The medicinal power of juniper has been known for a very long time. They love this plant for its beauty, its unique ability to purify air from pathogens, and the surrounding area from winged blood-sucking insects. But most of all, juniper is valued for its ability to treat various diseases.
Healing properties of the plant
Juniper belongs to the genus of coniferous evergreens, and it has a lot of varieties. Due to its unpretentiousness and a variety of shapes and shades, the shrub is popular among landscape designers who use it to decorate both urban park areas and private gardens. However, few juniper lovers are aware of its medicinal properties that can treat various ailments. Moreover, not only blue-black pineal-shaped fruits are used, but also other parts of the plant.
- Juniper berries. The most valuable thing in them is the essential oil, which is used to treat urolithiasis and digestive disorders, while the berries can be chewed just like that.
- Root, bark and juniper wood. These parts of the plant contain substances that contribute to the normalization of the intestines and lower acidity in the stomach. It is very useful to use juniper bath brooms for healing the body.
- Needles of juniper. It is used to prepare various tinctures and decoctions, which are used to treat nervous disorders, diseases of the respiratory system and as lotions for skin ailments. Another option for the use of needles is soothing juniper baths with the addition of coniferous broth.
Juniper use cases
Juniper has many medicinal properties. Among them, for example, are analgesic and antispasmodic, hemostatic, expectorant, and soothing effects. Due to this vast field of application, many dosage forms are obtained from juniper.
- Essential oil. It is used both in folk recipes in combination with other medicinal plants, and in cosmetology.
- Juniper rollers. Special pillows stuffed with the shavings of this plant are very useful for headaches, insomnia and joint problems.
- Juniper tar. Get it by distilling dry wood. Tar can be added during inhalation, compresses and lotions, and also used for anti-inflammatory purposes to treat wounds.
- Decoctions and infusions. Brewing needles or fruits is useful for diseases of the urinary system, as well as for the prevention of general strengthening of the body.
- Juniper fruits. In dried form, these fruits are sold in pharmacies, packaged in bulk or in bags.
- Juniper tincture. This tincture can be prepared on alcohol, vodka or moonshine at home.
We will tell you more about such a universal miracle remedy as juniper tincture, its use for various diseases, as well as cooking recipes.
The benefits of tincture
We talked about the medicinal properties of juniper. The same effect for all of the listed diseases persists even if you prepare tincture from this plant.
There are a lot of application options for tincture, which makes it the most popular option for using fruits and juniper needles. Apply it inside, separately or in combination with other herbs; externally, in the form of lotions or compresses; add to inhalation for respiratory diseases.
It should be noted that juniper is used for the preparation of alcoholic beverages, for example, juniper gin. At the same time, drinks have a pronounced taste and amazing aroma.
To whom is juniper tincture contraindicated?
Despite the usefulness of taking juniper tincture, if used improperly, it can harm the body.
- Do not take tincture for pregnant and lactating mothers. It is better to make your choice in favor of decoctions and infusions.
- Juniper has a strong diuretic effect, so tincture is contraindicated in kidney disease. Irritation of the kidneys also causes too long a reception.
- When taking juniper tincture inside, there is a strong rush of blood to the digestive tract. Therefore, it can not be used for diseases of the stomach or intestines.
- Do not exceed the dosage - this can lead to poisoning of the body!
Vodka tincture
The most popular juniper tincture recipes - using vodka. Let's consider some of them.
Recipe 1. Tincture of juniper on vodka with honey. This recipe is perhaps the easiest. We wash 10 grams of juniper berries, pour a liter of vodka. Add 50 grams of honey and insist ten days. Take this tincture to strengthen the body in a spoon twice a day, preferably before meals.
Recipe 2. Tincture of vodka with spices. For this cooking method we will need: 50 grams of berries, two liters of vodka, ground black pepper 5 grams, 25 grams of salt and 100 grams of dill seeds. We put all the ingredients in a bowl, pour vodka and insist for two weeks, occasionally shaking. Take this tincture should be as described above.
Recipe 3. Classic tincture. It is prepared exclusively using the fruits of juniper and vodka. 200 grams of berries are poured with a liter of vodka and insist in the dark and warm for 3 weeks. Then the tincture is thoroughly filtered through cheesecloth and cleaned for two weeks in the refrigerator. After that, it is completely ready for use: 50 ml twice a day.
The benefit or harm of juniper tincture on vodka for a particular disease can only be assessed by a doctor, so be sure to consult a specialist before taking it.
Alcohol tincture
The alcohol tincture of juniper tastes very much like juniper gin. To cook it at home, follow the instructions:
- We take 610 ml of alcohol of 90%. Divide it into two parts. We dilute the first with 70 ml of water and pour 25 g of juniper berries. And the second one is also diluted with water, but we put cumin and coriander in it (2 teaspoons of both).
- Insist both parts should be separate, within 5 days. And do not forget to shake containers periodically while mixing the contents.
- The next step is filtration and distillation. Before distilling both parts separately, dilute each with water so that the volume increases one and a half times.
- The resulting liquids must be mixed and further diluted with a liter of boiled water.
- Insist the finished drink in the refrigerator for a week. After that, it is ready for use.
Moonshine tincture
Juniper tincture on moonshine differs from vodka in its strength. However, it is used in the same cases as the tincture of vodka.
Recipe 1. Two parts of moonshine are taken for one part of the berries, that is, two liters of moonshine will go for 1 kg of juniper fruit. Before pouring the berries, they should be carefully crushed. After adding moonshine, we insist for two weeks, after which we distill until a quarter of the liquid evaporates. It is better to pour the finished tincture into dark glass bottles.
Recipe 2. Ingredients for cooking: moonshine 10 liters, juniper fruit 200 grams, citrus zest (orange or lemon) 30 grams. Pour berries and zest with moonshine, insist for a week, strain. Add five liters of purified water and overtake to a fortress of 40-45 degrees.
Juniper tincture in folk medicine
Juniper berry tincture is very often used in the treatment of many diseases using alternative methods. For example, with radiculitis and rheumatism. In the first case, tincture is added to a warm bath (3-4 tablespoons), or therapeutic compresses are made. To get rid of rheumatic pains, a couple of spoons of tincture are diluted with hot water, poured into a basin and legs are kept in it.
For diseases of the respiratory tract, you can rinse with tincture of juniper. And with bronchitis, hot milk with one teaspoon of tincture and honey will help.
With pyelonephritis, a mixture of decoction of knotweed herb and juniper tincture will help. Add a teaspoon of tincture to one glass of broth, take 2-3 glasses a day.
If you are concerned about a boil, you can accelerate its maturation with a mixture of grated potatoes, chopped sorrel and tincture, which must be applied to the sore spot for 10-15 minutes.
Use in cosmetology
Tincture on juniper berries is also popular in cosmetology.
- Healthy skin. To make your skin clean and get rid of acne, blackheads and other irritations, a wonderful mask with juice of viburnum, onion and tincture will help you (all in equal proportions). The main thing is to do it regularly, 2-3 times a week.
- Thick hair. Hair loss is a very common problem. To strengthen the hair follicles, use the following method: rub the mixture of tincture and garlic juice into the roots of the hair. You can add your balm to it. Hold the mask for half an hour, then rinse your hair thoroughly with shampoo. Perform this procedure once a week.
Remember that before using juniper tincture for medicinal or cosmetic purposes, you must make sure that you do not have any allergies to any of the components contained in it. To do this, before using tincture on a large surface of the body, apply a couple of drops on the elbow. If within half an hour no reaction has manifested, you can safely use this wonderful remedy.