Uses for Juniper Berries
Juniper berries are the female seed cones produced by various junipers, which are members of the cypress family that range from small, spreading shrubs to tall evergreens found throughout the Northern Hemisphere. The berries are most often blue and have a variety of culinary, medicinal and aromatic uses worldwide.
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Spices
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Bittersweet and piney, with just a hint of citrus, juniper berries offer a strong and hearty flavor that has been spicing up cuisine for centuries. Used worldwide, but prevalent in Norwegian and Swedish dishes, juniper berries season wild bird meats as well as game meats such as boar, venison, rabbit, veal and leg of lamb. They are also a flavorful addition to cabbage and sauerkraut dishes, soups, stews and marinades, stuffings and fruity desserts such as apple tarts and pickled peaches. They blend deliciously with thyme, sage, oregano, marjoram, bay leaves and allspice, as well as with onions and garlic.
Beverages
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Juniper berries are used to flavor the alcoholic beverage gin. The word gin actually comes from the French word "genièvre" and the Dutch word "jenever," both of which mean juniper. Another beverage flavored by the juniper berry, as well as juniper branches, is the Finnish rye and juniper beer called sahti.
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Aesthetic and Aromatic
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American Indians use the seeds from juniper berries as beads for jewelry and artistic decoration. Oils extracted from the berries are believed to have a calming affect on the senses and are used in aromatherapy and perfumery as room mists, incense and in candle burners. Burning the berries in heating oil is a method used for cleansing and sanitizing stale air.
Medicinal
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Juniper berries and their essential oils have a long medicinal history, and contemporary herbalists prescribe them for managing a variety of ails. The most common use is as a component of treating bladder infections because their diuretic and antiseptic properties are believed to help remove toxins from the body. They also are promoted by some as being anti-inflammatory and useful in easing arthritic pain, as well as improving digestion and relieving gas by regulating the flow of digestive fluids. Other medicinal claims include using them in massage oils, liniments or aromatherapy to clear up acne, eczema and dandruff, soothe gout, varicose veins and hemorrhoids and provide relief for congestion, asthma and colds.
Warnings
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Many of the claims regarding juniper berries and their essential oils in medicine have not undergone scientific testing. Historically, some cultures used juniper berries to induce childbirth and menstruation. They have been reported to have caused miscarriages in lab rats. Herbalists and medical doctors advise pregnant women to avoid the medicinal use of juniper. The essential oils in juniper berries also are reported to stimulate the kidney nephrons, so it is advisable that those with kidney disease also abstain. Although juniper berries are safely used around the world as spices in food preparation, pregnant women and people with kidney disease should also ask their medical care providers if consumption would pose any health risks.
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