Juniperus

The tops, berries and oil of Juniperus communis.

Preparations.—An infusion. Tincture of Juniper. Oil of Juniper.

Dose.—Of the infusion ʒj. to ℥j. Of the tincture gtt. x. to ℥ss. Of the oil gtt. ij. to gtt. v.

Therapeutic Action.—Juniper is diuretic, stimulant, carminative, emmenagogue, diaphoretic. The berries and tops exert an influence upon the system analogous to the turpentine's. The berries act specifically upon the urinary organs, imparting a violet odor to the urine. Taken too freely, they cause irritation of the bladder and heat in the urinary passages; Pisa asserts that their continued use produces bloody urine. They act upon the skin, relieve flatulence, and promote the catamenia. The foregoing effects depend upon the presence of the volatile oil which they contain, which, according to the experiments of Alexander, when exhibited in doses of four drops, is one of the most powerful diaphoretics.

Oil of juniper is diuretic, carminative and diaphoretic, and may be administered to fulfill the same indications as the infusion of the berries.

The American Eclectic Materia Medica and Therapeutics, 1898, was written by John M. Scudder, M.D.