What is juniper, and what is it used for?
Juniper is an aromatic coniferous shrub, Juniperus communis, that grows in the temperate and cold regions of the northern hemisphere in Asia, Europe, and North America. Dried juniper berries, berry oil and extracts, juniper bark, and other plant parts have been used orally and topically for centuries as traditional medicine to treat a wide variety of ailments, including gastrointestinal and urinary issues, and skinand inflammatory conditions.
Studies indicate juniper has antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer, as well as blood sugar, blood fat, and blood pressure lowering properties. The therapeutic properties of juniper are believed to come from the various compounds it contains, including aromatic oils, inverted sugars, resins, catechin, organic acid, terpenic acids, leucoanthocyanidin, alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, gums, lignins, and wax.
Juniper is available over the counter (OTC) as dried berries that can be brewed as tea, berry oil, extract, or tincture, as well as capsule supplements. Suggested medicinal uses of juniper include:
- Heartburn
- Indigestion (dyspepsia)
- Gas (flatulence) and bloating
- Loss of appetite
- Gastrointestinal infections
- Intestinal worms
- To promote urination (diuretic)
- Urinary tract infection
- Kidney and bladder stones
- Menstrual disorders
- Female contraceptive
- Diabetes
- Cancer
- Snakebite
- Inflammatory skin conditions
- Wounds
- Arthritis
- Cough
- Asthma
Although juniper has been historically used for many ailments, there are inadequate scientific studies to establish its efficacy in most of its uses. In addition to its medicinal uses, dried and crushed juniper berries are used to flavor foods such as meat, soups, sauces, and stews, and certain alcoholic beverages such as beer and gin. Juniper is used as a fragrance in soaps, skin care products, and cosmetics. The essential oil extracted from juniper berries is used in aromatherapy, massage, and during religious ceremonies to purify the air.
