Juniper Berry: 12 Health Benefits & How to Use

Juniper berry is the berry-like seed cone of the common juniper, a species of evergreen shrub also known by its scientific name Juniperus communis. Ripe juniper berries are purple-black in color, with a blue wax coating.

Juniper berry is rich in oils like myrcene and eucalyptol, as well as flavonoids and vitamin C, and is used in the treatment of various health conditions, including stomach issues, skin problems, inflammation, and urinary tract infections (UTIs).

While juniper berry has many health benefits, there is also the risk for side effects, especially related to over consumption and prolonged use for more than 6 weeks. These potential side effects include kidney problems, gastrointestinal (GI) issues, uterine contractions, abortion, and bladder irritation. Juniper berry is contraindicated in pregnancy and in people with nephritis (inflammation of the kidneys).

Juniper berry can be purchased in health food stores and farmers' markets. It should only be used under the supervision of a doctor or herbal medicine specialist. 

Health benefits

Juniper berry possesses antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, sedative, antidiabetic, lipid lowering, digestive, analgesic, and diuretic properties that have a variety of health benefits, including:

1. Eliminating fungi and bacteria

Juniper berry contains essential oils like sabinene, limonene, and pinene, which have the power to eliminate fungi (especially skin fungi like Candida sp.) as well as bacteria, such as:

• Escherichia coli that can cause UTIs;
• Staphylococcus aureus that can cause infections of the lungs, skin, and bones;
• Hafnia alvei, part of the normal gut flora that can also cause infections like pneumonia, UTIs, and kidney infections as well as intestinal illnesses;
• Pseudomonas aeruginosa that can cause lung infections, ear infections, and UTIs.

In addition, juniper berry extract contains powerful antibacterial properties against bacteria such as Campylobacter jejuni, which can cause food poisoning, and Staphylococcus aureus, which can cause infections of the skin, lungs, and bones.

2. Fighting inflammation

Juniper berry extract contains essential oils and flavonoids, such as rutin, luteolin, and apigenin, which function as anti-inflammatories and can be very useful in the treatment of both throat and intestinal inflammation. They can also help relieve muscle aches, joint pain, and tendonitis by inhibiting the production of inflammatory substances such as cytokines and prostaglandins.

3. Treating UTIs

Juniper berry is a powerful diuretic, increasing urination and helping to clean out bacteria from the urethra. While it does not kill bacteria, it may be used as a complementary therapy in the treatment of UTIs and the prevention of kidney stones.

Increased urination caused by the essential oils found in juniper berry may also help combat rheumatic diseases like gout or rheumatoid arthritis by promoting elimination of uric acid through the urine.

4. Reducing swelling

Juniper berry tea can be used to help relieve swelling through its diuretic properties that increase urination and reduce fluid retention. It may be especially useful in those with kidney issues.

5. Improving digestion

The essential oils present in juniper berry help to improve digestion by regulating the flow of bile from the liver and gastric acid from the stomach, as well as boost the production of digestive enzymes. In addition, its astringent properties reduce stomach acid and can help in the treatment of stomach ulcers.

Juniper berry can also help protect the liver, reduce intestinal gas, relieve diarrhea, and treat worms and other intestinal infections.

6. Combating free radicals

Juniper berry is made up of phenols such as bioflavonoids and terpenes (including sabinene, limonene, myrcene, and pinene) that possess antioxidant properties that fight free radicals and reduce cellular damage. In this way, juniper berry can be used to help prevent and combat diseases like atherosclerosis that are associated with oxidative stress caused by free radicals. 

Some animal studies suggest that juniper oil can have a protective effect on the nervous system due to its antioxidant properties, and may help in the treatment of Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease. Future studies are needed in humans to confirm these benefits.

7. Protecting against cardiovascular disease

Juniper berry possesses essential oils like totarol, as well as flavonoids such as rutin, that possess anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that help lower cholesterol and reduce the risk for cardiovascular disease including heart attack and atherosclerosis. 

In addition, the diuretic properties of juniper berry can help control blood pressure, which is essential to good cardiovascular health.

8. Controlling blood sugar

Some studies show that flavonoids like rutin and amentoflavone (found in juniper berry extract and juniper berry tea) can stimulate insulin production and lower blood sugar, suggesting that juniper berry has the potential to be an important adjunct therapy for diabetes. 

