Juniper
I consider juniper to be one of the most curative of the herb simples. Almost all the parts have some healing power, but I particularly like to use the berries. The berries are gently stimulant and diuretic, and impart to the urine a smell of violets. The berries contain a yellow oil which can act beneficially on the kidneys, and in our family experience is very useful in reducing any tissue swelling. You can obtain about an ounce of the oil from about forty berries.
Juniper is exceptionally cleansing and can be used in combination with most other herbs, except in the case of fever control.
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To use, crush an ounce of the bruised berries in a pint of boiling water, and drink that tea over the course of twentyfour hours. Or make up a tincture of the berries in vodka or gin (there are juniper berries in gin). Steep for a week or more, then strain out the berries. Use a teaspoonful, well diluted in water, several times a day.
For flatulence, use the juniper berry cure . Externally, the tincture can be applied to any painful swellings. Or the bruised berries may be applied in
the form of a healing poultice to help relieve neuralgic pains, rheumatic pains, or swellings.
For rheumatism try making up a strong tea of the needles, wood, or bark, and take frequent baths in this juniper. This treatment can be used at any age, and for chronic resistant rheumatism.
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