Juniper berry

Juniper berries are traditionally used to detoxify the body, promote good health and promote healthy skin, among other things. And the results are not just anecdotal. There are a number of studies that show the powerful antioxidant and antibacterial properties of juniper berries. Because of these antibacterial properties, doctors used to use juniper berries to disinfect their medical equipment.

What are juniper berries?

Strictly speaking, juniper berries are not really berries. They are the female seed cones of the juniper plant - a coniferous shrub. Juniper bushes vary in appearance and can grow either as a shrub in width or upwards like a small tree. Apart from their slightly misleading name, juniper berries are not "berries" that you would eat for breakfast like other berries. Instead, juniper berries are often used as a bitter spice. Among other things, they are responsible for the characteristic taste of gin. The most commonly used juniper product is the essential oil. In folk medicine, juniper berry essential oil is a popular therapeutic oil that modern scientific research suggests has natural antiseptic and antioxidant properties.

Nutritional background

There are many different species of juniper berries, at least one of which is poisonous. Edible varieties include (1):

Juniperus communis (the most common form)
Juniperus drupacea
Juniperus deppeana
Juniperus phoenicea
Juniperus chinensis
Juniperus excelsa
Juniperus oxycedrus
Juniperus californica

Because juniper berries are not consumed like traditional berries, there is not much information about their calorie, nutrient or vitamin content. Long before juniper berries were used as a spice, the Greeks used juniper berries as a medicine and stimulant for their Olympic athletes (2). But only today are scientists beginning to discover how useful juniper berries can be as a natural remedy to treat a variety of ailments.

Potential health benefits of juniper berries

Juniper berries can reduce oxidative stress and help prevent disease. One of the main benefits of juniper berries is their antioxidant content. Antioxidants are compounds that help the body alleviate oxidative stress caused by high levels of free radicals, which in turn can help prevent diseases caused by free radicals. Juniper berries contain polyphenolic compounds called bioflavonoids or flavonoids (3). These compounds are what give fruits and vegetables (and some other foods) their antioxidant properties. According to a chemical analysis, 87 different antioxidant compounds are found in juniper berries (4). These compounds appear to be present in greater quantities in ripe juniper berries than in unripe berries (5). Probably even more significant is the fact that the activity of three extremely important antioxidants in the body is stimulated by juniper berries: superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase and glutathione peroxidase (6).

Problems with SOD have been linked to ALS, Down syndrome, cancer and lung problems. Catalase and SOD both protect against damage from peroxide in the body, while glutathione peroxidase does the same and can also help treat cancer and heart disease (7).

Juniper berries act as a natural antiseptic

The antibacterial and antifungal properties have stood the test of time, which is one of the reasons why juniper berry essential oil is often recommended as a natural household cleaner. The berries show impressive activity against many strains of bacteria. In addition, at least one study suggests that juniper berries may be part of a treatment for skin and respiratory infections (8, 9). The essential oil of juniper berries also kills yeasts, which can cause infections responsible for a wide range of side effects (10). Furthermore, the essential oil has been shown to be as effective as chlorhexidine - a widely used medication that has toxic side effects - in eliminating bacteria and relieving inflammation in the mouth (11). Some studies also suggest that the essential oil of juniper berries can potentially kill bacteria that are resistant to common antibiotics (12). In laboratory tests, an extract of juniper berries from Turkey showed significant activity against various pathogens including the gram-positive bacterium Staphylococcus aureus (13). These bacteria cause skin infections and problems such as boils and can sometimes lead to serious complications such as pneumonia, cellulitis or bone infections. Scientific research shows that another potential use of juniper berries is as an antioxidant in food and drink. In addition, an ethanol extract of these berries has been shown to have a significant effect against Aspergillus Niger - a black mold often found in spoiled food (14).

Juniper berries can alleviate skin diseases

The most common application for juniper berries - especially in the form of the essential oil - is the treatment of skin problems such as rashes and eczema. The antioxidants it contains are probably one of the main reasons for these effects. In a study of wound healing in animals after treatment with juniper berry essential oil, scientists discovered that two cultivars of juniper berries showed amazing wound healing and anti-inflammatory activities (15). This suggests that the traditional use of juniper berries to heal the skin has a scientific basis.

Based on a laboratory study from South Korea, it also seems possible that an extract of juniper berries may be able to help treat pigmentation disorders such as white spot disease (16). Juniper berry essential oil has also been used for some time to treat cellulite - a harmless cosmetic problem that involves fat deposits and usually affects the thighs, hips and buttocks (17).

Juniper berries could help improve digestion

In folk medicine, juniper berries have long been considered a digestive aid, but few studies have examined this effect in detail. However, one study conducted with dairy cows found that a juniper berry supplement resulted in better digestion (18).

As they also act as a diuretic, juniper berries may also help to reduce water retention in some cases.

Juniper berries can promote restful sleep

Many naturopaths recommend juniper berry essential oil as a relaxant and believe it has positive effects on brain chemistry and promotes relaxation. A study by Mie University Graduate School of Medicine in Japan investigated the effects of a therapeutic fragrance spray containing juniper berry essential oil, sandalwood, rose and Florentine iris on people who suffered from insomnia and were taking medication for it.

