The Unknown Properties and Helpful Benefits of Juniper

All over the world plants fulfil different functions. Among them, those plants that are capable of offering health benefits stand out. Any medicinal property that a plant can provide is always appreciated. One of these well-known plants is the Juniper. In this post, I will tell what the benefits of Juniper are and its medicinal properties. We will also discuss if there are any risks in using it.

Follow

Table of Contents

What Is Juniper?

Juniper (Juniperus communis) is a plant that produces a very peculiar fruit.

Contains many components, such as vegetable oil, and vitamins, among these, vitamin C stands out. 

Juniper can be found in different parts of the world, being abundant in North America, Asia, and Europe.

For many years it has been used to treat various health problems.

It’s also frequently used for garden decoration due to its beauty and size, which precludes its use in the timber industry.

Don’t have time? Pin this post for later!

Juniper Medicinal Properties

The greatest virtue that juniper possesses has to do with its medicinal properties.

All of these have a positive influence on the body:

• Antibacterial: thanks to the presence of oils such as sabinene, limonene, and pinene, the treatment of fungi and bacteria can be facilitated until they are eliminated.
• Anti-inflammatory: it contains essential oils such as myrcene and flavonoids, such as luteolin. All of this help reduce inflammation in different areas of the body.
• Diuretic: essential oils are ideal for increased urine production. Thanks to this, it allows you to clean the body faster.
• Antioxidant: it contains phenolic elements, including bioflavonoids and terpenes. These combat the action of free radicals and limit their effect.
• Analgesic: it reduces body pain when mixed with alcohol. This is achieved thanks to the fact that it contains pinene, linalool, and octanol.

Health Benefits Of Juniper

Since it has so many medicinal properties, it’s natural that many benefits are observed in the body when using it.

We’ll go over some of these below:

Controls Blood Glucose

One of the main benefits of Juniper is that it decreases the amount of sugar in the blood.

As a result, the risk of diabetes is minimised.

A great improvement is noted even in patients who are suffering from glycemia.

To get the most out of it, it’s recommended to consume it in the form of tea.

Takes Care Of The Cardiovascular System

Elements contained in juniper are ideal for protecting the heart, as well as other organs that interact with the nervous system.

These are responsible for quickly reducing inflammation in the area of the body that is affected.

They also serve as antioxidants, an essential function in lowering cholesterol levels.

Increases The Capacity Of The Digestive System

It keeps bile under control and increases the elements that carry out digestion, helping to improve this whole process to a great extent.

Studies have even been carried out proving that juniper helps to improve the condition of the stomach, especially in case of ulcers.

This is because it regulates the amount of acids present in the stomach.

It also increases the speed of protein absorption, which prevents gastric juices from affecting the stomach walls.

Helps The Kidneys

One of the properties of juniper is diuretics.

For this reason, a large amount of liquid can be ingested during use.

The juniper will prevent these liquids from being retained and there will be a constant evacuation.

This method is applied especially in people who have stones or other conditions in the kidneys.

Protects The Skin

With the large number of nutrients it provides to the skin, juniper occupies the first place when it comes to treating it.

All this is due to the union of vitamins such as C and protective components.

After using it, the skin does not suffer as much from free radicals and its condition and appearance improve considerably.

Thanks to its antiseptic capacity, it helps to eliminate the appearance of herpes, acne, and other similar diseases.

How To Use Juniper

There are at least 4 ways in which juniper can be used and make the most of its properties.

Let’s talk about them right away:

• Tea: 3 berries must be placed in hot water. After it cools down a bit, strain it to consume it. This must be done daily for at least a month and a half.
• Tincture: it should not be ingested in this form. To prepare it, at least 10 berries are used in a glass of alcohol. After covering it tightly, shake the container once a day for a week. After that period, it can be applied topically to the affected area.
• Essential Oil: It can be used topically for respiratory infections, fatigue, muscle aches and arthritis.
• Ointment: its preparation is a little more complicated, so it’s recommended to obtain it in pharmacies or from qualified herbalists. It’s ideal for muscle pain and similar discomfort.

Risks And Contraindications Of Juniper

Since it is a natural product, its risk is very low.

Of course, if the recommended quantity or exposure time is abused, symptoms such as respiratory conditions, and skin irritation may appear.

There may even be a lack of control over sugar levels in the body.

It’s extremely important to use it according to the recommendations that we have discussed in this post.

Having said that, juniper is contraindicated for the following groups of people:

Pregnant women: due to how strong its effect on the body can be, especially on the fetus, it should be avoided during pregnancy.

Children under 10 years: to avoid affecting their digestive and respiratory systems, juniper should not be used in them, regardless of the presentation of the product.

Final Thoughts

Juniper is a great herb, useful to treat many ailments, yet it’s not widely popular amongst those who choose a more natural way of living.

As it has excellent effects on adults, it’s always recommended to have at least a little juniper available in its different forms for different uses.

Did you like it? Pin this post for later!

FAQs

Have I missed something? Let me know on Twitter!