climate
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.
soil
Juniper grows easily and succeeds in hot dry soils and in poor soils. Though it prefers a
neutral or slightly alkaline soil juniper grows well in most soils so long as they are well drained.
It also does well in chalky or heavy clay
soils.
growing
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.
harvesting
Juniper berries (technically cones, not true 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.
preserving
Whole dried juniper berries and powdered dried juniper berries, should be stored in an airtight container in a cool, dry place.
juniper berries for fluid retention
Juniper berries have long been used in herbal medicine for problems such as
stomach pain and urinary disorders. It was once thought to be the best cure
for snakebites and was thought to ward off the plague by ancient people.
Today, juniper berries aren’t quite used to the same extent. However, they
do have a place in modern herbal medicine.
The berries of the juniper plant contain chemicals called flavonoids,
tannins, and a volatile oil. These are the ingredients that are considered
the most important and the cause for its ability to heal specific problems.
Juniper berries are most often used as a diuretic. They work so well because
the chemicals in the berries actually irritate the kidneys. This causes them
to produce more urine and as a result, more fluid is taken off of the body.
The juniper berries are usually prescribed by herbalists for kidney problems
such as cystitis. They’re also used for edema—unless the edema is caused
by a lack of kidney function. In that case, juniper berries would only make
the situation worse. In very small doses, you can also use juniper berry to
stimulate your appetite. This is good for someone who’s fighting an illness
that’s causing loss of appetite.
If you’re interested in using juniper berries as a part of your routine,
you’ll want to find them dried, crushed, or powdered. This form of the
berries can be used for infusions, tinctures, and decoctions. You can also
find juniper berries in capsules and tablets. In addition, juniper oil can
be purchased. However, the oil can cause your skin to blister if applied
directly to it. Make sure you don’t touch it at full strength.
Juniper berries can also be used in cooking. Most people find them too
bitter to eat raw, but you may find that you enjoy them that way as well.
They’re dark blue berries that grow all over the world in Europe, Asia, and
North America.
Taking juniper berry for too long can cause kidney problems, so it’s
important to use it for short-term issues unless directed otherwise by a
healthcare provider. Pregnant women shouldn’t take juniper berries because
it can stimulate the uterus and cause a pregnancy to abort.
Juniper berries is a very effective herb when it comes to treating the kidneys
or edema. It’s important to make sure you don’t combine it with any improper
medications and that you don’t use it if you have kidney damage. Speak to
your healthcare provider if you’re not sure if you should use juniper berry.
