Juniper: A berry good essential oilBy: Dawn Johnson

Botany Latin name= Juniperus

communis Derived from Latin juniores,

meaning “young” Synonyms= Common juniper Family= Cupressacae Shrub grows wild in central

Europe Small tree reaches height of 12

meters Has blue green needle like

leaves, greenish-yellow flowers, and small round berries

Berries take 3 years to mature

Origins Best berries come

from N. Italy, Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, and France

Essential Oil Characteristics Is steam-distilled

from crushed, dried or partly dried ripe berries

Color= clear or pale-yellow

Aroma= fresh, warm, and woody-sweet

History Commonly used

as a fumigant and ritual incense by ancient Greeks

Also used for ceremonial purposes by Tibetans and Native Americans

Traditional Uses Used in diuretic and

laxative preparations Oil used as a fragrance in

soaps, creams, detergents, and perfumes

Used for acute and chronic cystitis

Topical application for rheumatic pain in the joints or muscles

Juniper berries are used for making gin

Chemical plethora The number and

variety of chemicals in juniper berry essential oil influence its wide range of therapeutic effects

Chemical compositions Alpha-pinene (33.7%) Sabinene (27.6%) Beta-pinene (5.5%) Alpha-phellandrene

(1.3%) Myrcene (1.1%) Camphene (0.5%) Cayophyllene (0.6%)

Alpha-terpinene (1.9%) 1,4-cineole (4%) Beta-phellandrene

(1.3%) P-cymene (5.5%) Terpinen-4-ol (4.0%) Bornyl acetate (0.4%) Trace amounts

limonene, camphor, linalool, linalyl acetate, borneol and nerol

Pharmacology It is thought that

toxicity of EO depends on hydrocarbon content of that EO

Juniper that has high alpha and beta-pinene are irritants to urinary tract

This may result from mixing needles or unripe berries into oil

Therapeutic Actions Antihuematic Antispasmotic Astringent Detoxant Rubefacient Tonic Carminative Depurative Rubefacient Stimulating

Mode of Administration Massage Compress Bath Sitz-bath Douche Skincare Direct inhalation Diffuser Oil vaporizer

Safety Reported as non-

toxic, non-irritant, and non-sensitizing

Contra-indicated in pregnancy

Contra-indicated in kidney disease

ReferencesBattaglia, S. (2003). The complete guide to Aromatherapy (2nd ed.). Brisbane QLD, Australia: The International Centre of Holistic Aromatherapy.