Juniper Oil

What is Juniper Essential Oil?

Did you know that Native Americans used juniper berries for medicinal applications as well as for cleansing and purifying the air? Today, juniper essential oil is a staple of aromatherapy. It is an oil extracted from the fresh or dried berries of the Juniperus communis plant via steam distillation.

The berries are the medicinal parts of the Juniperus plant, thanks to their rich concentration in tannins, flavonoid glycosides, resin, tar, and terpenes, as well as minerals like copper, chromium, calcium, iron, phosphorous, magnesium, potassium, and vitamin C.

From a fragrance perspective, juniper oil has a fresh, sweet, and woodsy scent reminiscent of balsamic vinegar with decidedly camphoraceous notes. Its fragrance makes it a popular addition to all sorts of household cleaning products and perfume sprays. Of course, juniper oil is also a staple in aromatherapy and is used in many medicinal applications.

Benefits of Juniper Essential Oil

• Immune Stimulant
• Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Properties.
• Potent Neuroprotective
• Promotes Healthy Sleep Patterns
• Purifies The Air

Therapeutic Properties of Juniper Essential Oil

Juniper oil, which is naturally antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, and antifungal, is commonly used topically on the chest to treat respiratory infections, fatigue, and a variety of aches and pains. It can also help boost immune function, regulate the sleep cycle, and aid digestion. Because it promotes circulatory health and assists in eliminating toxins like uric acid, juniper oil is also frequently recommended for gout, arthritis, rheumatism, kidney stones, and water retention in general. Other uses for juniper oil include shrinking hemorrhoids, helping to rid the body of toxins, relieving urinary tract infections and bloating, promoting healthy digestion, and soothing symptoms of acid reflux.

Using Juniper Essential Oil

Juniper oil has a woody, sweet, fresh, and crisp fragrance that blends exceptionally well with other wood oils like cedarwood, sandalwood, and rosewood, as well as cypress and fir needle. Additional notes that blend well with juniper include clary sage, vetiver, patchouli, and citrus oils like sweet orange and grapefruit.

When used in an aromatherapy diffuser, Juniper oil is calming and helps to ease stress without causing sedation, so you can retain complete alertness, concentration, and focus. Juniper can also be used as a room mister to purify the air. It's important to note that other than for use in diffusers or inhalation, aromatherapy oils should only be used topically when properly diluted and never ingested.