Evidence supporting the use of: Juniper berries
For the health condition: Congestion (bronchial)

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Juniper berries (Juniperus communis) have a long history of use in traditional herbal medicine, particularly in European and Native American systems. Historically, juniper berries were brewed into teas or used in steam inhalations to help alleviate symptoms of bronchial congestion, coughs, and colds. The aromatic oils present in juniper, especially alpha-pinene and other volatile compounds, were believed to help open airways and facilitate the loosening and expulsion of mucus. This traditional use is reflected in many historical herbals and folk medicine records.

However, while there is a clear tradition of using juniper berries for respiratory issues, modern scientific evidence supporting their efficacy for bronchial congestion is limited. Few clinical studies have specifically investigated juniper berries for this indication. Some laboratory research suggests that juniper's volatile oils may have mild antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, which could theoretically benefit respiratory health, but these findings do not directly confirm efficacy for bronchial congestion in humans. Most contemporary herbal references cite traditional use rather than robust clinical data.

In summary, the use of juniper berries for bronchial congestion is primarily justified by historical and traditional practices, rather than strong scientific validation. Individuals interested in using juniper for congestion should do so cautiously and consult with a healthcare professional, as juniper can interact with certain medications and may not be safe for everyone.

More about juniper berries
More about Congestion (bronchial)

Other ingredients used for Congestion (bronchial)

allspice
aloe vera
alpha-pinene
waterhyssop
basil
benegut perilla (proprietary)
beta-pinene
black cumin
black currant
black pepper
Indian frankincense
bupleurum falcatum
bасора
caffeine
capsaicinoids
chamomile
chen pi
Chinese salvia root
clove
Coptis chinensis
cowage seed
turmeric
echinacea purpurea
elderberry
ethanol
forsythia
garlic bulb
ginger
grape
onion
green tea
horseradish
Indian tinospora
licorice root
lovage
mustard seed
n-acetyl-cysteine (NAC)
spruce
ophiopogon root
oregano
perilla
phellodendron amurense
platycodon root
pomegranate
quercetin
rosemary
scrophularia root
shiitake mushroom
spearmint leaf
sphaeranthus indicus
thyme
vitamin C
yellow root
squawvine
boneset
mullein
hyssop
cardamom
atractylodes
capsicum
mugwort
malabar nut
alpinia galangal
ferula assafoetida
inula racemosa
anise
blackboard tree
lingusticum wallichii
buckthorn
fritillaria
lemongrass
yerba santa
elecampane
coltsfoot
chrysanthemum
juniper berries
siler root
sweet flag
oriental arborvitae
trichosanthes
zanthoxylum
eucalyptus
menthol oil
aster root
abies spectabilis
horehound
Sichuan pepper
cayenne pepper
soursop
Alcohol
Agastache
Anamarrhena
Alpha-terpineol
Ardisia
Angelica
Allicin
Asarum heterotropoides
Aconite
Asafoetida
Andrographolide
Adrenergic amines
Asteracea
Allyl Sulfide
Adenophora
Allium tuberosum
Amor seco
Arisaema
Asarum sieboldii
Alantolactone
Atractylone
Black Seed
Baikal Skullcap
Baphicacanthus cusia
Bidens pilosa
Black spruce
Bicarbonate
Blepharis
Balsam
Bishop's Weed
Boswellic Acid
Bayleaf
Black galingale
Barleria
Bitter Grass
Bisabolene
Bael
berry
Boswellia
Baccharoides anthelmintica
black salt
Bee products
Bombax
Buddha's Hand
Borage
Bupleurum
Balloon Flower
Belamcanda
Borneol
Camellia sinensis
Chinese Silkvine
Curry leaf
Chinese Mountain Ant
Clerodendrum trichotomum
Citrus
Cineole
Cajuput
Chinese Raisintree
Cowherb
Curcumen
Cistus
Curcuma
Calamus
Cinnamaldehyde
Carthamus
Culvers Root
Chondrus
Dragonhead
Diterpenes
Ephedra
European Elder
Eclipta
Echinacea
Elder
Essential Oil Blend
Ephedrine
Galangal
Ivy
Mustard
Mallow
Sandalwood
Vervain