Juniper Berry
Juniper berries were burnt as incense by the ancient Greeks and by the North American indigenous people in their cleansing ceremonies.
The Europeans thought of Juniper Berry oil as a cure-all for cholera and typhoid. It was also used in the 10th century by the Vikings to make beer and by the Dutch in the 17th century to make gin. Most of Juniper Berries come from France, Austria, northern Italy, and Bulgaria.
Juniper Berry (Latin name Juniperus Communis) is a crisp, somewhat strong scented essential oil and just a small amount adds a crispness to the sweeter floral and citrus blends. Juniper Berry is an evergreen shrub that grows to approx. 6 ft. tall and has bluish-green needles.The berries change to a dark blue color after 2-3 years and are steam distilled to make the resinous smelling essential oil.
Juniper Berry essential oil may be useful for:
skincare
feelings of stress or anxiety
muscular pain
bruising or swelling
feelings ofatigue
Emotionally & spiritually, Juniper Berry is all about transformation. Releasing anything in your life that doesn't resonate with you, as you continue to evolve into who you are choosing to be.
Contraindications: Avoid if pregnant or have kidney issues. May irritate sensitive skin. Always dilute essential oil before topical use. For ages 4 & up
My Blog is for general information only & is not meant to diagnose or replace medical advice.
Essential Oils are for external use only & should always be diluted before topical use.My blog doesn't include all of the contraindications or possible interactions that may occur.
References:
Battaglia Salvatore. The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy. 2nd edition, The International Centre of Holistic Aromatherapy, Australia, 2003
Davis Patricia. Aromatherapy an A-Z. New revised edition, Vermilion, an imprint of Edbury Publishing, a Random House Company, 2005
Lawless. Julia. The Encyclopedia of Essential Oils, Thorsons, 2002
Tisserand, Robert, & Rodney Young, Essential Oil Safety, 2nd Edition, Churchill Livingstone, 2014
http://www.vikinganswerlady.com/food.shtml
http://www.ginvodka.org/history/ginHistory.asp