Juniper

Juniper is a small evergreen coniferous tree in the cypress family, with a strong aromatic scent, which makes an attractive ornamental for landscaping. Its “berries” aren’t technically berries at all but are actually seed cones whose fleshy scales merge to create the impression of a smooth, unified surface. The term juniper berry however has become widely accepted. Martini lovers will know juniper berries as being the main flavouring component of gin and they must be lightly crushed and distilled to release the “piney, citrusy, turpentiney flavour” so central to the spirit’s taste. They are also used as a seasoning to enliven game, marinades, poultry and sauerkraut. 

Juniper berries stimulate the functions of the kidney and bladder, making an excellent antiseptic and diuretic for urinary conditions such as cystitis. This diuretic action explains juniper’s traditional use in high blood pressure, congestive heart failure and premenstrual fluid retention. Its bitter action aids digestion and flatulence and stimulates the appetite. Juniper can also assist with rheumatism and arthritis as well as easing the pain in joints and muscles when applied externally. 

Likening the juniper person picture to Santa Claus, herbalist extraordinaire, the late Dorothy Hall, said juniper people are defined by fluid retention: “’Fat and jolly’ may be the personality-summation; a hearty, jovial, fun-loving person who is not only expansive by nature but also by the waistline! Falstaff, Shakespeare’s wine-bibbing, red-faced rotund declaimer of stories and fun, was a classic ‘Juniper’. In later life, dropsy [oedema] would follow.” 

References

O’Connell J. The Book of Spice. Profile Books:London. 2015 p.130

Hoffman D. The New Holistic Herbal. Melbourne:Element. 1990.p. 209

Hall D. Dorothy Hall’s Herbal Medicine. Sydney:Lothian. 1988. p. 207