Juniper (Juniperus communis)

Juniper refers to relict plants known since biblical times. In some nations it was considered a symbol of eternal life, believing that it could fight death. In Greek mythology, Jason and Medea fall asleep with the scent of a juniper dragon guarding the golden fleece in Colchis.

The ancient Egyptians burned juniper and inhaled the money for physical and spiritual purification.

The Indians of North America used it to heal wounds and diseases of the skin, bones, joints, they placed the sick in juniper forests, where the air was saturated with volatile substances. Avicenna has recommended juniper as a diuretic.

Junipers were burned in French hospitals during chickenpox epidemics. It has been used everywhere to fight plague and other infectious diseases. In the Middle Ages, various properties of juniper were discovered, which are still used successfully today.

In Russia, the first printed report on the properties of juniper appeared in 1772 in the magazine "Economic Store". Later, juniper was officially included in the State Pharmacopoeia. In Russia, in ancient times, it was believed that juniper could prevent snake bites. So they carried small bags of juniper seeds around their necks. Juniper branches were consecrated on Palm Sunday in churches and placed on icons. It was believed that this was protection not only from evil spirits, but also from lightning and fire. In the time of Dimitar Donski it was customary to go to the bathroom not only with birch but also with juniper brooms, in which dry nettle stalks were woven. "For a healthy spirit", the housewives scraped the warm ashes from the stoves with juniper brooms, thus cleaning the "malicious flies" and mosquitoes. In Crimea, in order to protect their belongings from moths, they put pieces of fragrant juniper wood in the crates with leather and woolen clothes.

At the end of the last century, juniper oil, obtained from branches and fruits, was used to sterilize "catgut" - the surgical sutures used to suture wounds during operations.

In folk medicine, this plant plays a very special role. Juniper berries are used as an appetite stimulant, decoctions are drunk for problems with the liver, bladder, kidney stones, inflammation of the fallopian tubes, rheumatism. Raw fruits are consumed for stomach ulcers. Decoction of fruits and twigs is drunk in the absence of menstruation. Many of these recipes come from the recommendations of Sebastian Kneipp. Juniper alcohol is also prepared from the fruits for internal and external use.

In modern scientific medicine, juniper berries are used for edema, as a diuretic, for diseases of the kidneys, bladder and ureters as a disinfectant, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory agent, in the form of tincture in combination with antibiotics and other drugs.

In Poland and Bulgaria, juniper berries are used as a diuretic, in chronic inflammation of the kidneys and bladder, in liver disease, dermatitis, rheumatism.

In France, all parts of juniper are considered to be good for health. It has long been used as a good diuretic.

 In Germany, in addition to the above diseases, the fruits are also used in diseases of the stomach, liver, skin diseases (scabies, lichens, rashes).

Ripe fruits, which are harvested in autumn (September-October), are used as a healthy raw material. The fruits contain 0.5-2% essential oil, which includes mono- and bicyclic monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes (pinene, kadinene, camphene, terpinene, borneol, etc.). In addition, sugar (up to 40%), resins (up to 10%), fats, pectin (pectosans), organic acids (malic, formic, acetic), dye - uniperine, vitamin C, wax were found in the fruit. Podophyllotoxin with antitumor activity has been isolated from juniper berries.

According to scientists, this is one of the most promising substances for the creation of anti-cancer drugs. Juniper essential oil is used for abrasions in rheumatism, paralysis, gout, neuralgia, polyarthritis, trichomoniasis. Juniper has long been used in cosmetology in many countries around the world. With its help they helped with baldness, they strengthened the hair.

Juniper cream

We are often bothered by unpleasant pain in the back, joints and muscles, pain from stretched tendons, injuries, inflammation of the tendons and joints. For such cases, the company VIVASAN recommends juniper cream - a fast-acting analgesic herbal anti-inflammatory agent.

The active components of the cream are essential oils of juniper, mountain pine, eucalyptus, soybean oil, methylnicotinate. liquid paraffin.

Juniper essential oil together with derivatives of vitamin B3 methylnicotinate dilates blood vessels, improves blood circulation and speeds up metabolism. Due to these effects, the cream quickly reduces pain and creates a feeling of warmth.

The original composition of the cream ensures its rapid penetration and high concentration in the center of pain and inflammation. The cream has a disinfectant effect on the respiratory system, it is effective for the prevention of colds.

Due to the presence of essential oils of juniper trees - pine, eucalyptus, cypress helps with cough, acute and chronic bronchitis, bronchitis in smokers. It has a cleansing effect on the whole body, strengthens the immune system, removes nervous tension and fatigue.

Soybean oil (soy glycine) is rich in essential fatty acids, restores the epidermal barrier and the skin's ability to retain moisture, and thanks to the presence of tocopherols and phytosterols has a pronounced regenerating effect.

Liquid paraffin is a softening and moisturizing agent, increases the elasticity and turgor of the skin. Removes the unpleasant feeling of tight and dry skin and protects it from the harmful effects of the environment and household chemicals. Together with cetearyl alcohol binds water, retains moisture in the skin.

Sportsmen need a cream to relieve pain in case of possible injuries and sprains. It can also be used as a foot cream, as it has an antifungal effect, stimulates blood circulation and eliminates the "cold feet" syndrome.

       Indications (for prevention):

. diseases of the joints: rheumatism, osteochondrosis, gout, arthrosis - the cream is applied to the affected joints and rubbed with light massaging movements;

. neuralgia, myositis - used during and after massage;

. in case of sports injuries - for anesthesia the place of the injury is immediately smeared;

. chronic bronchitis, bronchitis in smokers - rubbing the back and chest;

. frequent colds on the background of reduced immunity - if there are no contraindications, rub the back and chest;

. "Cold feet", unpleasant odor, fungus - applied 1-2 times a day;

. hypertension - in case of high blood pressure it is rubbed on the neck area ("massage collar") and the calves.

How to use: the cream is applied thinly to the appropriate place 1-2 times a day and lightly rubbed in a circular motion. When applied, redness and slight burning are possible, because the cream stimulates the processes of microcirculation. It absorbs quickly, leaves no greasy stains, can be used at any time of the day.

The use of the cream during pregnancy, chemotherapy for cancer, individual intolerance to juniper is not recommended. In exacerbated kidney disease, applying the cream to the lower back is not recommended.

Ingredients: juniper essential oil, mineral oil (liquid paraffin), cetearyl alcohol, mountain pine essential oil, capryline / capric triglyceride, soy glycine, ceteareth-20, perfume, eucalyptus and cypress essential oils, TEA carbomer, methyl nicotate sodium lauryl sulfate, imidazolidinyl urea. Does not contain parabens!