Juniper Berry Essential Oil: From Ancient Rituals to Modern Wellness
- delilahproctor
- Mar 2
- 8 min read
Welcome back to Harvesters’ Corner! Today we are going to look at a tree covering the largest range of any we have looked at to date in the blog. This is the Juniper tree, and specifically we are going to look at the Juniper Berry Oil. For most people, their exposure to Juniper Berries is limited to James Bond, the fictional British spy who loved martinis shaken, not stirred. The connection comes from the fact that the berries were often used to flavor gin, the base for martinis. Yet the humble Juniper Berry, and other components from the proliferative Juniper tree, has a much higher claim to fame throughout history than simply being a flavorant for alcoholic beverages.
The Juniper tree has an extensive distribution range encompassing much of the northern hemisphere, from the central plains and steppes of the northern continents up to the taiga near the Artic Circle, even down around the foothills of the Himalaya. There are many species of tree that are known as Juniper. The common Juniper—Juniperus communis—is the source for the oil used in modern times. This tree is an evergreen that reaches a height of over thirty feet (ten meters), although in the American southwest it is commonly referred to as a dwarf Juniper. (1) It is a hardy and long-lived tree, with several examples known to have lived for more than two hundred years. The leaves of the tree are needle-like and green, while the tree’s heartwood is fragrant and red, and its use in products like cedar chests is still found in the modern era. The cones of the Juniper tree are surprisingly soft, not like the hard pinecones most people are familiar with. In fact, if you search high and low on the Juniper tree, you may find yourself scoffing and saying “Cones? What cones? I don’t see anything resembling a pinecone on this tree!” That is because the cones are what we commonly refer to as berries. In other words, the clusters of small, roundish purple-black berry-masses found proliferating on the branches of the tree are, in reality, the tree’s cones. These “berries” range in size from a quarter inch to a half inch (about five to twelve millimeters). As indicated earlier, Juniper Berries have an substantial history around the world as a flavorant for food and drink. The berry’s use in alcohol dates back to the Nineteenth Century, when the fruit was exported from Scotland to the Netherlands where it was incorporated into gin. (2)
The Rich History of Juniper Berry Essential Oil
That said, Juniper has an extensive history going back through the millennia to the ancient Egyptian kingdoms. A medical papyrus dating to 1500 BC contained references to Juniper Berry. The Egyptians had many uses for the Juniper tree and it various parts. The wood was often used in the construction of shrines and caskets, while an oil created from the berries (very different in all regards from the oil we use today) was used both an anointing oil and as an element of the embalming process. Leaves and bark were burned as incense and used in purification rituals. Part of the reason of Juniper being used as a means of purification stems from the fact that the wood’s smoke is minimally visible, so it doesn’t leave behind a sooty residue, and is also very aromatic. (3)
The uses for Juniper varied from one location to the next and were based mostly on where a person lived in the world. The American Indian tribes living around the Grand Canyon would use multiple parts of the Juniper tree. The bark was woven into strands for baskets, used as a binding agent for cradles and sandals, burned on torches, and as cushioning for beds. The berries were used in a variety of ways, often based on the tribe and location. Some branches of the Hopi chewed the berries as a delicacy, while others would only eat the berry as a last resort. The neighboring Yavapai, who live to the south of the canyon, would crush the berries in a mortar and soak the pulp in water. The mash was placed in the mouth, and the liquid sucked out. The solid matter left over was then spat out. One of the more interesting uses I found focused on the Navajo Nation and the tree’s use in purification. Following the burial of an individual, the men attending the departed would carefully back away from the gravesite. They carried bundles of Juniper branches in each hand, which they used to smooth the ground and wipe away their tracks, thus preventing any spirits from the underworld from being able to trace the men to the land of the living and bring evil upon them (4).
Some sources speculate that the incorporation in alcohol was to create a “pleasant” way of ingesting the berries to help calm upset stomachs. There is extensive historical evidence of Juniper being used throughout the ancient world, including Egypt and Rome, as a means of promoting a healthy digestive system. Herbalists in medieval Europe also recommended Juniper as an aid in combatting excessive flatulence. (5)
In many societies worldwide the berry is crushed and used in a manner similar to peppercorn. Many people living in northern England would add crushed Juniper to breads and cakes to add flavor to their baking. (6) The berries can also be soaked and then pressed to remove fluid for use. The crushed berries have a woody, spicy aroma that is fresh and crisp. The scent produced by the berries has a calming effect on the body. This is due to the high levels of the molecule alpha-pinene which is present in the oil.
In lands with extensive Celtic influence, like Scotland, Wales, and Ireland, Juniper would be used during the Samhain festival marking the Celtic new year. The smoke from the fires was used during the festival for purification as well as a stimulant for contacting spirits in the Otherworld. (7) In Central Europe the tree would be burned in homes during spring cleaning and also burned to cast out suspected witches. Additionally, Juniper was burned heavily during outbreaks of the Plague. (8) Bundles of Juniper twigs were also placed over doorways in Europe to prevent entry of witches and evil spirits. (9)
Distilling Yesteryear and Today
In the modern era, doTERRA sources its oil from Albania. Over 2000 harvesters gather the berries from trees growing in the wild, a process called wild-harvesting. Efforts are also underway to cultivate Juniper to enhance production. The juniper berry essential oil requires a prolonged extraction process. The berries are steam-distilled for fourteen hours and then stirred for another thirty-four hours as the oil matures. You read that correct…the distillation process for a single batch of oil requires forty-eight hours—two full days—to be ready for the market. (10) This is a very different process compared to the ancient world, where the oil was created either by allowing crushed berries to soak for several days in olive oil or by inserting twigs with berries into jars filled with oil to enable the sap and juice from the berries to diffuse into the oil.
