Juniper berries - Juniperus communis 100g

What is Juniper?

Juniper berries are a type of berry cone formed by three fused fleshy seed scales. Juniper berries grow on an evergreen coniferous plant called Juniper. One is an upright shrub, tree-shaped or creeping. What separates Juniper from other wild conifers is that the conifers sit three by three in wreaths. Juniper berries grow not only in our country but in many countries north of the equator and are used in more food cultures than Scandinavian. In Sweden, one can be found on slopes, forests, pastures and moors.

What are juniper berries good for?

Since the Middle Ages, juniper has been used both as a medicinal plant and in cooking. Juniper berries are valued primarily for the presence of essential oil, resinous compounds, bitterness, flavonoid glycosides and mineral salts. When ripe, they have a distinct resinous taste and smell.

Thanks to its properties, juniper has expectorant and antiseptic properties.

Dried juniper berries are used in cooking in game dishes, soups, sauces and stews for their aromatic taste. Boil some juniper berries for a few minutes and you get a warming and activating juniper drink.

Crushed juniper berries are used in oil extracts for use in muscle massage oil blends. It is also good to brew an infusion/herbal tea of juniper berries.

Contraindications and side effects

The herb should not be used by people who are hypersensitive to the plant. Pregnant and nursing mothers and children should not use this product.

Avoid juniper berries and juniper oil if you have serious kidney problems, such as inflammation of the kidneys. Already at normal doses, juniper has a strong effect on the kidneys and can cause increased strain on them. People with high blood pressure should also avoid juniper berries.