Juniper (Juniperus Communis) Whole Berries

Description ShareTweetPin3LinkedInPrintEmail Juniper (Juniperus Communis) Whole Berries **CAUTION: Pregnant women should not ingest juniper berries because it can stimulate the uterus and cause a pregnancy to abort. HERB COMMON NAME :  Juniper HERB SCIENTIFIC NAME :  Juniperus Communis OTHER NAMES :  Enebro, Gemeiner Wachholder, Geneva, Gin Berry, Ginepro, Gin Plant, Hackmatack, Horse Savin FAMILY :  Cupressaceae ASSOCIATIONS & CORRESPONDENCES : Element: Fire Planet: Jupiter Direction: South Zodiac Sign:  Libra Chakra: 3rd Solar Plexus Chakra (Manipura) Energy: Yang Gender: Masculine Rune: Kenaz, Sigel Tarot:  7 of Cups Sabbat or Holiday: Beltane / May Day / Walpurgis (April 30 – May 1) ; Yule (December 21 – January 1) Deity or God / Goddess Association: Hel, Hole, the Morrigan, Ran, Balder, Loki, Apollo, Asherah, Astarte   Parts Used:  Wood, Leaves, Berries Description:  Juniper berries are harvested from an evergreen tree in the cypress family found throughout temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Although juniper has little lumber value due to its size, its wood is used in northern European countries to construct boxes to house aging cheese. Juniper wood is also used as incense and to smoke meats and cheeses. The berries, which are not berries at all but cones, are used to flavor game meats, breads, sauces and liquors. Juniper berries were once used to flavor Scottish whiskey, and are still used in gin, Swedish beer and a French hops-based beverage called genevrette. Juniper berries have long been used in herbal medicine. The berries of the juniper plant contain chemicals called flavonoids, tannins, and a volatile oil. These constituents are considered the most important and the cause for its ability to help specific problems. Dried, crushed, or powdered berries are used for infusions, tinctures, and decoctions. It was once thought to be the best cure for snakebites and was thought to ward off the plague by ancient people. Juniper berries are most often used as a diuretic and for urinary disorders because the chemicals in the berries irritate the kidneys. This causes them to produce more urine and helps fluid retention and bloating. The juniper berries are usually recommended by herbalists for cystitis. They’re also used for edema unless the edema is caused by a lack of kidney function. In that case, juniper berries would make the condition worse. Juniper is used in arthritis and rheumatism because of its anti-inflammatory and diuretic properties. Juniper may help relieve muscle aches due to excess lactic acid. Topically the essential oil can be used in arthritis, muscle/joint pains, gout and neuralgia. Juniper is used to help cystitis in the absence of renal inflammation. In aromatherapy, juniper berry is used against anxiety, to improve memory and mental clarity, and for sedation. Historical Uses:  diuretic, fluid retention, bloating, cystitis, UTI, urinary tract infection, urinary disorders, antiseptic, carminative, anti-inflammatory, inflammation, bitter, digestive tonic, emmenagogue, anti-rheumatic, rheumatism, rheumatoid arthritis, abortifacient, uterine stimulant, anti-viral, anxiety, memory, mental clarity, sedation, cellulite, gout, neuralgia, muscle pain, joint pain, edema (unless caused by lack of kidney function), snake bites, insect repellant, stomach ache, stomach cramps, sciatica, low appetite, stimulates appetite, stimulates the uterus, causes miscarriages Mystical Attributes:  In the story Red Riding Hood, in the book The Hero of Esthonia, it tells of a mother laying down juniper branches and making the sign of the cross over them to protect her sleeping children from devils. In the story The Compassionate Shoemaker in the same book, the devil is defeated by being struck by a staff of juniper. The Story the Juniper Tree, recorded by the Brothers Grimm, tells of a juniper tree that appears to act as a magical guide and guardian for the people of the household. The spicy warmth of Juniper berries purifies the aura, clarifies thought, and protects from negativity. The leaves are bundled and burned and used as a purifying and protective fumigant to ward off disease. In Scotland, Juniper was burned during the winter holidays for protection from disease that threatened cattle. In Central Europe, Juniper berries and rue were burned on Walpurgis Night to keep away evil spirits. In Siberia, Juniper is used as a fumigant for ritual purification and blessing of sacrifices, ritual objects, and people and animals. Juniper wood is burned during divination. Juniper is also a relatively common ingredient in Kyphi (Kapet), incense used in ancient Egyptian temples and households. It’s also in Fire of Azrael incense, which is made of equal parts of juniper berries, red sandalwood, and cedarwood. Juniper oil, branches or berries are added to anti-theft spells. Frau Wachholder is the goblin of the Juniper tree who may be evoked to help discover a thief by bending the tree’s branches. Pinning a juniper branch under a rock compels a thief to return stolen goods. Juniper is also used in an anti-theft charm combined with elder leaves or mistletoe, caraway, and rosemary. Carry a sprig of juniper with you or keep some berries in your pocket and in your car to protect against thieves. It is said that a juniper shrub or tree is a particularly effective and magical hiding place. Juniper can be added to hiding and invisibility charms. Juniper berries are used in love spells, particularly to enhance male interest and potency. Steep in wine and drink a few sips daily to increase male virility. Steep in vinegar and add it to your bath to make yourself more attractive to men. Juniper berries are carried to increase male potency. Wearing a sprig of Juniper is believed to protect the wearer from accidents and wild animal attacks. Juniper hung at the door protects