From Medicinal Uses to Skin Care: The Multifaceted Benefits of Juniper Berry Oil
The question that comes to mind is what, exactly, is the modern-day Juniper Berry oil good for? Due to its ability to help tone the skin and cleanse the complexion, the cosmetic industry has incorporated the oil into many products sold on the market. You can also use the oil by itself as an adjunct to help promote healthy skin tone and complexion. The oil can also be added to water and used to help detoxify the body and support a healthy urinary system. If you are like me and find yourself scatter-brained some (or most!) of the time, mix three drops of Juniper with four drops of Bergamot and diffuse in your room. The Juniper helps cleanse the air, and helps to ground and calm the mind, while the Bergamot produces a calm, uplifting mood. I know from first-hand experience the impact Bergamot has in helping a person be able to calm down and focus on tasks at hand. Because Juniper Berry Oil is Generally Regarded As Safe, or GRAS, you can use it to accent French-inspired sauces and desserts—but use it sparingly. Dip a toothpick in the bottle and mix well into your dish. Be sure to check the taste before you try to add more oil. Please make sure the oil you are using is identified on its label as GRAS, and is a Certified Pure, Tested Grade if you plan on experimenting with the oil in food or drink. You definitely do not want to use any kind of an adulterated oil in cooking. Are there times you find yourself feeling overwhelmed, with too much to do and little time? Grab your bottle of Juniper Berry, put a couple of drops on your hands and rub them together. Then cup your hands and take a deep breathe in to enable the alpha-pinene in Juniper to help calm and ground your mind. (11) You may have already experienced this grounding sensation before, as alpha-pinene is found in many of the woody oils, including Frankincense, Black Spruce, Rosemary, Siberian Fir, and Black Pepper. (12)
Historically, the Juniper market has been volatile for both growers and harvesters. Co-Impact Sourcing has contracts with their producers to provide stability from price fluctuation. Both Co-Impact Sourcing and the Healing Hands Foundation have been active in improving the lives of the people in Albania, with an emphasis on upgrading existing schools in the regions where the producers live, as well as building and supplying new schools for the rising generations. (13)
The humble, small Juniper Berry is truly a powerful oil to have at hand, especially as the world around us grows more hectic and confused. There is a wonderful level of peace of mind that comes from being able to take a step back, ground yourself, and being able to move forward with confidence. I have to admit that I have been surprised with the implications and power of the Juniper Berry essential oil as I have researched this particular blog.
Spring is shaping up to be a busy time, so I plan on having both Juniper Berry and Bergamot readily at hand to help me stay focused throughout March and April. Our next blog will see us returning to the rocky crags of the Himalaya as we take a look at a royal oil: Spikenard. Until next time, stay safe and enjoy the oils!
Sources
1. Trees for Life. “Juniper Mythology and Folklore.” Date Unknown. Online. <http://treesforlife.org.uk/into-the-forest/trees-plants-animals/trees/juniper/juniper-mythology-and-folklore/#:~:text=Juniper%20was%20a%20symbol%20of,Elijah%20from%20Queen%20Jezebel's%20pursuit.>. Accessed 10 February 2025.
2. Ibid. “Juniper Mythology and Folklore.”
3. Ibid. “Juniper Mythology and Folklore.”
4. McHenry, Donald Edward. “Indian Uses of Juniper in the Grand Canyon Region.” Grand Canyon Nature Notes, April 1934, Volume 9 Number 1. Online. < https://npshistory.com/ nature_notes/grca/vol9-1c.htm>. Accessed 10 February 2025.
5. Trees for Life. “Juniper Mythology and Folklore.”
6. Ibid. “Juniper Mythology and Folklore.”
7. Ibid. “Juniper Mythology and Folklore.” See also Chisholm, Gabriella. “Juniperus communis.” Irish Tree Explorers Network, Queens College Cork. Online. < https://www.ucc.ie/en/tree-explorers/trees/a-z/juniperuscommunis/>. Accessed 10 February 2025.
8. Trees for Life. “Juniper Mythology and Folklore.”
9. Chisholm, Gabriella. “Juniperus communis.”
10. doTERRA. “Source to You: Juniper Berry.” 12 July 2021. Online. <https://sourcetoyou.com/ en/stories/story/juniper-berry>. Accessed 10 February 2025.
11. doTERRA. “Juniper Berry Oil Uses and Benefits.” The Blog. Online. <https://www.doterra.com/US/en/blog/spotlight-juniper-berry-oil>. Accessed 10 February 2025.
12. Hill, Dr. David K, editor. “The doTERRA Essential oil Chemistry Handbook, 3rd edition.” 2019. Pg 64-64.
13. doTERRA. “Source to You: Juniper Berry.”
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