Juniperus communis (Juniper) Flashcards
How do you recognise Juniper?
- An evergreen dioecious shrub/small tree with prickly needle-like leaves in whorls of 3.
- Only grows wild in specific places; it likes rough grazing land alongside gorse
- Used in cooking & to flavour gin.
- Historically branches of the shrub burned as a disinfectant fumigant or to ‘purify’ in a spiritual sense
What are Juniper’s main constituents?
Active constituents:
* Essential oil: ⍺ -pinene, β-pinene, sabinene, p-cymene, Terpinen-4-ol
* Sesquiterpenes – caryophyllene, cadinene.
* Flavonoids – quercitin, apigenin, amentaflavone.
* Resin.
* Bitter glycoside = juniperin
Lots of research focuses upon terpinene-4-ol (which is the main constituent of tea tree oil) although it is not the predominant component (by volume) of the essential oil. Terpinen-4-ol has been shown to increase glomerular filtration rate.
What family is Juniper in?
Family: Cupressaceae.
What is Juniper good for?
Summary: Mainly used as a urinary antiseptic, good for UTIs and inflammatory joint conditions (essential oil mixed with creams). Also a good diuretic.
Actions:
* Diuretic - helps the body remove waste which might explain its use in arthritis and also gout.
* Urinary antiseptic.
* Antirheumatic.
* Carminative - good for gassy indigestion.
* Anti-inflammatory.
* Emmenagogue.
Applications:
* Cystitis & urethritis - but do NOT use for a kidney infection (avoid things with essential oils with kidney infections).
* Lithiasis - kidney stones.
* Arthritis.
* Gout.
* Has some action against bacteria causing GIT infection.
* Essential oil used externally for arthritis & inflammation
What is Juniper’s Latin name?
Juniperus communis
What parts of Juniper do you use?
Parts used: the cones (as they are growing on a conifer) are known as “berries”.
The “berries” take 2-3 years to mature.
What safety issues might Juniper have?
Safety: avoid in pregnancy. To be safe avoid in kidney infection.
What useful research does Juniper have?
- Deep insights into urinary tract infections and effective natural remedies – note that traditionally the berry is used, but that info here also alludes to use of the the leaf.
- Potential of Juniperus communis L as a nutraceutical in human and veterinary medicine – includes the usual research screenings for possible use as an antioxidant & for use in cancer, for diabetes, for neuro- and hepatoprotective qualities, but also some detail on traditional applications.
What remedies might you use Juniper in?
- Dose 20 – 30 ml/week 1:3 tincture.
- Nice to mix the essental oil in with a cream for inflammatory joint conditions.
