Juniperus communis - Juniper

Description

This evergreen will attain heights of 2-5 m. Its prostrate branches growing closely together. The leaves narrow, 12mm long and in whorls of three, deep green. The flowers are dioecious, with staminate catkins, and pistillate cones. The nearly globular fruit is 8mm and blackish purple, ripening in the second year. The berries have an aromatic odor and sweet taste.

Part Used

ripe berries (2 1/2 years old).

ConstituentsThe berries contain between 0.2 and 3.4% (usually 1-2%) volatile oil. The volatile oil of juniper consists of 50% monoterpene alcohols including 1-terpinen-4-ol, alpha-pinene, myrcene, sabinene, camphene, and minor amounts of limonene, p-cymene, gamma-terpinene, beta-pinene, alpha-thujene and small amounts of sesquiterpenes including candinene and esters. It also contains juniperin, resin (ca 10%); glucuronic acid; catechins, proanthocyanidins; fatty acids (lauric, palmitic, oleic, linoleic and others), sterols (sitaosterol, campesterol, cholesterol and others), gallotannins; geijerone; flavonoid( rutin, isoquerictrin and others) and a number of diterpenes.(1-5)

Mode of Action

The active diuretic principles of juniper berry resides in the volatile oil, mostly terpinen-4-ol..This action is most likely a local irritant. The oils are probably the source of the antiviral, antibiotic and antifungal properties. The volatile oil content of the berries goes down as they ripen and thus reduces activity level.(6) During ripening volatile oil is changed to resin.(7,8) The diuretic action of juniper is created by increased glomerular filtration rate.(9)

The oils has an antispasmolytic effect on smooth muscles. Juniper berries can be used as a gastrointestinal antiseptic and mild irritant. This is probably the mechanism around the berries ability to stimulate gastric juices and appetite.(10)

In the Mediterranean area Juniper baths are used for the treatment of neurasthenic neurosis and for the management of scalp psoriasis. In Swedish medicine we find it being used to treat wounds and inflammatory disease. We can find some evidence of this as it inhibits the activity of protaglandin biosysthesis and platelet activating factor (PAF)-induced exocytosis in vitro.(11,12)

Extract of the berries increase uterine tone and should not be ingested during pregnancy. Antiimplantation/anti-fertility activity has been described by many indigenous people and has shown up in rat studies, with up to 60- 70% efficacy.(13)

Therapeutic Action

Juniper and/or its oil has been primarily used as a diuretic and a urinary antiseptic. Juniper is also a gastrointestinal antiseptic, a urogenital irritant, a carminative, an emmenagogue. The herb is used as a stimulant and as a stimulating diuretic for cystitis.(14-21)

Energetics

Ayurvedic

Rasa - katu (pungent), tikta (bitter); Guna - guru (heavy), rooksha (oily), teekshna; Veerya - ushna (hot); Vipak - katu (pungent). Action: Kapha vat samak, lakhan sotha har, bran ropan, dipan, anuloman, grahi, krimighan, kafa nisark, artawa janan, mutra janan.(22)

Other

Holmes lists juniper as a bit pungent, bitter and sweet, with warm and dry properties. The secondary qualities are stimulating, decongesting, softening, dissolving, astringing, with a sinking movement. Juniper enters the Spleen, Kidney, Chong and Ren meridians; influencing the stomach, intestines, bladder, kidney, uterus and skin. The organism is warmth and fluid. Tri Dosas of increases Pita and Vayu, while lowering Kapha.(23)

Folklore

Though primarily known for its diuretic properties, juniper is also useful in cases of flatulence,(24) to stimulate gastric acids, liver problems, colic, intestinal worms and as a vapour steam for bronchitis.(25) It has been used as a folk remedy for arteriosclerosis, arthritis, bronchitis, cancer, colic, dropsy, dysentery, dyspepsia, gastroenteritis, gonorrhea, gout, gravel, leucorrhea, lumbago, nephrosis, rheumatism, worms, urogenital and venereal diseases.(26)

It is also mentioned in the writings of Gerard (1597), Hill (1751) and Bigelow (1817-21). Juniper berries have been used as an antiseptic barrier by practitioners. The technique was to suck the berries while treating patients with infectious diseases. Native Americans made extensive use of juniper as did Ayurvedic practitioners.(27) The eight or more subspecies of Juniperus were used by virtually all the Native peoples of North America. They used juniper as a vermifuge, diuretic, antiseptic and antirheumatic.(28)

Dosage

Juniper Oil B.P.C. 1949 - 0.03 to 0.2 ml. (29,300
Juniper Berries N.F. 1935 - 4.0 grams (31)
Juniper Berries average dose - 4.0 grams (32.33)
Fluid Extract of Juniper N.F. 1935 - 4.0 ml. (34)
Juniper Spirits B.P.C. 1949 - .3 to 1.2 ml. (35,36)

Toxicity and Contraindications

Spoerke(37) reports that juniper in a single large dose produces only catharsis but says that smaller repeated doses may produce renal damage, personality changes and convulsions. Juniper Berry oil is nonsensitizing, nonphototoxic, and only slightly irritating in topical application.(38) This herb should not be taken during or if suspecting pregnancy.