against evil forces and persons, and it is burned in exorcism rites. Mystical Intentions:  protection from evil, protection from negativity, home protection, purification, cleansing, protection from illness, blessing, fumigation, divination, anti-theft, protection from theft, finding a thief, finding stolen items, invisibility spells, love spells, male virility, male potency, attraction, protection from accidents, protection from animal attack, exorcism, cleanse the aura, mental clarity Taste & Smell:  Juniper has a medium, fresh, green, sweet, fruity, slightly woody, pine needle-like aroma. Botany, Cultivation & Harvesting:  Juniperus communis, a member of the Cupressaceae family, is a shrub or small coniferous evergreen tree, very variable and often a low spreading shrub, but occasionally reaching 10 m tall. It has the largest range of any woody plant, growing throughout the cool temperate Northern Hemisphere from the Arctic south in mountains to around 30°N latitude in North America, Europe and Asia (roughly North Texas in the US). Juniper has green needle-like leaves with a single white stomatal band on the infer surface in whorls of three. It is dioecious, meaning male and female cones grow separate plants, which are wind pollinated. The seed cones are berry-like, green ripening in 18 months to purple-black with a blue waxy coating. The berries (cones) are spherical, 4–12 mm diameter, and usually have three (occasionally six) fused scales, each scale with a single seed. Seeds are dispersed by birds eating the cones, digesting the fleshy scales and passing the hard seeds in their droppings. The male cones are yellow, 2–3 mm long, and fall soon after shedding their pollen in March–April. Juniper succeeds in light woodland but dislikes heavy shade. Established plants are very tolerant of drought. It is frequently grown in as an ornamental and in herb gardens. Juniper grows easily in hot dry soils and in poor soils, so long as they are well drained. Though it prefers a neutral or slightly alkaline soil. It also does well in chalky or heavy clay soils. Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required. The seed requires a period of cold stratification. The seed has a hard seed coat and can be very slow to germinate, requiring a cold period followed by a warm period and then another cold spell, each of 2 – 3 months duration. Soaking the seed for 3 – 6 seconds in boiling water may speed up the germination process. The seed is best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. Juniper berries will take two or three years to ripen, so that blue and green berries occur on the same plant. Only the blue, ripe berries are picked. When collected, they are laid out to dry on shelves. During the drying process they lose some of the blue bloom and the juniper berries develop their more typical blackish color. Whole dried juniper berries and powdered dried juniper berries, should be stored in an airtight container in a cool, dry place. Contraindications & Toxicity: **Pregnant women should not take juniper berries because it can stimulate the uterus and cause a pregnancy to abort. Be careful using juniper oil as it can cause blistering if applied directly to skin. Be sure to thoroughly dilute in a carrier oil. Topically may cause burning, erythema, and inflammation. Taking juniper berry for too long can actually cause kidney problems, so it is important to use it for short-term issues unless directed otherwise by a healthcare provider. Can worsen edema caused by a lack of kidney function. Avoid use with acute kidney infections or kidney disease (nephritits and nephrosis). A key sign that long term use may be irritating the kidneys is albuminuria. Thujone may accumulate and is neurotoxic. Pulse use every 2-3 weeks to avoid.   Constituents: volatile oil (pinene, camphor, cineole, limonene, thujone, borneol, terpinen) condensed tannins diterpenes resin flavonoids (amentoflavone, quercitin, apigenin) glucuronic acid     Sources: https://spiritartsandherbs.com/sources **IMPORTANT INFORMATON: Products are sold as curio items for entertainment purposes only and based upon historical and magical uses.  We do not imply or guarantee that any items provide specific abilities, powers, outcomes, remedies, or treatments. Any information provided on listings or through private conversation is intended for educational purposes only and are based on historical folklore and traditions, and should not replace the advice of a physician. Use our products at your own risk. By purchasing this item, you understand and release Spirit Arts & Herbs Inc from any liability. No items we sell are for internal use and should never be ingested for any reason. Some may also not be safe for topical application, or even be safe to touch while unprotected. Always use proper safety precautions when using our products. We will not be held responsible for illness, injury, or death from the use of any product. PRODUCT IS NOT A TREATMENT. This product has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. CAUTION : Do not use ANY product if pregnant or nursing. Do not use if allergic to any ingredients. Prior to use, consult with your professional health-care provider to ensure safe use and understand effects that ingredients may cause relative to safety, personal conditions, and medication interactions which may be harmful. FOR ADULT USE ONLY. By purchasing, you confirm that you are over 18 years of age. Keep out of reach of children and pets. Do not use more than recommended by your healthcare professional.  Purchase of this product indicates that you have read, understand, and agree to Spirit Arts & Herbs Terms and Conditions. Many of our products are hand made to order. Once orders are in processing, products are non-cancellable, non-refundable, and not returnable. Shipping times may be up to 3-4 weeks. ShareTweetPin3LinkedInPrintEmail Related