Juniper fruit

Juniper fruits are represented by a juicy berry-like cone. The fruits of the common juniper tree have medicinal properties, other representatives of this species are poisonous. Medicinal juniper has spherical berries, bluish-black in color with a waxy coating. The pulp has a pronounced aroma, the taste is sweet and spicy. Berries are collected in the fall, for the purpose of independent preparation, the berries are dried in an open space or in dryers, but the temperature should not exceed 30 degrees.

The medicinal substances contained in the fruits have a multifaceted effect - they relieve inflammation, act as a natural antibiotic, improve metabolism and act as diuretics, which is especially important for high blood pressure. Decoctions, tinctures, syrups are prepared on the basis of the berries, they are added as a seasoning for meat dishes, put into syrups, kvass, and berries are consumed fresh in small quantities.

A decoction of the fruits and young shoots is used for health baths. It helps relieve skin itching, irritation, and has a beneficial effect on the respiratory system. During flu and acute respiratory infections, even fumigate the room with juniper - this partially disinfects the air and gets rid of viruses and bacteria.

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Indications juniper fruit

Indications for use are varied, the berries have a pronounced effect in different directions and act as:

• Diuretic
• Antihypertensive agent
• Antidiabetic agent
• Antiviral agent
• Anti-inflammatory, expectorant
• Antiallergic agent

Juniper tea helps with digestive problems, diseases of the lungs, bronchi, trachea. In addition, tea has a positive effect on kidney function, is effective in diseases of the urinary tract.

Juniper berry syrup helps remove harmful substances from the body, strengthens the nervous system, has a tonic effect during high physical and mental stress, and vitamin deficiency.

A decoction of juniper berries has proven itself to be effective in kidney diseases, kidney stones, liver problems, inflammation of the appendages, rheumatoid arthritis, and heart disease. Also, for oral infections and gastric ulcers, you can chew a berry a day (according to the scheme). For rheumatoid arthritis and gout, baths and wraps based on a decoction of juniper berries are recommended. But before using the berries to treat a particular disease, you need to consult a doctor.

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Release form

Release form - ripe fruits of the juniper tree (Baccae Juniperi, Fructus Juniperi). Sold in 50 g, packaged or in boxes. Also used in medicine are juniper rhizome, root wood and young juniper shoots. The most common form of release is juniper berries, they contain a lot of glucose and fructose, resin, malic, formic, acetic acid, wax, mineral salts, as well as phytoncides and other compounds that are no less useful for the body. The fruits are used to make juniper oil, which is actively used as an additional component in a complex of drugs for the treatment of skin diseases, rheumatic pain; as an active substance in inhalation mixtures for colds and other diseases of the respiratory system.

Essential oil based on juniper berries is used as an additional therapeutic agent for diseases of the respiratory system, and the essential oil also helps cleanse the body of toxic compounds, salt formations of uric acid. It also has a beneficial effect on the outflow of bile, acts as an anti-inflammatory agent for chronic inflammatory pathologies of the genitourinary system in women, and also normalizes blood circulation.

Juniper berries can be eaten raw, brewed as tea, made into decoctions and infusions, syrups and tinctures.

Pharmacodynamics

Pharmacodynamics is expressed in the beneficial effect of the components on the body as a whole and its individual systems. Depending on the prepared product, the scheme of action of the main active substance also changes.

Juniper decoction (mainly decoction of berries) has proven itself as an effective remedy for the treatment of urinary tract diseases (urolithiasis, etc.), liver diseases, rheumatic pain, inflammation of the fallopian tubes and ovaries in women. The decoction can be used only in the non-acute stage of the disease.

Eating fresh berries has a bactericidal effect on diseases of the oral cavity and stomach. When eating fresh berries, a special regimen is prescribed: 1st day - 4 fruits, 2nd day - 5, 3rd - 6 and so on until 12 days, after which reduce the daily dose of berries by 1 each day.

Juniper berry syrup is useful for vitamin deficiency, especially in the autumn-spring period, with prolonged nervous and physical overstrain, as it improves memory and increases the overall tone of the body. The syrup is irreplaceable as an addition to the main therapy in the treatment of colds, bronchitis, as well as their prevention. In addition, the syrup can be used to cleanse the body of toxins and to reduce the level of cholesterin.

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Pharmacokinetics

Pharmacokinetics has not been studied in detail, therefore there is no information on the kinetic patterns of chemical and biological processes in the human body.

