* Please Note: This information is based partly on Traditional Medicine which uses natural materials to support health. This information has not been evaluated or approved by the FDA. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These products are intended to support general well being and are not intended to treat, diagnose, mitigate, prevent, or cure any condition or disease. If conditions persist, please seek advice from your medical doctor.
Description
Juniper Juniperus communis L.
Family: Cupressaceae.
Other Names: Geniévrier (French); Gewöhnlicher Wacholder (German); ginepro (Italian); enebro común (Spanish).
Description: A shrub or small tree, usually up to 5 m in height, with densely crowded needle-like leaves, inconspicuous male and female flowers on separate plants, and small, spherical, blue to black, fleshy, berry-like cones.
Origin: North temperate region (Europe, Asia and North America); protected in parts of central Europe but berries are wild-harvested in several countries.
Parts Used: Ripe, fresh or dried female cones, commonly referred to as berries (Juniperi fructus) and rarely also dried wood chips.
Uses and Properties: Fruits are traditionally used as diuretic and as urinary antiseptic (in case of pyeletis and cystitis), but also as stomachic, carminative and for dyspepsia. Juniper berries are best known for their use in flavouring gin (from genever, the Dutch word for juniper). External applications of the essential oils lead to skin irritation and in consequence to an enhanced blood circulation.
Active Ingredients: The essential oil (up to 2% contains mainly alpha- and beta-pinene (80%), sabinene, limonene, terpinen-4-ol, borneol and geraniol, together with sesquiterpenes (including alpha- and beta-cadinene). Furthermore, phenolics (3-4%) with flavonoids, catechol tannins and proanthocyanins are present in the fruits. The wood contains unusual diterpenes, such as communis acid, sugiol and xanthoperol, as well as sesquiterpenes, lignans (such as the cytotoxic podophyllotoxin).
Pharmacological Effects: Terpinen-4-ol is considered to be the main diuretic compound and is known to be non-irritant. Because of other compounds however, the essential oil is not considered to be a safe diuretic, because it works through irritation of the kidney and may cause hematuria. The phenolic compounds are potentially active as antioxidants and may contribute to some extent to the medicinal value of juniper berry.
Status: Traditional medicine; Pharm.; Comm. E+; ESCOP 3.
Preparation and Dosage: An infusion is made with 0.5 g freshly crushed berries in 150 mL water. Dry extracts of the wood are included in various diuretic and urological teas and preparations. The essential oil from the fruit is sometimes used, or juniper spirit, which is a mixture of 0.5 g juniper oil in 100 g ethanol-water (2:1), containing 0.1% camphor.
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Directions
Stir 1/4 of a teaspoon into a glass of water and consume 3 times daily, with meals.
Cautions
Do not take Juniper Berry if you have a kidney inflammation.
Protracted use of Juniper Berry can irritate and damage the kidneys. Do not use continuously for more than 6 weeks.
Do not take Juniper Berry during pregnancy.
Additional Information
The TerraVita Premium Collection uses only the finest, purest and most potent plant extracts from around the world.
The TerraVita Premium Collection is hallmarked by the highest possible standards of purity, potency, stability and freshness. Our highest possible standards are certified by independent laboratories and backed by our personal guarantee.
The TerraVita Premium Collection is packed in child-proof, tamper-proof pharmaceutical-grade recyclable containers.
ZooScape is proud to be the exclusive distributor of TerraVita teas, herbs and supplements in the United States, Canada and around the world. Please direct all wholesale and bulk inquiries to Simona Heather at 905-494-1785.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Products are intended to support general well being and are not intended to treat, diagnose, mitigate, prevent, or cure any condition or disease. If conditions persist, please seek advice from your medical doctor. The essence of the current American rule on Traditional Uses is, as stated by FTC, "Claims based on historical or traditional use should be substantiated by confirming scientific evidence, or should be presented in such a way that consumers understand that the sole basis for the claim is a history of use of the product for a particular purpose."
