Crimean juniper: useful properties, types and interesting facts

Totally there are 71 species of juniper. It grows in the territory of a number of countries, including Russia. Today we will talk about those kinds of juniper that grow on the territory of the Crimea. He was nicknamed "Crimean". Very few people know that juniper has many useful properties. There are some contraindications.

What is juniper Crimean? The therapeutic properties of the tree and its contraindications will be described in this article.

Features of the juniper

Juniper grows in deciduous forests, in which sunlight penetrates well. Low creeping species prefer rocks and slopes. Plants love the sun.

A large number of species of juniper does not allow to say exactly how resistant they are to frost. Some species grow well in the harsh climate of the Arctic. Others can survive only in subtropical conditions.

Common Juniper reproduces by seeds. The creeping species reproduces by taps, and rare medical ones - with the help of vaccinations to a species close to them.

The buds of this plant are naked. Scales completely absent. They are surrounded by leaves. The leaves of young plants resemble pine needles. In mature they become like scales.

Juniper berries are scales that closely adjoin each other. As a result, a cone is formed. They are called shishkoyagody. Their maturation occurs the next year after planting.

Those varieties that grow on the territory of Crimea, are called Crimean juniper. These relict plants are incredibly popular among tourists. For a long time we know about their truly unique healing properties.

History of juniper

In Spain, lamb roasted at the stake from a special mixture of gorse and juniper. As a result, the meat acquired a subtle flavor. In France, only the hams that were smoked in juniper smoke were considered to be the best.

Juniper was also used in folk medicine, as well as sanitation. To expel from the house a bad smell, people in a special way fumigated huts, using juniper for this. If the family was sick, the floors must be wiped with the needles of this tree.

In order to have a healthy spirit in the hut, the landladies raked the ashes with special brooms all from the same juniper. It was possible to successfully survive mosquitoes and flies.

In the Crimea in the trunks with things put pieces of juniper wood. This made it possible to save fur clothes from moths.

Ancestors were well aware of the fact that with the help of juniper it is possible to disinfect dishes with success. Women zaparivali krynki for milk juniper. As a result, the product remained fresh for a long time. Also used this tree and for cleaning the cages for mushrooms, cucumbers and cabbage. These techniques have survived to this day.

Juniper of Crimea

In the Crimea the following species grow: red, tall, smelly, hemispherical, Cossack.

Tree-like or tall juniper - a tree with a wide-pyramidal or ovoid roof. The needles are greenish-gray. Fruits in a mature state are violet-black. The trees are majestic and slender. They are completely different from their northern relatives, who traditionally grow a stange.

Smelly juniper looks like a tall one. Shishkoyagoda its larger, brownish-black color. The smell of the plant is not very pleasant.

Juniperus Cossack is a creeping plant. Shrub is a decorative type. Needles are not scaly.

Crimean juniper prefers light. He is not afraid of drought and low temperatures. Very unpretentious to the soil. Blossoms almost in the autumn. Male flowers are yellow spikelets. Women's are like green buds. In their place, then, the buds will appear.

Juniper prickly

Red juniper - red cedar. This tree is 6-8 meters in height. Branches of it are prostrate. The plant is covered with needles that are strongly prickled. Another name for it is the prickly juniper Crimean.

The crown is conical. The bark is smooth. Its color is light brown. The leaves are dense. On them two white longitudinal strips are strongly pronounced. The wood is dense and strong, it does not rot. Various crafts are made from it.

Crimean juniper is an excellent ornamental tree for the southern garden. When dry distillation of wood, juniper oil is obtained. It is an excellent remedy against worms, it helps with skin diseases. Also actively used in the manufacture of cosmetics.

Benefits of juniper

What is the benefit of juniper Crimean? Therapeutic properties and contraindications have been studied for a long time. Now is the time to talk about this. The berries and needles of these trees contain healing essential oils. Their aroma is tart. It is common knowledge that the harmful effects of these substances on microorganisms are pathogenic. Just imagine: only one hectare of juniper is able to allocate for a day as much as 30 kg of phytoncides, destructive for many bacteria. When phytoncides penetrate the lungs and bronchi, they remove all existing inflammations. The use of such forests is undoubtedly useful for asthmatics and people suffering from chronic bronchitis.

Juniper forests contribute to effective air purification. When a person inhales the aroma of trees, the work of the nervous system normalizes. It is possible to remove stress of a stressful nature. The mood improves significantly, the headache goes away, blood pressure comes back to normal. Shortness of breath becomes less, sleep improves, immunity strengthens. If you walk along the juniper grove, your appetite will improve significantly. For excellent digestion, you must drink tea with berries of this plant. Also this drink helps the kidneys work better.

Application of juniper

Juniper berries have been used for a long time. So, in ancient Rome, they were added to wine. This drink was an effective diuretic.

Juniper is used in cooking, cooking vodka and brewing. Everyone knows an alcoholic drink like gin. This is vodka, which insists on the fruits of juniper. Thanks to these fruits, the drink acquires a special taste.

From juniper berries prepare jelly, syrups and kissels. They are also added to alcoholic tinctures. Juniper is also used in the canning industry. Thanks to him, the fish acquires a special flavor and unique taste. Also, the fruits of this tree are added to the dough for gingerbread and pies. They are needed for smell. Cooks use them as a seasoning for game, meat and fish.

Beads from the juniper

Today, junipers make beads. It is used for this semi-spherical or ordinary juniper. The height of this creeping shrub is 60 cm. The bush looks like a circle of regular shape. Beads made from it in the Crimea.

The fragrance of these wonderful woodwork is truly fabulous. Immediately remember the seascapes, the noise of the Black Sea, the air of the mountains. You miraculously move away from the big city and its fuss.

Beads from the Crimean juniper become the basis for various products. They are used for toys on the Christmas tree, rosary, children's toys, a slingshot, car seat lining and warmers. Traditionally juniper beads are used for children's rodents. They are made of natural wood, paint and varnish is missing.

You can find beads from 7 mm to 26 mm. You can choose the preferred form - a cube, an oval, a ringlet, a button.

Skin and hair care

Crimean juniper is often used to care for hair and skin. Essential oils of this plant have a profound effect on the hair follicles and the epidermis (its deep layers). If you stain the branches and root with boiling water, then such a natural conditioner for hair will be most effective.

It is enough to crush juniper berries with a blender and add it to the masks to achieve the ideal skin condition. This active ingredient contributes to the nutrition of the epidermis, and also provides the optimal lifting effect. After the first application it will be possible to see the result.

Contraindications

Juniperus Crimean, useful properties of which were presented to your attention in the article, has some contraindications. This pregnancy, inflammatory processes of acute nature in the kidneys, gastritis in the acute phase, ulcer of the duodenum and stomach. Also, juniper is not recommended for those who have problems with pressure. Contraindicated treatment for them and suffering severe hypertension.

Individual intolerance to this plant is possible. This is a banal allergy. Reactions to needles and fruits are rare. But you should never forget about them at the first treatment. If you go to the area where juniper grows, do not forget to take antihistamines with you. It is necessary to use juniper fruits or a collection for treatment only after consulting a doctor. He will assess the state of your body and, if necessary, will be able to prescribe an alternative medicine.

The intake should be correct and necessarily dosed. The benefit will only be in this case, if you follow the recommendations of specialists. Remember, an overdose can lead to poisoning. As a result, there will be more harm than good. Do not self-medicate. Be healthy!