26 of the 29 subjects were able to reduce the dose of their medication and achieve a restful sleep when this scented spray was sprayed during the night and 12 subjects were able to stop their medication completely at the end of the study (19).

Juniper could be useful for certain types of cancer

Many herbs and foods with significant antioxidant activity are being studied for their potential effects on diseases such as cancer. However, to date, no human studies have been conducted on the anti-cancer potential of juniper berries in humans.

However, in a laboratory study, it was observed that both the essential oil and juniper berry extracts could induce cell death (apoptosis) in drug-resistant strains of leukemia, HepG2 (liver cancer) and p63 (neuroblast) cells (20, 21).

Juniper berries can promote heart health

Juniper berries can help improve heart function, probably due to their antioxidant qualities. For example, studies conducted on animals have shown that juniper berry essential oil can lower blood pressure, depending on its antioxidant content.

In a similar study, juniper berries acted as a natural diuretic, which may also contribute to the antihypertensive effect of juniper berries (23). Another study conducted with rats found that juniper berry extracts may be helpful in reducing high triglyceride levels (24). Juniper berries also act as an "anticholinesterase agent" (25). This is important for cardiac function as anticholinesterase agents (whether natural or pharmaceutical) help to build up acetylcholine in the nervous system, which in turn can slow down cardiac actions, lower blood pressure, increase blood flow and induce contractions of the heart. Interestingly, the same compounds are also used in some cases to treat digestive problems, myasthenia gravis and Alzheimer's disease. However, no studies have yet investigated the effects of juniper berries on the latter two diseases. Juniper berries can be used as part of a diabetic diet plan. Studies linking juniper berries to the treatment of diabetes are limited to in vitro and animal studies. However, the results of these studies are promising. An alcohol extract and a tea made from juniper berries appear to have the potential to lower high blood glucose levels in diabetic rats (26, 27). The essential oil of the juniper berry also appears to limit the amount of malondialdehyde produced by the animals' bodies (28). Although the role of malondialdehyde in diabetes is not yet fully understood, its concentration is much higher in humans with diabetes (and cancer) (29).

Juniper berries could help treat leishmaniasis

It is possible that a new use of juniper berries could be in the treatment of the parasites that cause leishmaniasis - a disease found in tropical countries and southern Europe. Laboratory tests have shown very strong effects of a juniper berry extract against these parasites (30).

Juniper berries may have diuretic effects

Juniper berries can act as a natural diuretic, which means that they can promote the excretion of fluid retention in the body via the kidneys (23). In the field of naturopathy, juniper has long been used for this purpose and was already mentioned in a 200-year-old medical manual for this purpose. In addition to positive effects on blood pressure and kidney function, this could also counteract annoying and unsightly water retention in the legs and under the skin, which can be caused by excessive sodium intake or inflammation in the body. Furthermore, increased urine output can also help prevent urinary tract infections by aiding the elimination of bacteria and toxins.

Juniper berries can promote kidney and urinary tract health

Juniper berries can support kidney function and promote kidney health. Glomerulus filtration rate (GFR) is a test that is considered the gold standard for kidney function. Scientific research has shown that the terpinen-4-ol contained in juniper berries can increase the glomerulus filtration rate (31), suggesting that juniper berries can improve kidney function. The diuretic effects of juniper berries, which can increase urine flow, result in the flushing out of uric acid and crystals that can promote many problems including gout, arthritis and kidney stones. Studies suggest that juniper berries may reduce the toxic effects on the kidneys (32) and counteract the formation of kidney stones (33). The increased urine flow also flushes more bacteria from the kidneys and bladder. This makes juniper berries useful for treating urinary tract infections and some patients report relief after just 24 to 72 hours. The British Pharmacopoeia even lists juniper berries as a disinfectant for the urinary tract.

Areas of application for juniper berries

Unlike other berries, juniper berries are not consumed in large quantities, but are typically used in small amounts to flavor food. They have a pungent, pine-like flavor that makes them a popular ingredient in seasonings and drinks. Juniper berries are used, for example, to refine marinades and spice mixtures and to give gin its characteristic flavor. They are usually sold dried - either as whole berries or ground - but are also available fresh. It should be borne in mind that there are many types of juniper berries and not all types are edible. Berries of the genus Juniperus communis are most commonly used for culinary purposes. The essential oil of the juniper berry is also used in aromatherapy, where it is said to have a calming effect. It should be borne in mind that essential oils should not be consumed. Additionally, juniper berries are available in the form of tea bags or can be ground into tea.

Dosage and precautions

There are no official dosage recommendations for juniper berries. For supplements, the recommended dosage is usually between 1 and 6 grams of extract per day, divided into several individual doses. Juniper berry supplements are not suitable for children and should be avoided by pregnant women, as juniper is considered a uterine stimulant and can cause miscarriage in high doses (34).

These supplements may also interact with certain medications such as diuretics and psychiatric medications. Some online sources claim that concentrated juniper berry supplements may damage the kidneys, although there is no scientific data to support such claims.

Conclusion

Juniper berries are a popular ingredient in marinades, spice blends and cocktails due to their aromatic flavor.

Juniper berry extracts have been shown to have a range of health benefits. It could have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, lower blood sugar levels and reduce risk factors for heart disease.