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"Juniper's task is to complete the tasks and learn the lessons," writes aromatherapist Valerie Ann Worwood in Aromatherapy For the Soul. She states the emotional benefits of juniper essential oil (Juniperus communis) are to encourage inner vision, upliftment, strength, vitality, sincerity, enlightenment, and humility.
Plant family: Cupressaceae
Production: High-quality oil is steam distilled from the ripe berries of the juniper tree, a conifer. For this reason, you'll also see the oil referred to as juniper berry. Low-quality oils (best avoided) are made from fermented berries or the tree's wood.
Aroma: Crisp, woody, sweet.
Perfume/Aromatic note: Middle
Is juniper safe to use during pregnancy? No, according to a number of different sources. But the IFPA says the oil is OK to use. Essential Oil Safety, 2nd Edition also states the oil is probably not a concern during pregnancy, and warnings against juniper are likely based on it being confused with another oil. Consult a professional.
Is juniper essential oil safe for children? Yes, for children ages 2+.
Cautions: Do not use an oxidized oil. Some sources recommend not using juniper if you have kidney problems. But Essential Oil Safety could not find evidence to support this contraindication.
Main components:
Source: Essential Oil Safety, 2nd Edition
Aromatherapy: A Complete Guide to the Healing Art: Juniper promotes digestion and may help relieve inflammation, joint pain, fluid retention, and hemorrhoids. You can use this essential oil on acne, eczema, dermatitis, boils, insect bites, inflamed and itchy skin, greasy hair, and dandruff. The oil may also help reduce varicose veins and cellulite. Emotionally, juniper helps relieve mental fatigue, insomnia, anxiety, or the feeling of being emotionally drained.
Essential Oils & Aromatherapy for Dummies: Use juniper in massage oils, liniments, and baths to help relieve pain and inflammation. The oil may improve digestion, reduce fluid retention during PMS, help get rid of congestion, relieve tiredness, and reduce anxiety. Use this essential oil in products to control acne, eczema, greasy hair, and dandruff. The oil also repels wool moths.
The Heart of Aromatherapy: Juniper provides respiratory support, especially for colds, flu, and congestion. The oil may reduce swelling, soothe sore muscles and joints, and encourage circulation and warmth. The scent supports overall energy and vitality. This oil works well in chest rubs and body butters.
The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy: Juniperberry may help relieve fluid retention, abdominal bloating, menstrual cramps, heavy legs, cellulite, acne, eczema, mental exhaustion, chronic fatigue, anxiety, and tension. The oil also helps relieve the pain of gout, rheumatism, and arthritis.
The Encyclopedia of Essential Oils (updated edition): Use juniper in skin care for acne, dermatitis, eczema, wounds, and oily complexions, and as a skin toner. This essential oil is also useful for reversing hair loss, and relieving the pain of hemorrhoids, gout, rheumatism, and menstrual cramps. The oil supports the immune system in cases of colds, flu, and infection and can help relieve anxiety, nervous tension, and stress-related conditions.
Aromatherapy For Healing the Spirit: In Traditional Chinese Medicine juniper stimulates yang energy, especially Kidney-yang. The oil helps relieve chronic tiredness, cold hands and feet, lower backache, fluid retention, and congestion. In TCM terms, juniper also gets rid of cold dampness, helping relieve rheumatic pain that's primarily of a cold, cramping nature. This essential oil is also beneficial for oily skin. This essential oil is energetically cleansing and deeply fortifying.
Aromatica: A Clinical Guide to Essential Oil Therapeutics, Volume I: Psychologically, juniper promotes willpower, courage, endurance, motivation, self-confidence, and positivity. Physically, the essential oil stimulates low-muscle-tone/cold conditions and decongests congestive/damp conditions. In Traditional Chinese Medicine the essential function of the oil is to strengthen the Spleen, resolve damp, and warm the interior. Two suggested blends:
Subtle Aromatherapy: Juniper detoxifies both the physical and subtle bodies and is especially useful for clearing away accumulated negative energy. The oil is also a space cleanser.
The Essential Guide to Aromatherapy and Vibrational Healing: Spiritually, use juniper to cleanse your aura. Mentally, use the oil to help you let go of repetitive negative thoughts. Emotionally, use the oil to help release stress and relax.
Aromatherapy and Subtle Energy Techniques: Juniper is uplifting and clears unwanted and negative energies. The oil is especially useful for the second chakra to help clear accumulated emotional negativity and protect you from negative influences.
Mixing Essential Oils for Magic: Juniper purifies spaces, clears away the energy of negative people, and helps you overcome problems and release toxic emotions. You can also use the oil to support dreamwork, divination, and psychic abilities and to help manifest abundance, love, prosperity, and success.
Diffuse juniper to support clear breathing and for its cleansing properties.
Soak in a warm bath!
Source: Aromahead Newsletter
Use this body oil in the mornings.
Source: 10 Recipes with Juniper Essential Oil
Apply this perfume balm to your neck and wrist pulse points as desired.
Source: Essential Living
Use this scrub as desired to clean the kitchen sink and disposal or for hard-to-clean pots and pans.
Source: Nikki Loscocco-VanZandt. "Spring Cleaning with Essential Oils." NAHA Aromatherapy Journal, Spring 2013.1, p. 39.
In an 8-ounce spray bottle, combine:
Top off the bottle with water.
Shake well and spray patio furniture liberally. Use a heavy rag to clean and scrub the furniture.
Source: 150 Ways to Use Essential Oils from Edens Garden
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0,