Juniper Berries

Health Benefits of Juniper Berries

Juniper berries (Juniperus communis L.) belongs to a genus that includes 60 to 70 different species. The most commonly used form of Juniper berries is the Juniperus communis L. variation. The common name is juniper, also known as juniperi fructus, common juniper, and “boughs of the supernatural.” 

Juniper berries are classified in the culinary herb/spice category because they are commonly used as a flavoring for drinks and in cooking and preserving foods. it is also considered an herbal bitter and is thought to help promote digestion.

Juniper is a strong aromatic (scented) herb from an evergreen plant or tree. It grows in temperate regions of Northern Europe, Asia, and North America.

The cone of the juniper is the part that is referred to as the berry. It looks like a small green berry and ends up turning a bluish-black shade in the second year of growth. In the late spring, small flowers bloom on the juniper plant. 

The juniper berry is more like a small pine cone than a fruit. In fact, the juniper berry is not a fruit at all, but rather a type of bitter/citrus tasting spice. 

It is important to note that while juniper berries contain substances that have displayed potentially beneficial properties, and while there are some promising animal studies, there are no clinical trials in humans that have demonstrated a clinical benefit from juniper berries.

Health Benefits

The most common culinary use of the juniper berry is as a spice used to flavor gin. It’s used for its medicinal purposes as an essential oil, made by steam distillation of the crushed, dried, or fermented berries. Other ways the juniper berry is used is as dried fruit.

The oil is said to have diuretic (promoting the increased production of urine) and antiseptic properties. Juniper berry oil is also known as a gastrointestinal (stomach and intestines) irritant, which is thought to help promote the movement of food through the digestive tract. The dried fruit and oil are used to relieve stomach upset.

Unlike many essential oils, juniper berry essential oil is FDA-approved for limited internal use.

Ancient Times

The ancient Romans, Greeks, and Egyptians were known to have used juniper berries. The Greeks used juniper berries as an herb for purification ceremonies and to increase physical stamina (particularly for athletes), recording the use of juniper berries as medicine long before they were said to start using the berries as a spice in foods.

The Romans also used juniper berries as a cheaply produced substitute for black pepper, which was expensive to import from India. Juniper berries have even been found in Egyptian tombs; the Egyptians used juniper as a medicinal herb and to embalm the deceased.

In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) juniper berries have been used for centuries as a stimulant for the kidneys and bladder to flush out impurities and toxins. It has also been used as a general antibiotic herb to heal infections, as well as a digestive tonic for the stomach, intestines, and spleen.

Additional Benefits

While firm scientific evidence is lacking, claims have been made over the years that juniper berries might be effective to treat several symptoms and conditions including:

• Diuretic effects: Increases urine output, reduces edema, and helps to lower blood pressure
• Skin health
• Anti-inflammatory properties: Reduction of swelling
• Antiseptic and antimicrobial properties: Including anti-bacterial and anti-fungal effects such as killing Candida fungus
• Antioxidant properties: Reduces damage caused by free radicals
• Cytotoxic (anti-cancer) properties
• Gastrointestinal irritant: Promotes digestion
• Neuroprotective properties: Protects the brain and nervous system

Medicinal Uses of Juniper Berries

There are many medical conditions that some have claimed juniper berries can treat including:

• Dyspepsia: A condition of the upper abdomen with pain, discomfort, and bloating after meals and nausea, heartburn, and regurgitation of food or acid
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Insomnia: When juniper berry oil is mixed with other oils
• Rash, eczema, and wound healing
• Bronchitis
• Bladder infections
• Diabetes: Limited clinical research
• High cholesterol
• Some types of cancer: More research is needed

Some people claim that the following medical conditions have been treated with juniper berry essential oil:

• Respiratory infections
• Sore throat
• Fatigue
• Muscle aches
• Arthritis

Once again, it’s important to note that there is no medical evidence to support these claims.

Other Uses

Juniper is commonly used as a flavoring in:

• Pickled foods
• Non-alcoholic beverages
• Frozen dairy desserts
• Candy
• Baked goods
• Gelatins and puddings
• Meat product

Juniper berries are also used as a seasoning for bitters, in perfumes and cosmetics, for its gin-like flavor, in household products (for its ability to kill many strains of microorganisms, including bacteria and fungus), and for veterinary use (to heal wounds and protect from parasitic infections).

Possible Side Effects

There are very few documented side effects on record from juniper berries (other than allergic symptoms) which include:

• A skin rash
• Trouble breathing
• Kidney damage (from excessive use)
• Increase in blood sugar levels (people with diabetes should use with caution and the healthcare provider should be notified before using)

If allergic symptoms occur after the use of juniper berries, it’s important to seek medical care before continuing use.

Toxicity

Large doses of juniper berries could be toxic and may lead to:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Convulsions

The juniper volatile oil could be toxic to the kidneys; however, toxicity has primarily been discovered at very high doses in animal studies.

Contraindications

Juniper berries may be contraindicated (not recommended) in some situations, including:

• Kidney impairment
• Liver conditions
• Diabetes: Juniper berries may reduce blood glucose levels
• Breastfeeding
• Taking certain medications
• Pregnancy

Juniper is not recommended for use in infants or children.

The juniper berry can interfere with proper implantation of the embryo in early pregnancy and may have other properties (such as inducing uterine contractions) that could contribute to or cause a loss of the pregnancy. 

People who are pregnant or who are trying to get pregnant should not use juniper in any form (including the whole berries, as a spice, or as an essential oil). 

A 2014 study found that juniper berries may cause toxicity or interfere with the ability to metabolize a wide variety of different drugs by decreasing a specific enzyme needed to break down medications. Talk to your healthcare provider before taking juniper berries or using juniper essential oil.