Welcome back to part 2 of our Herb of the Week series. This week we will be looking at the powerful and versatile Common Juniper Tree.
What is Common Juniper?
Juniperus Communis, also known as Common Juniper, Juniper, Mountain Yew, Aittin/Aiten, and Samh in Scottish Gaelic or Merywen in Welsh. Junipers are a group of coniferous trees that comprise of up to 67 species. They are part of the Cypress family and can be found throughout the northern hemisphere [1]. To make writing this article easier, I will be focussing on the Juniper that is local to me, the Common Juniper (Juniperus Communis). Common Juniper trees are deciduous, with male and female cones living on separate plants and relying on wind to pollinate [2]. The male trees live longer than the female ones, with males living up to 2,000 years compared to the 200 years of a female tree [3].
How to identify Common Juniper
Common Juniper trees can vary in size and shape, ranging from 16-meter-tall trees to low spreading shrubs. Their leaves are green needle like and can cause some pain and discomfort when handling. The leaves of the Common Juniper tree never reach the mature scale stage of other Junipers. The berries of the Common Juniper are initially green and ripen over 18-months into a purple/black with a blue waxy coating [4].
(pic of different leaves)
History of Common Juniper
The name Juniper likely derives from the Latin “juniveris” and “parus”, meaning “young baring”. This possibly relates to the abortifacient effects of its close relative Savin Juniper [5].
Unfortunately, the size of the Juniper tree limits its uses. In Scandinavia, Juniper wood is used for storing dairy products. While in Estonia, it was prised for its beautiful long-lasting smell and its pretty structure. In times past, boys in Northen Poland would chase girls on Easter Monday, lightly whipping them on their legs with Juniper to bring good luck and love to the girls [6].
As is well known, Juniper has many uses in cooking. The bitter berries are usually dried and used to flavour foods such as meats and sauces. Since the early Medieval period, Juniper has been used to flavour some beers and spirits, Gin deriving from the old French word for Juniper [7].
Magical Uses of Common Juniper
Historians have claimed that Juniper has been a magical ally plant of humans since at least Neolithic times [8]
Juniper has amazing protective qualities and is known to ward off malevolent spirits and even the devil himself [9]. At the same time, Juniper is a guardian of the threshold between life, death and re-incarnation. Like Yew, this tree is believed to care for the spirit of those who have passed until they are ready to be born again. For this reason, you will often find both plants in graveyards [10].
Juniper was used to recover lost items, protect against venomous animals and nullify spells of weakness and fainting [11].
Used to cleanse ritual space and persons in the traditional act of Saining, a traditional Scottish practice akin to Smudging, Juniper was also burnt and used in spells to help the sick and cleanse the room they were in. During meditation it helps promote concentration and aids in journeys where it is a great protector. Burn at Nos Galan Gaeaf (Samhain) to contact the spirits of our ancestors and to partake in necromantic works. In Scotland, Juniper was also burned during Beltane to welcome the warmth of summer and at New Years to purify the home [12].
In Mongolia, and other Siberian areas, shamans burn Juniper in nearly all rituals believing that its smoke induces a mild hallucinogenic effect that aids in their rituals [13].
The following comes from a more UPG point of view. The plant often has 3 different years berries growing at the same time, as we know, the triple aspect plays an important role within magic and the occult. Its spikey leaves give me the association of fire and sexual energies associated with procreation, meanwhile the plant is deeply rooted in the earth, and this reflects in its longevity. In my view, this tree is most defiantly a strong energy and represent creation, life and the return to the earth. I feel the energy of this plant is often closed off, but it is worth breaking down those barriers to work with this wise plant ally. After all, honouring Juniper is honouring the knowledge of our ancestors and brings us closer to the spirits of place. If you intend to harvest Juniper, please do so respectfully, for it was believed in Wales, that anyone who cut down a Juniper tree will be dead within the year.
Medicinal Uses of Juniper
Juniper has a long and varied history of medicinal use, including treating cancer, diabetes, wind, indigestion, and many other conditions [14]. While nutritional information for Juniper is limited, we do know that the berries provide certain vitamins and plant compounds, including Vitamin C and coumarins. The berries are anti-inflammatory and provide antioxidant effects [15]. To find the earliest recorded medical use of Juniper we need to go back to the times of the pharaohs where the papyri talk about using Juniper to treat tapeworm infections [16].
Although Juniper is often consumed as food, it does carry danger with its use. In doses of 10g’s of berries or 100mg of oil, it is known to cause kidney problems, seizures. Juniper is also unsafe to consume while pregnant or when trying to conceive, having abortive effects and reducing fertility. It is also vitally important to avoid Juniper if you are taking Lithium medication as this could lead to serious side effects [17].
Sources
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juniper
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juniperus_communis
[3] https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/grow-plants/juniper-tree-juniperus-communis/
[4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juniperus_communis
[6] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juniperus_communis
[7] ibid
[11] ibid
[12] https://www.herondrums.co.uk/journal/juniper
[13] ibid
[14] https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-724/juniper
[15] https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/juniper-berries#anti-inflammatory-and-antioxidant
[16] https://www.researchgate.net/publication/297891636_A_New_Tree_Name_in_Egyptian_r-b-r-n_juniper_in_the_Tale_of_Wenamun
[17] https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-724/juniper
Please consult your doctor before using any herbs, particularly if you have a known medical condition or if you are pregnant or nursing. You are responsible for your own health. Information provided on this blog is for curio and entertainment purposes only.
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