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| Departments » Herbal Medicine » Materia Medica » Juniperus communis |
Note - the monographs are provided for informational purposes only, and are not to be used for self-medication.
Juniperus communis (Juniper Berries)
| Botanic Name | Juniperus communis L. |
| Common Name | Juniper Berry, Common Juniper, Genevrier, Ginepro, Enebro, Germeiner Wachholder 1 |
| Family | Cupressaceae (Conferae) |
| Parts Used | The ripe, carefully dried fruits (berries) 1 |
| Habitat | Throughout the northern hemisphere from warm to polar regions, preferring heaths, moorlands and chalk downs. 2 |
| Constituents | Volatile
oil (including pinene and camphine) 2
Resin 2 Bitter principle (juniperin) 2 Antitumour agent (podophyllotoxin) 2 Flavonoids 2 Tannins 2 Invert sugar 4 Organic Acids 4 |
| Actions | Diuretic 4
Antiseptic 4 Carminative 4 Antirheumatic 4 Urinary antiseptic 2 Increasing elimination of acid metabolites 2 Stimulates uterine contractions 2 |
| Applications | Infections
of urethra, bladder, and ureter (Cystitis) 2
Gouty and other arthritic conditions associated with the accumulation of acid wastes 2 Gastric conditions associated with reduced gastric secretions 2 Colic and flatulent digestive problems 2 Pain in the joints and muscles (topically) 4 |
| Dosage | MEDIUM dose
herb
Dried ripe fruit: 1 – 2 gm tds 2 |
| Combinations | Althaea officinale, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi to counter irritability. 9 |
| C/I Cautions | Not to be
used during pregnancy 5
Not for use exceeding four to six weeks in succession 5 Contraindicated in inflammatory kidney disease 5 Concerns with conditions involving inflammed kidneys are said to be derived from the usage of the Volatile Oil and not the whole plant extract and thus may be erroneous. [Khoury] |
| BHP S/I | Cystitis in the absence of renal inflammation 6 |
References
- Grieve, M., A Modern Herbal, Tiger, Great Britain, 1994.
- Mills, S., The Complete Guide to Modern Herbalism, Thorsons, Great Britain, 1994.
- Bradley, P.R.(Ed.), British Herbal Compendium Volume I, British Herbal Medicine Association, 1992.
- Hoffmann, D., The New Holistic Herbal, Element, Dorset, 1990.
- McGuffin, M., Hobbs, C., Upton, R., Goldberg, A., American Herbal Products Association - Botanical Safety Handbook, CRC Press, 1997.
- British Herbal Medical Association, British Herbal Pharmacopoeia 1983, British Herbal Medical Association, 1989.
- Motram, L., Herbal Materia Medica Course Notes, 1983.
- Willard, T., The Wild Rose Scientific Herbal, Wild Rose College of Natural Healing Ltd, Alberta, Canada, 1991.
- Priest, A.W. and Priest, L.R. Herbal Medication. A Clinical and Dispensary Handbook. London: L.N. Fowler & Co. Ltd.
- Brockhampton Press, Guide to Herbal Remedies, Brockhampton Press, London, 1996.
- Lust, J., The Herb Book, Bantam Books, USA, 1974.
- Singh Y. N., Blumenthal, M., Kava culture, then & now, Herbs for Health, Vol 2, No 6: 56-60, 1998.
- McCaleb, R., Herbal Help for Prostate Problems, Herbs for Health, Spring/Summer 1996, pp 26- 28.