side Effects: Purplish or red-tinted urine may result if large amounts of juniper are taken by mouth.
Using juniper on the skin may result in: Irritation,Redness,Swelling,Rarely, breathing juniper vapors or steam may cause stomach cramps.
External application of juniper oil may cause a skin rash.
People with allergies may experience allergy symptoms such as nasal congestion.
Symptoms of juniper overdose include diarrhea, purplish urine, blood in the urine, kidney pain, intestinal pain, elevated blood pressure, and a quickened heartbeat. If these effects occur, consumers should stop taking juniper and call their doctor immediately.
Contraindications:
Juniper berries stimulate smooth muscle contractions and are contraindicated during pregnancy. Due to their irritating effect on kidney tissues, juniper berries are contraindicated in cases of inflammatory disorders of the kidneys.
Possible Drug Interactions:
Consumers should use juniper cautiously with other diuretic drugs or substances because excessive fluid loss may occur.
Interactions with Prescription Drugs
The possible mild diuretic effect of juniper could increase the effectiveness of diuretics, also called "water pills". If you take a diuretic drug, such as furosemide, or hydrochlorothiazide, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using juniper.
Diuretics may also promote the loss of potassium from the body. Since taking juniper may lead to potassium loss, as well, the levels of potassium in the blood may become too low if juniper is taken at the same time as a diuretic. Low blood potassium is called hypokalemia. Symptoms of hypokalemia can include:
Abdominal cramps,Constipation,Low blood pressure,Muscle weakness,Nausea,Vomiting,Hallucinations,Respiratory failure,Cardiac arrest
Individuals with diabetes should avoid taking large amounts of juniper because it can lower blood sugar levels, potentially resulting in hypoglycemia (blood sugar that is too low). Symptoms of low blood sugar may include shakiness, sweating, confusion, distorted speech, and loss of muscle control. If not corrected, low blood sugar can lead to unconsciousness and even death. Taking juniper may interfere with insulin and oral drugs for diabetes, such as:
Actos,Amaryl,Avandia,glipizide (Glucotrol XL),glyburide (Glynase),Glyset,metformin (Glucophage),Prandin,Precose
Interactions with Herbal Products:
Because juniper may decrease blood sugar levels, taking it with other blood sugar-lowering herbal products may result in hypoglycemia -- blood sugar that is too low. Herbals that may reduce blood sugar include:
Eleuthero,Fenugreek,Ginger (in high amounts),Kudzu,Panax ginseng
The potential loss of water from juniper's diuretic effect may decrease blood levels of potassium, as well. When juniper is taken with other potassium-depleting herbals such as horsetail or true licorice, the chances of potassium deficiency increase. Low potassium levels may result in symptoms such as drowsiness, heart rhythm changes, nausea, and vision disturbances.
How much to take or suggestive dosage:
To make a tea: , 250 ml (1 cup) of boiling water is added to 1 tablespoon of juniper berries and allowed to steep for twenty minutes in a tightly covered container. One cup can be drunk each morning and night. Juniper is often combined with other diuretic and antimicrobial herbs. As a capsule or tablet, 1-2 grams can be taken three times per day, or 1-2 ml of tincture can be taken three times per day.
Suggested Amount: Unless otherwise prescribed, 2-10 grams (1-3 teaspoonfuls) of crushed juniper berries are made into a tea by pouring boiling water over them (ca. 150-450ml) and steeping for 10 minutes and passing this through a tea strainer while still hot. A cup of the freshly prepared tea is drunk 3 to 4 times a day for no longer than four weeks. This dosage corresponds to 20-100mg of essential oil.
Typical Dosage: The usual dosage is 2 to 10 grams of crushed Juniper Berry daily. Limit use to no more than 6 weeks. Oil of Berries, B.P., 1 to 5 drops. Oil of Wood, 1 to 5 drops. Fluid extract, 1/2 to 1 fluid drachm. Spirit of Juniper, B.P. and U.S.P., 20 to 60 minims. Oil, 2 to 10 minims. Elixir of Potassium Acetate and Juniper as a diaphoretic, 4 fluid drachms. Comp. Spirit, U.S.P., 2 drachms. Solid extract, 5 to 15 grains.
Preparation and Dosage: (thrice daily)
Regulatory Status: GSL
Infusion: 1:20 in boiling water, 100ml
Liquid Extract: 1:1 in 25% alcohol, 2-4ml
Tincture: 1:5 in 45% alcohol, 1-2ml
Overdosage: An overdose can damage the kidneys. If you suspect an overdose, check with your doctor immediately.
Note: Juniper should never be used for longer than 4 weeks at a time due to the possibility of kidney damage. Doses should be limited to a maximum of 10,000 mg (10 grams) of dried juniper berries by mouth or 100 mg of topical juniper oil per day. Juniper oil should not be taken by mouth.
Juniper tea may be made by soaking one teaspoonful of dried juniper berries in about 6 ounces of boiling water for 10 to 15 minutes and then straining out the solid parts before drinking. Juniper tea may be taken one to four times a day. A usual dose of dried juniper berries is 1,000 mg to 2,000 mg (one gram to 2 grams) up to three times a day. Juniper is also available in other oral dose forms, with different recommended doses. If you decide to use juniper, follow the directions on the package of the product you purchase. Do not take more than the recommended amounts.
For application to the skin, juniper oil should be used sparingly. A small amount may be applied to minor skin irritations once or twice a day for a few days, at the most. Juniper tar (cade oil) should not be used topically unless a healthcare professional oversees its use.
Juniper berries or oil may be added to warm bath water to help relieve the pain of arthritis or muscle aches. The berries may also be boiled in water and the resulting steam may be inhaled to treat bronchitis and other upper respiratory complaints. Care should be taken to see that the steam is not hot enough to cause burns on the face or in the respiratory tract.
Reference:
1.Juniper berries is helpful to magickaly prevent sickness.
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