Juniper - Health Benefits and Side Effects

The Juniper Plant (Juniperus communis)
(Click on image to enlarge)
Attribution: Wikimedia Commons

Botanical Name of Juniper: Juniperus communis
Other Common Names:
Common juniper, fairy circle, hackmatack, gin berry, horse savin, gorst, aiten, dwarf juniper, genevier, mountain common juniper, old field common juniper, prostrate juniper, genévrier, ginepro, enebro, gemeiner, gin plant, wachholder, reckholder.

Habitat:
Juniper is native to the northern hemisphere and is common in Canada, Scandinavia and Siberia. It is usually found on heaths and moores but can also be found as an undergrowth in mixed forests.

Plant Description:
Juniper is an erect evergreen coniferous shrub or a small tree which can grow up to ten meters tall. The needle like leaves, consisting of whorls of three, are light green below and dark green above. Juniper bears female globose cones and small male cones on separate plants. These cones are usually referred to as the juniper berries. The green fruits appear on the female plant and take around three years to ripen, eventually turning dark blue or black in colour.

Plant Parts Used:
The dried and ripe berries but sometimes the needles and leaves have been used for medical purposes.

Juniper Supplements

Organic Juniper Berry Powder
by Starwest Botanicals

Juniper Berries - 100 caps
by Nature's Way

Therapeutic Uses, Benefits and Claims of Juniper

Juniper has been used traditionally to treat arthritis, gout and rheumatism. Test tube studies have shown that the berries can inhibit prostaglandin synthesis which indicates that this traditional use has some merit.
Juniper has diuretic and antiseptic properties which explains its uses as a herbal remedy for urinary tract infections such as cystitis and urethritis. Modern studies on juniper indicate that it increases the filtration rate of the kidneys, dilutes the urine and disinfects the urinary tract.
Other traditional medical uses for juniper berries are the treatment of intestinal infections, colic and other stomach upsets. Additionally it has been used as a medicinal herb for coughs, bronchitis and upper respiratory infections.

The Herb Juniper
(Juniperus communis )
C. A. M. Lindman
Bilder ur Nordens Flora -
published 1917–1926

In the German Pharmacopoeia the juniper berry is listed as a treatment for dyspeptic complaints such as gas, heartburn, indigestion and flatulence.
Juniper has been used topically as a treatment for wounds, muscle aches, lesions and abnormal skin growths, and snakebites.
Juniper has been use as a remedy for delayed menstruation because it is thought to stimulate the uterine muscle.
In laboratory conditions, the antiviral compounds have been found to inhibit the growth of a number of virus strains including herpes and flu strains. The ingredient podophyllotoxin may also inhibit abnormal cell growths.
Juniper has antiseptic and astringent properties which explains why it has been used to treat acne and other skin blemishes. Juniper has also been used in combination with other herbs to treat psoriasis affecting the scalp.
Juniper was shown to lower blood pressure by an average of 27% in rats and it's ability to inhibit the formation of blood clots is being investigated. Other studies show that juniper berries can lower blood sugar in experimentally induced diabetes. No human trials have been made and futher studies are needed to confirm this use for diabetes.
Juniper does have some disinfectant properties and may act as a natural insecticide.
Juniper is probably best known for giving the alcoholic beverage gin it´s distinctive flavor. The juniper berries are also used as flavoring in pickling brine, stuffing, and for game meats, ham and pork.
Juniper has a place in folklore. In Europe the berries were burned for the last three days in April as a cleansing ritual and protection against sorcery. It was also believed that if juniper was planted beside the main door it would prevent a witch to enter if she could not count all the needles correctly. Juniper is mentioned in the Bible as the tree that hid the prophet Elijah when he was fleeing from Queen Jezebel.

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Dosage and Administration:

Juniper is available as an extract, a tincture, an oil and as a tisane. A common dosage prescribed by herbalists is around 2-10 grams or one to three teaspoonfuls of crushed juniper berries. These crushed berries are made into a tea by pouring boiling water over them and steeping for 10 minutes. The daily dosages is two to tree cups for four weeks. This dosage corresponds to 20-100mg of juniper essential oil.

Potential Side Effects of Juniper

There are a number of contraindications for the use of juniper. Juniper stimulates the contraction of smooth muscles and should therefore not be used by women who are pregnant. It should also be avoided by women who are nursing. Juniper is irritating to the kidneys and should not be used by people with kidney disease or infection. Since juniper may interfere with the action of glucose regulating medication, it should be used with extreme caution in patients with diabetes or hypoglycemia. Juniper should not be taken for more than six weeks as a tisane and use of the tincture or oil should be monitored by a physician or medical professional.

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