Juniperus communis

Volume I — Special Symptomatology

{Juniper.)

Description.— This is a small evergreen shrub, never attaining the height of a tree, with many very close branches, the extremities of which are smooth and angular. Juniper is common to Europe and this country, growing in dry woods and hills, and flowering in May. The fruit, or berries, are the officinal parts; those which are imported from the southern parts of Europe are the best. The American berries possess less virtue, and are seldom employed. Juniper berries are about the size of currants, of a purplish-black color, shrunken, marked at the top with a tri-radiate groove, and at the base with bracteal scales; they contain three seeds.

Their odor is peculiar, terebinthinate, and aromatic, and their taste terebinthinate and sweetish, succeeded by some bitterness. These qualities are due to an essential oil, which may be obtained by distillation with water. They yield their properties to hot water or alcohol.

Officinal, Preparations. — (1) Tincture of the berries; (2) dilutions from the Oil of Juniper. (Infusion of the berries.) [If the Juniperus Virginiana is used, the tincture must be made from the leaves and terminal twigs, as it is prepared from the Juniperus Sabina.]

Analogues.— Apis, Barosma, Cannabis, Oopaiva, Cubebs, Equisetum, Galium, Sabina, Terebinth.

Great flow of limpid urine of low specific gravity. ° Scanty, dark, scalding urine, with pain in the bladder and kidneys.

0 Gonorrhoea, gleet, leucorrhoea, cystorrhoea. ° Dropsy, not caused by organic disease; (a palliative in incur able dropsy.)

(See Therapeutics, Vol. II.)

Volume II — Special Therapeutics

I have often wondered why our school did not make some use of the Juniper. The Juniperus sabina, which is erroneously called “ Sabina” in our Materia Medica, has a recognized value in our

therapeutics. That species is a native of Europe, but the Juniperus Virginiana of this country is considered by botanists as identical with the European species. The Juniperus communis and a variety, the Juniperus procumbens, possess similar properties, but in a less degree.

If I wished to differentiate between the Juniperus sabina and Juniperus communis, I should say that the former has a greater affinity for the generative organs, while the latter affected in preference the urinary organs. Both, however, have similar properties; both affect the uterus and kidneys. It is not so much a difference of mode of action as a difference of degree of action. I have known cases of dysmenorrhoea and uterine haemorrhage cured by the common Juniper, and I have treated some kidney and bladder difficulties with Sabina. The popularity of pure gin in dysmenorrhoea is owing to the effects of the oil of Juniper berries which it contains. In domestic practice, an infusion of Juniper leaves and berries is used successfully in amenorrhoea and dysmenorrhoea, as well as retention, suppression, and other urinary troubles.

In some cases of dropsy, a tincture of the berries, or the oil of Juniper, will act on the kidneys favorably after the failure of other medicines.

I would suggest that we use the Juniperus Virginia by the side of the Sabina, in order that we may test their relative value and their similarity. I do not believe their curative effects will differ.

We ought to have provings of the common Juniper, and give it a place in our Materia Medica. (See Allen’s Encyclopedia, vol. x, p. 554.)

I would also suggest that the tincture be made from equal parts by weight of the fresh berries and green leaves. The oil of Juniper of commerce is made from the berries alone.

I have an idea that a plant or tree, so far as relates to ics medicinal qualities, is a unit, i.e., a tincture of oneactive portion of it does not represent all the virtues inherent in the plant. Some portions of a plant or tree are inert, but I would mix the other portions and make a tincture of all.

We should then have in that officinal preparation a representation of the whole plant ; of all its medical power and qualities.

The tincture of Sabina, of our pharmacies, is made from the

leaves alone. This probably accounts for its preference of action on the uterus. If the berries formed an equal part of the tincture, we would doubtless get its full effects on the urinary organs as

well.

German physicians make much use of Juniper in gastric complaints, in abdominal flatulence, colics, and even in some hepatic affections. I know that the 3X of Oleum juniperus is useful in certain coughs, with scanty urine, loaded with solid matters (urates ?).