Common Juniper

         Description

Common Juniper (Juniperus communis) is a nice evergreen bush that can grow into tree. You can recognize it by its spiky leaves, green and dark blue berries. They are green in the beginning, when they mature green turns into dark blue. That happens every two years, because Juniper blooms in the spring but its berries became ripe  next year in the autumn.

Use

Only dark blue Juniper berries are used (usually dry) for healing, as a spice or for making alcoholic drinks.

In some countries Juniper berries are used for making beer, wine, aromatic vinegar, for giving aroma to gin and other alcoholic drinks.

In the kitchen it is used as a spice for meat and fish. Also for making jam and compote.

         Drying

Juniper berries are dried in the sun or artificial heat.

    
     Healing

Common Juniper is used for digestion, respiratory system, gout, rheumatism, sciatica, disinfection of urinary tract and respiratory system.

     

    When not to use it ?

It shouldn't be used in case of acute urinary infection.

 Pregnant women mustn't use Juniper because it can induce labours.

Juniper shouldn't be used in big amounts because it can be damagin to the kidneys.

         TEA

Tea is made from blue Juniper berries. It is good for digestive and respiratory problems.

To make tea, crush 1 teaspoon of dry berries, pour over them 1 cup of boiled water, cover. Strain after 5-10 min.

Drink 1-2 cups for problems with stomach and intestine.

For respiratory diseases add little bit of honey in a warm tea and drink it right away.

Tea can also be made from young spring sprouts, it is full of vitamins.

Tincture

Tincture is good for digestive problems, rheumatism, gout and sciatica.

It is made from 20g of dark blue Juniper berries and 5dl of alcohol (about 40%). Put the berries in the jar and pour alcohol over . Close it and leave in warm place for 1 week. Shake it from time to time. Strain and pour into bottle.

You can drink it in small amounts for digestive problems. For rheumatism, gout and sciatica rub it on the painful places.

Marigold

Marigold tea is used as a remedy for troubles with stomach and bowels; like gastric ulcer, cramps, colon inflammation, etc.

It purifies blood, enhances circulation, heals wounds, is used for liver diseases, diarrhoea. Helps with bacterial infection and virus diseases.

To make tea put one teaspoon of dry marigold (Calendula officinalis) in a cup of boiled water, stir and cover. After 2 minutes strain it, half a minute if the herb is fresh.

Marigold can also be used as a cream, tincture, fresh herb, bath, etc. Cream made from marigold is very useful to have in the house for what ever is necessary (more is said in post Excellent herbal remedy for skin).

Marjoram

Marjoram as a herbal remedy is used for troubles with stomach, bowles and bile. It also helps with nerve diseases, allergies and cold with coughs.

Marjoram is a well known spice for pasta, potatoes, wine and etc. can be planted in the garden or pot whether you want to use it as a cure or spice. It is rather easy to find and buy its seeds or small plants for planting.

For tea put 1 teaspoon in a cup of boiled water, stir and cover. After 2 minutes (or if you prefer 5 or 10 minutes) strain it. Some people recommend 2 tablespoons to leave for 5 minutes.

Walnut tincture

Tincture made from green walnuts (Juglans regia) purifies stomach, liver and blood.

It also removes stomach weakness and it's good for bowles and against blood thickening.

Drink 1 teaspoon of walnut tincture when necessary.

Recepie

To make tincture, take about 20 green walnuts (picked around mid June), cut them into quarters and put in a glass jar. Pour 1l of alcohol (about 40%) over, so that alcohol comes about 5 cm above nuts.

Close the jar and leave it in the sun or warm place for 14 days or 4 weeks. Shake it sometimes. Then strain and pour into bottles.

This is a recepie from Maria Treben.

Herbal medicine - sage

        Sage (Salvia officinalis) is a herb used as a remedy since ancient times, it growes 30-70 cm high, has purple flowers and greyish-green leaves. Name salvia in latin means that it saves, cures.

        Often sage is used in cooking meals adding flavour to meat, pasta, etc.

        As a remedy it is used to purify blood, and so gives strength to the whole body. Some say if you drink sage tea every day that than is very hard to get sick. Drinking sage tea several times a day can prevent stroke, is good for cramps ( menstrual), it clears respiratory organs and stomach from mucus, is good for digestion, appetite, diarrhoea.

        Has a good affect on liver and problems relating to it. It is used for diseases of spinal cerebral, gland problems and trembling limbs.

        Fresh leaves can be put on insect bites to relese pain or iching.

        I found it very good for tooth ache and other dental problems. For this take some tea in your mouth and hold it in for a while then spit and repeat at least once more. After few hours you can repeat this process if necessary. In some cases this helps almost instantly.

It is also good for sore throat drinking it or rinsing  the throat and then spiting.

Making sage tea

To make tea in one cup (2dl) of boiled water put one teaspoon of dry sage, stir and leave it covered for 2 minutes, or half a minute if you are using fresh leaves, than strain it.

For some diseases one needs to drink tea several times a day for some period of time to see a result, sometimes sip by sip. Drinking tea sip by sip means that you make tea,  then drink a sip and after some time ( 15-30 minutes, or so) take another, and repeat this until you run out of tea. This can be done with one cup of tea or more (2-4 cups) depending on the disease for witch you are drinking it.

It is best to drink fresh tea, not to hot and not to „old“.

Herbs are an excelent way to give strength to your body and mind they cure some diseases and with others they reduce the symptoms. Take this gift of nature because of it chemical content, or a godsent, or looking at everything as one; what ever of this reasons are valid to you.