Pharmacological Actions

Antimicrobial^{[4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 15, 16, 17, 18]}

Antioxidant^{[4, 6, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18]}

Digestive aid^{[6, 16, 17, 18]}

Diuretic^{[5, 11, 16, 17, 18]}

Urinary antiseptic^{[16, 17, 18]}

Traditional & Indicated Uses

Bloating^{[16, 17, 18]}Traditional · 1/10

inferred from digestive action

more plants for bloating →detailed sources →

Indigestion^{[16, 17, 18]}Traditional · 1/10

inferred from digestive action

more plants for indigestion →detailed sources →

Infection (general)^{[16, 17, 18]}Traditional · 1/10

inferred from antimicrobial action

more plants for infection (general) →detailed sources →

Swelling / fluid retention^{[16, 17, 18]}Traditional · 1/10

inferred from diuretic action

more plants for swelling / fluid retention →detailed sources →

Urinary support^{[16, 17, 18]}Traditional · 1/10

inferred from diuretic action

more plants for urinary support →detailed sources →

Urinary tract infection (UTI)^{[16, 17, 18]}Traditional · 1/10

inferred from diuretic action

more plants for urinary tract infection (uti) →detailed sources →

Wounds^{[16, 17, 18]}Traditional · 1/10

inferred from antimicrobial action

more plants for wounds →detailed sources →

Safety, Cautions & Contraindications

Safety note^{[16, 17, 18]}Caution

Avoid in pregnancy. Juniper is not recommended during pregnancy (EMA/HMPC, 2023; Health Canada, 2025).Avoid with kidney disorders / serious kidney disease. It’s not recommended if you have kidney disease (EMA/HMPC, 2023; Health Canada, 2025).Adults only (for medicinal use). Use in under-18s is not recommended due to lack of data (EMA/HMPC, 2023).Hydration matters. If you’re using it for urinary “flushing,” you need adequate fluid intake (EMA/HMPC, 2023).Stop and seek help if symptoms look serious. Fever, painful urination, cramps/spasms, or blood in urine = talk to a clinician (EMA/HMPC, 2023).Duration caution. If using it beyond a few weeks, talk to a health professional (Health Canada, 2025).If breastfeeding: ask a health professional first (EMA/HMPC, 2023; Health Canada, 2025).

Safety note^{[16, 17, 18]}Caution

Duke (2002) rates juniper as + (use with caution), noting diuretic, carminative, and aquaretic activities, primarily at the experimental level (score 1). Traditional use for urinary infections is not supported by strong clinical evidence. The essential oil contains potentially nephrotoxic terpinen-4-ol, and juniper is contraindicated in kidney disease, urinary infections with inflammation, and pregnancy (emmenagogue and potential abortifacient properties). Commission E and PhEur do not recommend medicinal doses for prolonged use exceeding 4–6 weeks (Duke, 2002).

References

REF-0851, REF-0852, REF-0853, REF-1734, REF-1735, REF-1736, REF-1737, REF-1738, REF-1739, REF-1740, REF-1741, REF-1742, REF-1743, REF-1744, REF-1745

