Plant Profile

Common Juniper

Compiled by the Omnia Sana editorial team from the plant database ·Last updated August 15, 2026
Juniperus communis
Family: Cupressaceae  ·  Parts used: Fruit, Leaf, Stem  ·  Also known as: Juniper, Juniper “berries” / juniper cone berries, Eneberries / Enebær, Jeneverbes

Common names in 15 European languages →

The complete database record: 2 documented constituents, 6 pharmacological actions, 8 traditional / indicated uses, with 23 cited sources.

Botanical Description

Evergreen coniferous shrub or small tree, often low and sprawling, with sharp, needle-like leaves in whorls of three, each bearing a single white band on the upper surface. The plant is dioecious; female plants bear small, round, fleshy, berry-like cones ('juniper berries') that take two to three years to ripen from green to blue-black.[1]

Height: 1-10 m, highly variable (often a low sprawling shrub)
Habit: Evergreen coniferous shrub or small tree, often sprawling
Leaves: Sharp, needle-like, in whorls of three, each with a single white band above
Flowers: Dioecious, wind-pollinated, inconspicuous
Stem: Woody, often sprawling or low-growing, reddish-brown bark
Root: Woody, spreading root system
Fruit: Round, fleshy, berry-like cone, ripening blue-black over two to three years
Flowering Period: Spring

Habitat & Distribution

Grows on heath, moorland, rocky hillsides and open coniferous woodland on poor, often calcareous soils; one of the most widely distributed conifers, native across the Northern Hemisphere from Europe and Asia to North America.

Harvesting

The ripe, blue-black berry-like cones are hand-picked in autumn, typically in their second or third year of ripening (a mix of ages is often present on the same shrub); leaves and young stems can be gathered through the growing season.

Parts: Fruit, Leaf, Stem
Season: Fruit in autumn, when fully ripe (blue-black)

Key Constituents

Essential oil (alpha-pinene, sabinene, limonene)[1]

Berry essential oil dominated by alpha-pinene, beta-pinene, sabinene and limonene, giving the characteristic aroma and the antimicrobial activity.

Essential (volatile) oilTerpenes / terpenoids
Flavonoids and tannins

Antioxidant and astringent supporting constituents.

FlavonoidsTannins

Pharmacological Actions

Anticancer (preclinical)[3, 12, 13, 14]
Antimicrobial[4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 15, 18, 19]
Antioxidant[4, 6, 10, 11, 18, 19]
Digestive aid[6, 18, 19]
Diuretic[5, 11, 18, 19]
Urinary antiseptic[18, 19]

Traditional & Indicated Uses

Bloating[18, 19]Preliminary · 1/10

inferred from digestive action

Evidence: 1
Label: Bloating

more plants for bloating →detailed sources →

Cancer (anticancer research)[3, 12, 13, 14]Preliminary · 2/10

inferred from anticancer action

Evidence: 2
Label: Cancer (anticancer research)

more plants for cancer (anticancer research) →detailed sources →

Indigestion[18, 19]Preliminary · 1/10

inferred from digestive action

Evidence: 1
Label: Indigestion

more plants for indigestion →detailed sources →

Infection (general)[19]Preliminary · 1/10

inferred from antimicrobial action

Mechanistic Exclude Ids: REF-0073
Evidence: 1
Label: Infection (general)

more plants for infection (general) →detailed sources →

Swelling / fluid retention[18, 19]Preliminary · 1/10

inferred from diuretic action

Mechanistic Exclude Ids: REF-1741
Evidence: 1
Label: Swelling / fluid retention

more plants for swelling / fluid retention →detailed sources →

Urinary support[18, 19]Preliminary · 1/10

inferred from diuretic action

Evidence: 1
Label: Urinary support

more plants for urinary support →detailed sources →

Urinary tract infection (UTI)[18, 19]Preliminary · 1/10

inferred from diuretic action

Mechanistic Exclude Ids: REF-1741
Evidence: 1
Label: Urinary tract infection (UTI)

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

Wounds[19]Preliminary · 1/10

inferred from antimicrobial action

Mechanistic Exclude Ids: REF-0073, REF-1737, REF-1738
Evidence: 1
Label: Wounds

more plants for wounds →detailed sources →

Traditional Use & History

Juniper berry has a long European tradition as a diuretic and urinary antiseptic for minor urinary complaints, a warming digestive carminative for indigestion and bloating, and a flavouring for gin and other spirits; the leaf and wood have also been burned or used topically for their antimicrobial properties.[1]

Preparations

Infusion (berries)[17]

Comminuted juniper cone berries infused in 150 ml boiling water, 2.0-2.5 g as a single dose 1-3 times daily per the current revision of the EU herbal monograph. Educational reference only, not a prescription.