9. Decreasing pain

The analgesic effects of pinene, linalool, and 1-Octanol, as well the anti-inflammatory properties of flavonoids like rutin, luteolin, and apigenin, can help reduce pain by inhibiting the activity of substances like cyclooxygenase that are involved in the pain pathway.

10. Improving sleep

The aroma from juniper berry essential oil has calming properties that can help with sleep by combating insomnia and improving sleep quality. The sleep benefits from juniper berry can be obtained by inhaling the essential oil directly from the bottle or drinking a cup of juniper berry tea before bedtime.

11. Managing respiratory conditions

The antioxidants found in juniper berry, such as rutin and sugiol, are associated with improved symptoms of asthmas and bronchitis, mainly when the essential oil is inhaled as a vapor.

12. Improving skin quality

Vitamin C, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory properties present in juniper berry help to cleanse and tone the skin through their antiseptic and astringent properties, helping to improve skin quality in addition to treating skin conditions like allergies, acne, eczema, psoriasis, and dandruff.

Juniper berry can also be used to treat wounds and cuts due to its antibacterial properties.

How to prepare

The juniper berries are the most common part of the juniper plant used to make teas and tinctures (herbal extracts), as this is where the active compounds are found. Juniper berry can also be used in the form of an essential oil or in ointments and skin creams.

The most common ways to use juniper berry are:

• Juniper berry tea: place 2 to 3 juniper berries in a mug and add boiling water. Cover and let steep for 5 minutes. Strain and drink. The recommendation is to drink no more than 1 to 3 cups per day for a maximum of 6 weeks.

• Juniper berry tincture (for external use): the tincture (or herbal extract) can be purchased in pharmacies or drug stores that carry natural products. It may also be found in herb stores or made at home. To prepare the tincture, crush 10 juniper berries in 1 cup of 70% grain alcohol. Place the mixture in a clean, dark container and cover securely with an airtight lid. Let sit for 1 week, while remembering to shake the bottle every day to extract the active substances from the juniper berry. After a week, filter and store the liquid. The tincture can be applied to the skin for relief from muscle pain and rheumatic symptoms;

• Juniper berry essential oils (for external use): juniper berry essential oil can be used as an air freshener, in a vaporizer for the treatment of congestion or other breathing problems, or on the skin when mixed with another oil like vegetable or almond oil; 

• Juniper berry cream or ointment (for external use): juniper berry cream or ointment can be purchased at pharmacies that carry natural products and applied to the skin to treat muscle aches, joint pain, cramps, rheumatism, gout, and osteoarthritis. 

Juniper berry can also be added to sitz baths to help treat hemorrhoids, due to its anti-inflammatory properties. To prepare a juniper berry sitz bath, add 1 small spoonful of juniper berry tea per 100 to 200 mL of water. 

You can also prepare a conditioner for the treatment of scalp psoriasis by mixing 10 drops of essential oil made from the xylem of the juniper plant with 1 tablespoon of almond oil and 600 mL of hot water. Let the mixture cool and apply to the scalp. Wait 15 minutes then rinse.

Side effects

Juniper berry is safe for the majority of adults when consumed for a short period of time, inhaled using a vaporizer, or applied to small areas of the skin.

Excessive consumption of juniper berry or prolonged use for greater than 6 weeks can cause kidney and respiratory problems, as well as intestinal, bladder, and skin irritation. It can also make controlling blood pressure difficult in cases of hypertension and cause a sharp drop in blood sugar levels that can lead to hypoglycemia in people with diabetes. Juniper berry can also cause an increase in uterine contractions, leading to abortion. 

Seek emergency medical attention if you experience symptoms of juniper berry toxicity such as difficulty breathing, nausea, vomiting, or convulsions (seizures).

Contraindications

Juniper berry should not be given to babies or children and should not be used by people who are pregnant or breastfeeding. It is recommended to take a pregnancy test prior to consuming juniper berry if there is any chance you might be pregnant, as juniper berry can cause uterine contractions leading to abortion.

Juniper berry is contraindicated in people with inflammation or infection of the kidneys. It should be used with caution in people with diabetes or hypertension as it can increase the effects of medications used to treat these conditions, leading to side effects.

Juniper berry essential oil should not be ingested or applied directly to the skin, as this can increase the risk for toxicity.

It is important to only use juniper berry under the supervision of a doctor or herbal medicine specialist.