Botanical Index No. 579

Juniper

juniperus

Medicinal Actions

EO antiseptic, diuretic, irritant, uterotonic, Aqueous extract hypoglycemic, Extracts at first hypertensive, antifertility, antiimplantation, Extracts and lignans potent antiherpetics, Berry extracts antiinflammatory, Colic, Alexeteric, Allergenic, Analgesic, Antibacterial, Antiedemic, Antiexudative, Antiherpetic, Antiinflammatory, Antimalarial, Antipyretic, Antirheumatic, Antiseptic, Antispasmodic, Antiviral, Aquaretic, Candidicide, Carminative, Decongestant, Depurative, Diaphoretic, Digestive, Diuretic, Emmenagogue, Expectorant, Fungicide, Hypertensive, Hypoglycemic, Hypotensive, Laxative, Myocontractant, Nephrotoxic, Priapistic, Sedative, Sialagogue, Stimulant, Stomachic, Tonic, Urinary Antiseptic, Uterotonic

Primary Conditions Treated

then hypotensive in rats Extracts abortifacient Atherosclerosis Arthrosis Ascites Asthma Backache Bacteria Bite Bleeding Blennorrhea BPH Bright’s Disease Bronchosis Burn Calculus Cancer kidney leg liver spleen Candida Cardiopathy Catarrh Chest Childbirth Chlorosis Cholecystosis Cold Condyloma Congestion Constipation Cough Cramp Cystosis Dermatosis Diabetes Diarrhea Dropsy Dysentery Dysmenorrhea Dyspepsia Dyspnea Dysuria Edema Encephalosis Enterosis Enuresis Epilepsy Eructation Fever Fistula Flu Fungus Gallstone Gas Gastrosis Gleet Gonorrhea Gout Gravel Halitosis Heart Heartburn Hemicrania Hepatosis Herpes High Blood Pressure Hydrocele Hysteria Induration Infection Inflammation Insomnia Jaundice Kidney Stone Leukorrhea Low Blood Presssure Lumbago Malaria Mange Myalgia Mycosis Nephrosis Nervousness Neuralgia Neurasthenia Neurosis Odontosis Ophthalmia Otosis Pain Palsy Polyp Psoriasis Pulmonosis Pyelosis Rheumatism Rhinosis Scabies Scrofula Snakebite Sore Sore Throat Splenosis Sprain Stomachache Stone Strangury Swelling Tenesmus Tonsilosis Toothache Tuberculosis Tumor Urogenitosis Ulcer Urethrosis UTI Uterosis Vaginosis VD Virus Wart Water Retention Worm Wound Yeast Aperitif Aphrodisiac Bitter Collyrium Deobstruent Hemostat Ache Amenorrhea Anasarca Anorexia

General Dosage

56–74 ml tea; 10–15 berries/cup tea; 1 tsp berries/150 ml water 3–4 ×/day, for up to 4 weeks; 1–2 g fruit several ×/day; 1–2 g fruit or equivalent 3 ×/day; 2 tsp fruit in cold infusion; 1 tsp fresh fruit; 0.5–1 g dry fr; 1 g dry fruit:5 ml alcohol/5 ml water; 100 ml dried fruit infusion 3 ×/day; 2–10 g dry fruit; 1–3 g powdered fruit; 2–4 ml liquid fruit extract 3 ×/day; 1–2 ml fruit tincture 3 ×/day; 1–2 minims juniper oil; 0.03–0.2 ml juniper EO; 0.3–1.2 ml spirit of juniper; 1 tbsp juniper syrup morning or night.

Safety & Contraindications

is reputed to be abortifacient and to affect the menstrual cycle, and because there is confusion of whether the oil is toxic, its use in pregnancy and lactation is to be avoided. “Excessive doses of terpinen-4-ol may irritate the kidneys. External application of EO can cause burning, edema, erythema, and inflammation with blisters”. Long-term use can cause hypocalemia. May also potentiate diuretics and hypglycemics. Overdose can cause hematuria, priapism, strangury, and uremic convulsions. “Canadian regulations do not allow juniper as a non-medicinal ingredient for oral use products”. “Herbs with diuretic properties, such as juniper and dandelion, can cause elevations in blood levels of lithium”. As an occasional gin imbiber, I found the following of interest, “Normally avoided during pregnancy, mainly because of the notorious reputation of gin, of which juniper is the main flavor ingredient”. Tisserand, after reviewing the literature, claims to debunk the many authors, cautioning about abortifacient activity of juniper oil. He speculates that they are clouded by the sabine juniper, which apparently does have abortifacient activities. He found few references indicating abortifacient activity for juniper oil, and the references suggested that ethanolic and acetone extracts of juniper berries have antifertility activity in rats. “It seems inconceivable that the juniper oil could be responsible for the reproductive toxicity noted above. There is no reason to regard juniper oil as being hazardous in any way”. LD50 = 3000 mg/kg ipr mouse, LD50 = >3000 mg/kg orl rat. Class 2b, 2d. Contraindicated in nephrosis and pregnancy. Not for continuous use beyond 4–6 weeks. Berry permitted for oral use. Commission E reports contraindications: pregnancy, nephrosis; adverse effects: prolonged use or overdosing may lead to renal damage. Other sources report contraindication: pyelitis. CAN caution that the volatile oil can be abortifacient and irritant. Because it is reputed to be abortifacient and to affect the menstrual cycle, and because there is confusion of whether the oil is toxic, its use in pregnancy and lactation is to be avoided. “Excessive doses of terpinen-4-ol may irritate the kidneys. External application of EO can cause burning, edema, erythema, and inflammation with blisters”. Long-term use can cause hypocalemia. May also potentiate diuretics and hypglycemics. Overdose can cause hematuria, priapism, strangury, and uremic convulsions. “Canadian regulations do not allow juniper as a non-medicinal ingredient for oral use products”. “Herbs with diuretic properties, such as juniper and dandelion, can cause elevations in blood levels of lithium”. As an occasional gin imbiber, I found the following of interest, “Normally avoided during pregnancy, mainly because of the notorious reputation of gin, of which juniper is the main flavor ingredient”. Tisserand, Nephrotoxic.

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