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Dosing and administration

The method of application and dosage of juniper depends on the form in which the medicine will be taken. An infusion of juniper berries is prepared at the rate of: 10 grams of ground berries per 200 ml. of boiling water. The berries are placed in an enamel or glass container, filled with water and heated in a water bath for about 15-20 minutes. Then the resulting broth is cooled for 45 minutes, after which the broth is filtered, the sediment in the form of fruits is squeezed out. The resulting broth is finally diluted with warm boiled water to the required volume, 200 ml. The finished medicine can be used for no more than two days, in a dark, cool place. The resulting medicine is taken orally 1 tablespoon 3-4 times a day, strictly after meals.

You can also eat juniper berries fresh, but strictly follow the instructions. On the first day, chew 4 berries, on the second - 5 berries, and continue until the twelfth day of intake, then reduce the daily dose by one berry. But it is important to remember that the period of treatment with juniper should not exceed 45-60 days, since long-term use can provoke the development of renal failure and serious poisoning.

The method of application and dosage should also be clarified with the attending physician and self-medication should not be undertaken, which can cause irreparable harm to health.

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Use juniper fruit during pregnancy

Use during pregnancy is quite controversial, since the active substances contained in the berries can adversely affect the developing fetus and cause pregnancy loss. It is not allowed to independently consume either fresh fruits or medicinal forms that contain its fruits - infusions, syrup, tea, dishes seasoned with juniper berries. Often during pregnancy, women develop inflammatory processes in the kidneys, which is very dangerous, as it can provoke the development of renal failure, severe intoxication, swelling, hypertension. If you also consume a decoction of berries and other drugs based on it, then renal bleeding may begin, which can lead to a serious condition and loss of pregnancy.

Also, essential oils and active substances contained in juniper berries lead to vascular hypertonicity and blood flow to the pelvic organs, which is undesirable at any stage of pregnancy. Intensive blood flow to the pelvic organs leads to uterine bleeding, increased uterine tone, and this is the most common cause of termination of pregnancy. In order not to lose the pregnancy and not to harm the health of the child and your own, the use of juniper berries during pregnancy should be completely excluded.

Contraindications

Contraindications, even despite the positive effect of the components on the body as a whole, still exist. First, you need to know which types of juniper are non-toxic so that the collected medicine does not turn into poison. In total, about 70 types of juniper are known, and only one of all the presented types has medicinal properties. To avoid such problems, it is best to buy the fruits in pharmacies.

It is also contraindicated in some diseases, as it can provoke a complicated course, which is unacceptable in some diseases. Thus, the use of juniper fruits is contraindicated in acute diseases of the urinary system - cystitis, pyelitis, nephritis; in pathologies of the duodenum, peptic ulcer, gastritis and colitis. With prolonged use of juniper-based drugs, blood clotting decreases, which can provoke hemorrhage and irritation of the renal parenchyma. To avoid this, taking juniper-based drugs should not last more than 45-60 days.

Also, in no case should you self-medicate or start using juniper-based medications without notifying your doctor. Some diseases, for which juniper is completely contraindicated, may proceed without severe clinical manifestations, and after taking the medication, they may worsen or lead to death.

Side effects juniper fruit

Side effects of juniper develop in exceptional cases. As a rule, if the dosage is observed and there are no contraindications, serious side effects can be avoided. You should not take juniper berries, medicinal forms and preparations based on juniper on your own decision, without informing your doctor. You cannot take juniper-based medications if you have a history of:

• diseases of the urinary system in the acute period (nephritis, nephrosis-nephritis);
• gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer;
• inflammation of the colon mucosa;
• pregnancy. During pregnancy at any stage, taking juniper is unacceptable, as it affects the intensity of blood circulation in the pelvis. Increased blood flow, in turn, can provoke severe uterine bleeding and cause pregnancy loss.
• allergic reactions and individual intolerance to medicinal products based on juniper berries.

Poisoning is also possible when taking a large dose. The first signs: the stomach and throat begin to hurt, vomiting with blood streaks appears, intestinal upset, strong urination associated with the effect of juniper berry components on the renal parenchyma. In especially serious cases, renal failure, convulsions, and impaired consciousness may develop.

Also, any juniper-based medications should not be taken for more than 45-60 days. Long-term use is fraught with bleeding and damage to the renal parenchyma, so before starting to take it, you should consult a doctor.

