- Region
- Europe
- Origin
- Throughout the northern hemisphere: Europe, Asia and North America. Juniperus communis
- Sanskrit
- Hapusa
Europe · Herb · № 81
Juniperus communis
Herb · Europe
Juniper
Juniperus communis
The berries are traditionally used as a diuretic, for digestive complaints and externally for joint pain. Clinical evidence is limited.
Safety notes
Avoid with kidney disease or in pregnancy, and do not use for more than a few weeks. The oil can irritate the kidneys.
Cautions by tradition (7)
- Herbal medicine worldwide: Not in pregnancy (but may be used during labour), max. 6 weeks, not with kidney disease.
- Western herbalism: Max. 6 weeks, not with kidney disease.
- Ayurvedic materia medica: Do not take the oil internally yourself. Serious illnesses such as infections, cancer or hepatitis need a doctor: there is no evidence that this remedy cures them.
- Herbs for viral infections: Not in pregnancy, breastfeeding, diabetes, gastrointestinal disorders or blood pressure problems.
- Natural skin and hair care: Always dilute essential oil; not during pregnancy or with kidney complaints. Always test heated oil for temperature first.
- Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) medicine: Not in pregnancy or with kidney disease.
- Kwakwaka'wakw medicine: Bloody diarrhoea needs a doctor. Juniper not in pregnancy or with kidney disease.
Preparation
The berries in small amounts as tea or spice; the oil diluted for external use. No dosage is given here.
Use in traditions
Juniper gives jenever and gin their flavour. In Europe the wood was burned to cleanse sickrooms, and several Native North American peoples also used juniper in ritual and medicine.
Applications
Use by tradition
How different herbal traditions describe this herb. Amounts are traditional guidelines checked for obvious errors; they are not medical advice. For poisonous plants no dosage is given on purpose.
Herbal medicine worldwide
Attributed effects
Urinary antiseptic, diuretic, carminative, digestive tonic, stimulates the uterus, antirheumatic.
Preparation and amount
Tincture 2 ml 3 times a day for urinary infections and to stimulate digestion, with celery seed or bogbean for arthritis; weak tea (15 g to 500 ml) for stomach complaints and menstrual pain; 10 drops of oil in 5 ml oil as massage for arthritis; lotion for oily skin and acne.
Caution: Not in pregnancy (but may be used during labour), max. 6 weeks, not with kidney disease.
Western herbalism
Attributed effects
Diuretic, induces sweating, stimulating, carminative, pain-relieving, promotes menstruation; for fluid retention, incontinence and stones, mucus in stomach, womb and lungs, strengthens memory.
Preparation and amount
eat 3–5 fresh berries for stomach complaints; tea: ½–1 tsp crushed berries in 240 ml, steep 1–3 hours, 1–2 cups a day; tincture 1–2 dropperfuls 3 times a day.
Caution: Max. 6 weeks, not with kidney disease.
Ayurvedic materia medica
Attributed effects
Aromatic, carminative, stimulating, promotes menstruation, aids digestion, diuretic, antiseptic, antifungal; for scanty urine, oedema, cough, chronic gonorrhoea, leucorrhoea; externally for rheumatic and painful swellings, skin conditions.
Preparation and amount
Berry powder 1–3 g; tea 56–74 ml; berry powder externally.
Caution: Do not take the oil internally yourself. Serious illnesses such as infections, cancer or hepatitis need a doctor: there is no evidence that this remedy cures them.
Herbs for viral infections
Attributed effects
Antiviral, antibacterial, diuretic, antiseptic (amentoflavone); especially for viral gastroenteritis; further for heartburn, indigestion, urinary infections, kidney and bladder stones.
Preparation and amount
Berries in food or oil; essential oil 20–100 mg, berries 2–10 g.
Caution: Not in pregnancy, breastfeeding, diabetes, gastrointestinal disorders or blood pressure problems.
Natural skin and hair care
Attributed effects
Warming, resinous scent; used in bath and massage products for stiff muscles and joints.
Preparation and amount
External: the berries or essential oil in a bath bag, a warm massage compress, massage oil and hair products (see the recipes).
Caution: Always dilute essential oil; not during pregnancy or with kidney complaints. Always test heated oil for temperature first.
Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) medicine
Attributed effects
For coughs and colds that come after overheating and a chill.
Preparation and amount
Boil a small bundle of twigs in plenty of water.
Caution: Not in pregnancy or with kidney disease.
Kwakwaka'wakw medicine
Attributed effects
For diarrhoea with mucus and blood; one of the 'four kinds of medicine in water'.
Preparation and amount
Boil the tips all day with hemlock root bark and the roots of deer fern and licorice fern; drink a teacup four times.
Caution: Bloody diarrhoea needs a doctor. Juniper not in pregnancy or with kidney disease.
Folklore and herbal magic
Symbolic meanings from folk use and modern herbal magic. These are handed-down associations, not effects.
Protects (branch above the door), attracts love, prevents accidents, purifies as incense, cleansing, purification, protection against accidents and illness, love, against theft, fertility, psychic abilities.
Herbal magic and rituals
Attributed effects
In herbal magic associated with protection, purification and safety.
Preparation and amount
The juniper berry gave Dutch jenever and gin their name and flavour. In Europe branches were burned in house and stable to ward off disease, also during plague epidemics, and in the Alps and Scotland homes were smoked with juniper at the new year.
Tags
Sources
- en.wikipedia.org
- Penelope Ody, The Complete Medicinal Herbal (1993; 2017)
- L. D. Kapoor, CRC Handbook of Ayurvedic Medicinal Plants (1990)
- Stacey Dugliss-Wesselman & Susan Gregg, Herbal Remedies Made Simple (2018)
- James W. Herrick, Iroquois Medical Botany, ed. Dean R. Snow (1995)
- Franz Boas, The Religion of the Kwakiutl Indians, part II: Translations (1930), from texts by George Hunt