Juniper berry – Juniperus communis

Description

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.