Today, the sade tree is known more as an ornamental shrub and can be found in numerous front gardens. In the past, this species of juniper had a major role in folk medicine. Homeopathically prepared, the application can still be made.
Occurrence and cultivation of the sade tree
The sade tree was already used in ancient times as a natural medicine. This plant was also used in veterinary medicine. The sade tree has the scientific name Juniperus sabina and belongs to the genus Juniper (Juniperus). This is part of the order of conifers. In the vernacular it is called stink juniper or poison juniper, sefi shrub or also seben shrub. It is a shrubby plant and grows to a height of between one and two, sometimes even five meters. Its direction of growth is rarely straight upright. Mostly the branches grow creeping along the ground. Its bark has a reddish-brown color. The branches form a round to angular cross-section. During its life, the sade tree develops two different leaf shapes. Initially, the young leaves measure four to five millimeters, are arranged in whorls, needle-shaped and pointed. Above they have a bluish color. Later they are arranged cross-opposite and have a scale-like structure. In shape, the later leaves are ovate and measure one to four millimeters in length. The sade tree can also be recognized by the smell of its leaves. If you rub them, they smell stern and rather unpleasant. The flowering period of the sade tree is between March and May. During this time it develops berry-shaped cones. These are ovoid to spherical and measure five to seven millimeters in length. These fruits ripen on the sade tree in the fall or the following spring and subsequently bear a blackish-blue color. The sade tree forms four varieties in Europe. Its distribution extends from Spain, through the Alps, to the Crimean Peninsula. It is also common in the Caucasus region. This juniper species is also native to Central Asia. It requires a light site with shallow and rather rocky, base-rich soils. It likes to settle in rock crevices, on rocky slopes, on dry and steppe grasslands, and in pine and larch forests.
Effect and application
Sade tree has been used as a natural medicine since ancient times. This plant was also used in veterinary medicine. In historical writings of Pliny and Dioscorides the use of that juniper species was described. Paracelsus states the effect of the sade tree in his work as a wound cleansing agent, as a means to stimulate menstruation and as a diuretic (means which flushes out water). Furthermore, there is evidence in surviving writings of its use as a strong abortifacient and for purging the afterbirth. It was also used as a remedy for skin spots and scabs. Likewise, sade tree was used for respiratory problems, asthma, and hearing loss. The plant was often prescribed for gout complaints. In homeopathy, sabina is used for irritation and inflammation of the endometrium, endangering the unborn fetus by abortion, abdominal bleeding, whitish vaginal discharge, and gonorrhea. The used branch tips of the young sade tree contain three to five percent essential oil. Half of this consists of sabinol. If this oil gets onto the skin, it has a strong irritating effect and causes severe inflammation. Even rubbing it in can cause poisoning of the body. If the retina comes into contact with it, the pupils dilate and swell. Bleeding may also occur. If the drug is taken orally, vomiting, severe diarrhea, severe pain in the bladder and excessive emptying of the bladder may occur. The stomach lining is irritated to such an extent that there is a risk of gastric rupture. Respiratory distress and even coma may set in. Without countermeasures, poisoning always leads to death and in half of all cases occurs in a state of deep unconsciousness. Death sets in over a period of ten hours to several days. Countermeasures would be the administration of an emetic and laxative, internal lavage, and stimulation of sweat production. Oral administration of mucus-forming agents, but not fats or alcohol, is appropriate. If circulatory and respiratory paralysis occur, analeptics are administered. To counteract kidney damage, attention should be paid to adequate fluid intake.
Importance for health, treatment and prevention.
Due to the strong side effects and the risk of a rapid poisoning reaction, one no longer performs internal use. Previously, an extract of the sade tree was partly administered in the absence of menstrual bleeding. External application is carried out in the form of ointments, plasters and rubs. These contain Sabina oil in minute quantities. These products are used for hair loss, paralysis and neuralgic pains. Using the pure oil causes burns with symptoms of poisoning. Therefore, when used externally, Sabina oil is applied only in a one percent dilution. In powder form (Pulvis Summitatum Sabinae) you can still use Sabina for genital warts. Orally, it is used only in homeopathic preparation. The extract of Sade tree is available as dilution Dilutio D 4. This remedy is indicated in case of impending abortion of a fetus and bleeding of the uterine mucosa. Also in gout and rheumatic complaints, especially of the wrists and toes, bone pain and bladder and kidney diseases. Also for when emptying the urinary bladder is difficult and associated with pain. Nevertheless, its use in veterinary medicine is common. Against the so-called calcification, Teep D 2 is mixed by the teaspoon with the feed.