References & Sources

Pepeljnjak, S., Kosalec, I., Kalodera, Z. and Blazević, N (2005) 'Antimicrobial activity of juniper berry essential oil (Juniperus communis L., Cupressaceae)', Acta Pharmaceutica, 55(4), pp. 417-422. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16375831/ Preclinical
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16375831/
Peruč, D., Tićac, B., Broznić, D., Maglica, Ž. et al (2020) 'Juniperus communis essential oil limits the biofilm formation of Mycobacterium avium and Mycobacterium intracellulare on polystyrene in a temperature-dependent manner', International Journal of Environmental Health Research, 32(1), pp. 141-154. doi:10.1080/09603123.2020.1741519 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1080/09603123.2020.1741519
Marković, T., Popović, S., Matić, S., Mitrović, M. et al (2024) 'Insights into Molecular Mechanisms of Anticancer Activity of Juniperus communis Essential Oil in HeLa and HCT 116 Cells', Plants (Basel), 13(17), pp. 2351. doi:10.3390/plants13172351 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13172351
Goncalves, A.C., Flores-Felix, J.D., Coutinho, P., Alves, G. and Silva, L.R (2022) 'Zimbro (Juniperus communis L.) as a Promising Source of Bioactive Compounds and Biomedical Activities: A Review on Recent Trends', International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 23(6), pp. 3197. doi:10.3390/ijms23063197 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23063197
Bais, S., Gill, N.S., Rana, N. and Shandil, S (2014) 'A Phytopharmacological Review on a Medicinal Plant: Juniperus communis', International Scholarly Research Notices, 2014, pp. 634723. doi:10.1155/2014/634723 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/634723
Raina, R., Verma, P.K., Peshin, R. and Kour, H (2019) 'Potential of Juniperus communis L as a nutraceutical in human and veterinary medicine', Heliyon, 5(8), pp. e02376. doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2019.e02376 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2019.e02376
Gordien, A.Y., Gray, A.I., Franzblau, S.G. and Seidel, V (2009) 'Antimycobacterial terpenoids from Juniperus communis L. (Cuppressaceae)', Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 126(3), pp. 500-505. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2009.09.007 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2009.09.007
Klancnik, A., Zorko, S., Toplak, N., Kovac, M., Bucar, F., Jersek, B. and Smole Mozina, S (2017) 'Antiadhesion activity of juniper (Juniperus communis L.) preparations against Campylobacter jejuni evaluated with PCR-based methods', Phytotherapy Research, 32(3), pp. 542-550. doi:10.1002/ptr.6005 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.6005
Maurya, A.K., Devi, R., Kumar, A., Koundal, R., Thakur, S., Sharma, A., Kumar, D., Kumar, R., Padwad, Y.S., Chand, G., Singh, B. and Agnihotri, V.K (2018) 'Chemical Composition, Cytotoxic and Antibacterial Activities of Essential Oils of Cultivated Clones of Juniperus communis and Wild Juniperus Species', Chemistry & Biodiversity, 15(9), pp. e1800183. doi:10.1002/cbdv.201800183 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1002/cbdv.201800183
Jegal, J., Park, S., Chung, K., Chung, H.Y., Lee, J., Jeong, E.J., Kim, K.H. and Yang, M.H (2016) 'Tyrosinase inhibitory flavonoid from Juniperus communis fruits', Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry, 80(12), pp. 2311-2317. doi:10.1080/09168451.2016.1217146 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1080/09168451.2016.1217146
Lin, T., Lu, C., Chang, K. and Lee, C (2022) 'Juniperus communis extract ameliorates lipopolysaccharide-induced acute kidney injury through the adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase pathway', Food Science & Nutrition, 10(10), pp. 3405-3414. doi:10.1002/fsn3.2941 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1002/fsn3.2941
Gao, H., Huang, X., Yang, T., Chang, K., Yeh, L., Hsieh, M., Weng, J. and Tsai, N (2019) 'Juniperus communis Suppresses Melanoma Tumorigenesis by Inhibiting Tumor Growth and Inducing Apoptosis', The American Journal of Chinese Medicine, 47(5), pp. 1171-1191. doi:10.1142/S0192415X19500605 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1142/S0192415X19500605
Huang, N., Huang, R., Huang, X., Chang, K., Lee, C., Hsiao, C., Lee, S. and Tsai, N (2021) 'Evaluation of anticancer effects of Juniperus communis extract on hepatocellular carcinoma cells in vitro and in vivo', Bioscience Reports, 41(7), pp. BSR20211143. doi:10.1042/BSR20211143 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1042/BSR20211143
Lai, W., Lee, S., Chang, K., Huang, X., Li, C., Lee, C., Wu, C., Hsu, H. and Tsai, N (2021) 'Juniperus communis extract induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis of colorectal adenocarcinoma in vitro and in vivo', Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research, 54(10), pp. e10891. doi:10.1590/1414-431X2020e10891 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1590/1414-431X2020e10891
Peruc, D., Ticac, B., Abram, M., Broznic, D., Stifter, S., Staver, M.M. and Gobin, I (2019) 'Synergistic potential of Juniperus communis and Helichrysum italicum essential oils against nontuberculous mycobacteria', Journal of Medical Microbiology, 68(5), pp. 703-710. doi:10.1099/jmm.0.000962 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1099/jmm.0.000962
British Herbal Medicine Association (1983) 'British Herbal Pharmacopoeia'. Traditional / reference
Find this source
European Medicines Agency (2010) 'European Union herbal monograph on Juniperus communis L., pseudo-fructus'. Traditional / reference
Find this source
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (n.d.). Available at: https://powo.science.kew.org Traditional / reference
https://powo.science.kew.org

Generated June 22, 2026 from omniasana.bio