Essential oil[1]

Steam-distilled from the berries; used in small internal doses for short periods or diluted for topical/aromatic use.

Dosage

Berry infusion[17, 18]

The EU herbal monograph gives 2.0-2.5 g of the comminuted cone berries in 150 mL of boiling water as an infusion, 1-3 times daily (single dose 2-2.5 g, daily dose 2.5-6 g), for adults and elderly. Use is limited to short courses - if symptoms persist beyond 2 weeks a healthcare practitioner should be consulted - with adequate fluid intake; contraindicated in severe renal disease and not recommended in pregnancy. Educational reference only, not a prescription.

Safety, Cautions & Contraindications

Safety note[18, 19, 20]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[18, 19, 20, 21]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).

Dangerous Lookalikes

Juniperus Sabina[22, 23]Dangerous
Confused Part: Berry-like cones ('juniper berries') and foliage harvested for flavouring or tea; the toxic ornamental savin juniper is easily taken for edible common juniper, especially in gardens and parks.
Confusion Context: Common juniper (Juniperus communis) berries flavour food and gin, but not all junipers are edible. Savin juniper (Juniperus sabina) is a low, spreading ornamental juniper that is genuinely poisonous: a peer-reviewed analysis (Zheljazkov et al., 2021) found the antimitotic cell poison podophyllotoxin in savin but NOT in common juniper, and savin also contains irritant terpenes (sabinene, sabinol) and has long been a dangerous abortifacient. Because savin is widely planted in yards, parks and landscaping, 'juniper berries' picked from cultivated shrubs can be this toxic species; foraging guidance stresses positively identifying the species before eating any juniper.
Distinguishing Features: Foliage (decisive): edible common juniper has sharp-pointed NEEDLE-like leaves in whorls of three, each with a single white band on the upper surface. Savin and most ornamental junipers have soft, SCALE-like leaves pressed against the twig. Whorls of three sharp needles = common juniper; scale-like foliage = a juniper to avoid., Smell: savin foliage has an acrid, unpleasant (foetid) smell when crushed, unlike the clean gin-like aroma of common juniper., Habit: common juniper is a bushy shrub or small tree of wild heath and hillside; savin is a low, wide-spreading ornamental grown in gardens and municipal planting.
Key Test: Check the leaves. Sharp needle-like leaves in whorls of three (with a white band on top) = common juniper, the edible one. Soft scale-like foliage hugging the twig - especially on a low spreading shrub in a garden or park - with an acrid smell when crushed = a juniper to avoid such as savin (Juniperus sabina), which is toxic. Never eat juniper berries unless you have confirmed the species is common juniper.
Reviewed By: Omnia Sana (owner-authorized)
Reviewed Date: 2026-07-07

Harvest Readiness

[16]

Part: fruit
Signals: Gather the ripe fleshy cones (berries) in autumn, when fully ripe and blue-black; because green (unripe) and ripe cones sit together on the same bush, pick only the dark ripe ones.
Basis: traditional
Source Quote: It is usually harvested in the autumn when fully ripe and then dried for later use.
Species Confirmed: 1
Notes: PFAF (REF-3278); the fleshy cones ('berries') are gathered in autumn when fully ripe (seeds ripen in October). The cones take 2-3 years to ripen, so green and ripe blue-black cones occur together - pick only the ripe dark ones. Single lineage -> provisional. SAFETY: do not confuse with the toxic savin (Juniperus sabina); see Dangerous Lookalikes. (Leaf and stem, also listed parts, were not separately timing-sourced this pass.)