Official Recognition and Medical References

Fluid extractum juniperi N.F. 1935 (39)
juniper oil n.f.1935, b.p.c. 1934 (40,41)
juniper berries n.f.1935, b.p.c. 1934 (42)
juniper spirits b.p.c. (43)
ESCOP - July 1997
Commision E - p. 155
PDR for Herbal Medicine - p. 918

References


1. Leung, A..Y. and S. Foster, Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients: Used in Food, Drugs, and Cosmetics, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, 1996, p. 325-327
2. Lawrence Review of Natural Products; Juniper; Feb. 1997, p. 1-3
3. Spoerke, D.G., Herbal Medications, Ibid.
4. Spoerke, D.G., Herbal Medications, Woodbridge Press Publ. Co., Santa Barbara, CA, 1980, p. 102.
5. Trease, G.E. and Evans, W.C., Pharmacognosy 11 ed., Bailliere Tindall, London, 1978. p. 425.
6. Spoerke, D.G., Herbal Medications, Ibid.
7. Spoerke, D.G., Herbal Medications, Ibid.
8. Wood, H.C. and Osol, A., Dispensatory of the United States of America 23rd ed.,J.B. Lippincott, Montreal, P.Q., 1943, p. 583.
9. Racz-Kotilla, E., et al., Actiunea diurectia a fructelor de ienupar (Juniperus communis), Farmacia 19(3), p. 165-169, 1971.
10. Leung A.Y. and Foster; Ibid
11. Lawrence review, Ibid
12. Tunon H., et al; Jour. Of Ethnopharm; 48(2) 1995; p. 61-76
13. Lawrence review, Ibid
14. The Merck Index 5th Ed., Merck & Co. Inc., Rahway, N.J., 1940. p. 203.
15 Said, H.M. (Ed.), Hamdard Pharmacopeia of Eastern Medicine, Pharmaceutical Advisory Council of Hamdard, The Times Press, Sadar Karachi, 1969. p. 395.
16. Wren, R.C., Potter`s New Cyclopaedia of Botanical Drugs and Preparations, Health Science Press, Rustington, Sussex, U.K., 1975. p. 171.
17. Martindale: The Extra Pharmacopeia, The Pharmaceutical Press, London, 1941, p. 743.
18. Youngken, H.W., Textbook of Pharmacognosy, Blakiston, Toronto, 1950, p. 127.
19. Leung, A.Y., Encyclopedia of common natural ingredients used in food, drugs,and cosmetics, Ibid.
20. The British Pharmaceutical Codex 1934. The Pharmaceutical Press, London,1934, p. 712.
21. Trease, G.E. and Evans, W.C., Pharmacognosy 11 Ed., Ibid.
22. Kapoor, L.D., CRC Handbook of Ayurvedic Medicinal Plants, CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, 1990, p. 215.
23. Holmes, P., The Energetics of Western Herbs (2 vols.), Artemis Press, Boulder, CO, 1989, p. 213-215.
24. Grieve, M., A Modern Herbal, Jonathan Cape, London, 1931, p. 452.
25. Leung, A.Y., Ibid.
26. Duke, J.A., Ibid.
27. Kapoor, L.D., Ibid.
28. Moerman, D.E., Medicinal Plants of Native America, University of Michigan
Museum of Anthropology, Technical Reports, Number 19, Ann Arbor, Michigan,1986, Vol.1, p. 241.
29. Wren, R.C., Potter`s New Cyclopaedia of Botanical Drugs and Preparations, Health Science Press, Rustington, Sussex, U.K., 1975. p. 170.
30. Martindale: The Extra Pharmacopeia, Ibid.
31. The National Formulary 6th ed., American Pharmaceutical Association,Washington DC, 1935. p. 208.
32. Gathercoal, E.N. and Wirth, E.H., Pharmacognosy, Lea & Febiger, Phila. PA, 1936. p. 583.
33. Youngken, H.W., Textbook of Pharmacognosy, Ibid.
34. The National Formulary 6th ed., Ibid., p. 171.
35. Wren, R.C., Ibid.
36. Martindale: The Extra Pharmacopeia, Ibid.
37 .Spoerke, D.G., Herbal Medications, Ibid.
38. Leung, A.Y., Encyclopedia of common natural ingredients used in food, drugs, and cosmetics, Ibid.
39. The National Formulary 6th ed., Ibid.
40. Youngken, H.W., Textbook of Pharmacognosy, Ibid.
41. The British Pharmaceutical Codex 1934. Ibid.
42. The National Formulary 6th ed., Ibid., p. 207,208.
43. Martindale: The Extra Pharmacopeia, Ibid.