From the berries of juniper, scientific name Juniperus communis, family of the Cupressaceae, an essential oil is obtained with antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties thanks to its compounds such as alpha pinene, beta pinene and limonene (Pepeljnjak et al, Acta Pharm, Dec 2005). Moreover, this essential oil is also useful to act as a calming remedy and results helpful against sleep disturbance. Let’s see the possible applications.
Acne, inflammations and skin aging
Juniper essential oil, thanks to its action against bacteria and inflammations, is helpful in case of acne. In fact, according to a scientific study, it has been possible to show the effectiveness of juniper essential oil to counteract chronical inflammations of the skin, such as acne (Han et al, Cogent medicine, March 2017). You can mix a drop of juniper essential oil to a small quantity of your face cream or add 7-8 drops to 100 ml of jojoba oil and use this as a serum on damp skin. But juniper essential oil has also a powerful antioxidant action, demonstrated by scientific studies (Hoeferi et al, Antioxidants, Mar 2014), thus resulting useful to fight free radicals and skin aging processes. In this case you can add 7 drops of essential oil to 100 ml of argan oil, very nourishing, and massage on the damp skin as a serum.
Arthritis, rheumatism, muscle pain
Thanks to its anti inflammatory power the juniper essential oil is useful to counteract arthritis, joint pane, muscle pain and rheumatism (Fierascu et al, BMC Complement Altern Med, Jan 2018). Add 15 drops of juniper essential oil in 200 ml of a plant based oil such as sweet almond oil and do massages on the sore part.
Cellulite and water retention
You can prepare a massage oil by mixing 15 drops of juniper essential oil and 200 ml of sweet almond oil or wheat germ oil. Massage the legs from the ankles up, this will help remove toxins and stagnations.
Insomnia and stress
Juniper essential oil has calming and relaxing properties and may result useful to counteract insomnia (Ali et al, Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine, Aug 2015), by using an oil burner you can diffuse in the room 1 drop of juniper essential oil per square meter. And for a powerful essential oil blend helpful to improve your sleep, according to a scientific study (Koulivand te al, Evid Based Complement Alternat Med., Mar 2013), you can mix the essential oils of lavender, basil and juniper. This has proved to be able to reduce sleep disturbances.
Candida, fungal infections and bacteria
Juniper essential oil shows a high antibacterial and antifungal action thus resulting useful to counteract candida infections (Pepeljnjak et al, Acta Pharm, Dec 2005). For this reason, in case of yeast infections, you can prepare sitz bath in this way, add to warm water 4-5 drops of juniper essential oil. Finally, this essential oil may be also added to the water used to clean bath, bathtub and sink thanks to its disinfectant action (Peruc et al, Arh Hig Rada Toksikol, Mar 2018).
