Juniper Oil

It's a coniferous plant in the cypress family. It has evergreen needle like leaves. The name is derived from the Latin word juniors (young berries). It produces berries which can be orange or red brown but most are blue. It produces cones instead of flowers. It used to be a herb that was used to treat contagious diseases such as cholera.

The juniper oil is extracted from the berries, wood and needles but what's sold is the oil that’s from the berries since its superior. It's a pale liquid with a fresh, sweet but woody aroma. It's extracted by steam distillation from crushed dried ripe fruit.

Uses

1. On the body

v  It aids in digestion. It helps in regulating stomach acid and bile thus easing ulcers and stomach pains. It reduces the effect of the stomach acid on the lining of the stomach. To a cup of hot water add a drop of oil and drink twice daily.

v  It's known for the claiming and relaxing qualities hence eases stress and anxiety.

v  For arthritis and rheumatism add 2-3 drops to one once carrier oil and massage onto the affected areas. This is because

v  To regulate periods and ease cramps mix a carrier oil with 2-3 drops and massage the lower abdomen.

v  For headaches use 8-10 drops in the bath or mix 1 ounce carrier oil with 2-3 drops and massage into the temples. The benefit is increased when lavender is used as the carrier oil.

v  For colds and chest infections use 3-5 drops in hot water and inhale the steam.

v  To alleviate drowsiness and stress related disorders together with anxiety use 8-10 drops in the bath water.

v  It promotes urination by getting rid of excess water thus providing relief to those with urinary tract problems. To use add 3-4 drops of oil into 4 cups of water and drink before

meals to pass kidney stones and relieve bloating.

2. On the hair

v  To prevent hair loss add 3-5 drops to unscented conditioner and apply to the hair. Leave it for 3-5 minutes then rinse. Apply regularly.

3. On the skin

v  It promotes the opening of the pores thus allowing the body to sweat out toxins, excess salt and water. It can be used as a cleanser to remove excess oil from acne and other skin ailments. Add a few drops to unscented scent an apply to the face.

v  It helps in stimulating the circulation of the blood thus keeping the skin healthy and due to this it treats acne because it's a natural toner and kills bacteria.

v  It prevents wrinkles and speeds the healing of wounds and fades scars.

It works well with cedar wood, grapefruit, geranium, lavender and lemon grass.

Precautions

It's non-toxic but due to the fact that it stimulates the uterine muscles it shouldn’t be used during pregnancy. Neither should it be used with people who have kidney problems. Perform a skin patch test to determine if you are sensitive to the oil.