External Identifiers

GBIF ›Wikidata ›

References & Sources

  1. 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/
  2. 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
  3. 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
  4. 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
  5. 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
  6. 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
  7. 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
  8. 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
  9. 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
  10. 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
  11. 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
  12. 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
  13. 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
  14. 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
  15. 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
  16. Plants For A Future 'Juniperus communis (Juniper, Common Juniper)'. Available at: https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Juniperus+communis Traditional / reference
    https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Juniperus+communis
  17. European Medicines Agency (HMPC) (2023) 'European Union herbal monograph on Juniperus communis L., galbulus (pseudo-fructus), Revision 1'. Available at: https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/herbal-monograph/final-european-union-herbal-monograph-juniperus-communis-l-pseudo-fructus-galbulus-revision-1_en.pdf Traditional / reference
    https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/herbal-monograph/final-european-union-herbal-monograph-juniperus-communis-l-pseudo-fructus-galbulus-revision-1_en.pdf
  18. European Medicines Agency (2010) 'European Union herbal monograph on Juniperus communis L., pseudo-fructus'. Traditional / reference
    https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=European%20Union%20herbal%20monograph%20on%20Juniperus%20communis%20L.%2C%20pseudo-fructus
  19. British Herbal Medicine Association (1983) 'British Herbal Pharmacopoeia'. Traditional / reference
    https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=British%20Herbal%20Pharmacopoeia
  20. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (n.d.). Available at: https://powo.science.kew.org Traditional / reference
    https://powo.science.kew.org
  21. Duke, J.A (2002) 'Handbook of Medicinal Herbs, Second Edition'. Traditional / reference
    https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Handbook%20of%20Medicinal%20Herbs%2C%20Second%20Edition
  22. Four Season Foraging (2025) 'Is Juniper Toxic?'. Available at: https://www.fourseasonforaging.com/blog/2025/4/17/is-juniper-toxic Traditional / reference
    https://www.fourseasonforaging.com/blog/2025/4/17/is-juniper-toxic
  23. Zheljazkov, V.D. and Cantrell, C.L. and Semerdjieva, I. and Radoukova, T. and Stoyanova, A. and Maneva, V. and Kacaniova, M. and Astatkie, T. and Borisova, D. and Dincheva, I. and Salamon, I (2021) 'Essential Oil Composition and Bioactivity of Two Juniper Species from Bulgaria and Slovakia', Molecules, 26(12), pp. 3659. doi:10.3390/molecules26123659 Preclinical
    https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26123659

This fact sheet is generated automatically from the Omnia Sana plant database and reflects its latest synced data. It is provided for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. How this site is built.

Selected studies & references

ReviewZimbro (Juniperus communis L.) as a Promising Source of Bioactive Compounds and Biomedical Activities: A Review on Recent Trends source↗ (2022)
ReviewPotential of Juniperus communis L as a nutraceutical in human and veterinary medicine source↗ (2019)
ReviewA Phytopharmacological Review on a Medicinal Plant: Juniperus communis source↗ (2014)
PreclinicalInsights into Molecular Mechanisms of Anticancer Activity of Juniperus communis Essential Oil in HeLa and HCT 116 Cells source↗ (2024)
PreclinicalJuniperus communis extract ameliorates lipopolysaccharide-induced acute kidney injury through the adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase pathway source↗ (2022)
PreclinicalEvaluation of anticancer effects of Juniperus communis extract on hepatocellular carcinoma cells in vitro and in vivo source↗ (2021)
PreclinicalJuniperus communis extract induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis of colorectal adenocarcinoma in vitro and in vivo source↗ (2021)
PreclinicalJuniperus communis essential oil limits the biofilm formation of Mycobacterium avium and Mycobacterium intracellulare on polystyrene in a temperature-dependent manner source↗ (2020)

All 20 studies in the Knowledge Finder →

Educational use only. This profile summarises traditional and scientific sources for reference. It is not medical advice and not a substitute for a qualified practitioner. Some plants carry safety cautions and drug interactions - always check before use.
This profile is assembled automatically from the Omnia Sana plant database, which we curate by hand. How this site is built.

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