Overdose

Juniper overdose can be observed when the intake scheme is violated and uncontrolled use of medicinal forms based on juniper or its fruits in fresh form. As well as overdose, prolonged schematic use of medicinal products based on juniper (more than two months) is the cause of the development of kidney dysfunction, which at the initial stage manifests itself in the form of irritation of the parenchyma of the kidney body, which in a short time leads to bleeding and hematuria.

• first signs of juniper overdose:
• the appearance of allergic reactions;
• behavioral changes;
• bowel dysfunction, acute diarrhea;
• pronounced tachycardia;
• the appearance of visual and auditory hallucinations;
• convulsions;
• swelling in the wrist and ankle area;
• oliguria, hematuria, urination practically stops.

An overdose also occurs after a single ingestion of not only a concentrated decoction, but also fresh berries in quantities of more than 50 pieces. Symptoms of acute food poisoning: pain in the abdomen, throat, diarrhea, bloody vomiting, frequent profuse urination. In more severe cases, loss of consciousness and muscle spasm are possible. If certain symptoms appear, you should seek qualified help as soon as possible and call a resuscitation team.

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Interactions with other drugs

Interaction of juniper with other medications is possible, but all the nuances of treatment should be clarified with a doctor beforehand. Juniper-based medications and dosage forms are prohibited to be combined with medications that have a toxic effect on the liver, urinary system, as well as medications that irritate the mucous membrane of the stomach, small and large intestines. This is due to the fact that with prolonged use of juniper-based medications, the kidneys often suffer - the renal parenchyma is irritated, which leads to a disruption of the normal excretory function of the kidneys, provokes renal bleeding. In combination, this leads to a gradual disruption of metabolism, water-electrolyte imbalance, which makes it difficult to remove toxins from the body.

Drugs that irritate the gastrointestinal mucosa, when used in parallel with medicinal forms based on juniper, lead to an exacerbation or development of gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer, and aggravate or exacerbate the course of colitis.

The interaction of juniper fruits with other drugs should not be checked individually, but first consult with your doctor. Qualified and timely consultation will be the key to a speedy recovery and will help prevent the development of severe consequences of self-medication.

Storage conditions

The storage conditions for juniper fruits are practically no different from the features of harvesting and storing fruits of other plants. Juniper fruits should be collected in the fall, in the last ten days, when the berries have the highest concentration of resins and nutrients. The collected fruits of the juniper tree are sorted, evenly laid out and dried on natural fabric exclusively in a shady area, under an awning, in dryers, but under a strict temperature regime not exceeding 30 degrees. It is undesirable to dry juniper fruits in ovens - under such conditions, the quality of the prepared product is significantly reduced, and most of the medicinal properties are lost.

Properly prepared juniper berries are slightly rough to the touch, smooth, often shiny. The color is black, sometimes with a brownish-purple tint, waxy coating. The berries have a sweet spicy taste, the smell is slightly sharp, but aromatic. To preserve the aroma of the berries and their taste, the finished dried product should be stored in an airtight box or a darkened glass jar with a tightly screwed lid. It is preferable to store the preparations in a cool place, closed from direct sunlight. Prepared fruits are stored for no more than 3 years, every six months the berries need to be sorted out to exclude the possibility of mold and the development of moth larvae.

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Shelf life

The shelf life is 3 years. After the expiration date, it is better not to use the berries prepared or bought at the pharmacy, as they will contain too few useful substances. As for other medicinal forms prepared on the basis of juniper fruits, their term is even shorter. The decoction can be stored for no more than two days, but it is better to prepare such a quantity of the solution that it is fresh before each use. Freshly prepared decoction has the highest concentration of essential oils, organic acids (malic, acetic, formic), vitamins, phytoncides. Under the influence of oxygen, some of these substances oxidize and gradually deteriorate, which makes the solution not only unhealthy, but also dangerous for the body.

The shelf life of harvested or purchased juniper fruits from a pharmacy may be reduced if they are stored incorrectly. In particular, if they are constantly exposed to sunlight. If the fruits are not stored hermetically and at high humidity, mold may appear on the berries and moth larvae may begin to multiply, which will make the medicinal raw material completely unsuitable. If the fruit is dried again above 30 degrees, the percentage of medicinal substances will also decrease.