Juniper Berry Oil: Evidence, Safety and How It Is Used

Safety note: the European herbal committee lists severe kidney disease as a contraindication for the oral medicine form of juniper oil, and says use in pregnancy and breastfeeding is not recommended. [1] Do not swallow essential oils. If anyone does, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 (US); call 911 for collapse, a seizure or trouble breathing.

What juniper berry oil is

The EMA names the source as Juniperus communis L. [2] and describes the oil as an essential oil obtained by steam distillation from the ripe, non-fermented berry cones. [1] GBIF lists Juniperus communis L. as the accepted name, in the cypress family (Cupressaceae). [3] The berry itself is covered on the herb page (juniper berry); this page is about the oil. Juniper berry oil is different from "cedarwood" oils from other Juniperus species such as Juniperus virginiana (cedarwood oil).

Traditional use

Traditional use only, not proof. The EMA's herbal committee (HMPC) accepted juniper oil as a traditional herbal medicinal product, "exclusively based upon long-standing use". [1] The assessment report says no clinical trials on juniper oil are available, but the European tradition is much older than 30 years. [4] The sources we read give no other region-specific history, so we do not describe one.

What research shows

Forms, and why the form matters

The EMA monograph is for a licensed product with a package leaflet, and its oral form is a medicine, not a recommendation to swallow an essential oil. [1] We give no amounts. A licensed medicine is not the same as an essential oil bought as a scent product, and the berry, the oil and a tea are separate things (herbs page).

Safety

The monograph and assessment report are the main sources here.

• Kidneys and heart. Severe renal disease, including infectious interstitial nephritis, pyelitis and pyelonephritis, is a listed contraindication for the oral uses. [1] The use of the product is not recommended in oedema (swelling) due to limited heart and kidney function. [1] The monograph's overdose section says prolonged oral use and overdose may cause renal irritation and kidney pain, strong diuresis, albuminuria and other signs, and that rarely symptoms of central stimulation such as convulsions occur, as well as uterine bleeding (metrorrhagia) and abortion. [1] See herbs and kidney disease.
• The evidence is contested. The assessment report notes that standard references give contradictory information, mostly based on the authors' interpretation and not on clinical data. [4] A 28-day rat study of juniper oil by mouth found no change in kidney function or structure at the tested doses. [6] An animal study does not settle the question for people.
• Medicines. The assessment report says there are no reports on drug interactions, but combining juniper with diuretic compounds is not recommended. [4] Ask a pharmacist (how interactions work).
• Pregnancy and breastfeeding. The monograph says use during pregnancy and lactation is not recommended. [1] See essential oils in pregnancy and breastfeeding.
• Children. The monograph says use in children and adolescents under 18 has not been established for oral use, and use on the skin in children under 12 has not been established. [1]
• Skin and bath. Allergic skin reactions have been reported, frequency unknown. [1] The assessment report says dermal irritation has been recognized with the oil, and cites a patch test in which full-strength oil caused irritation in 2 of 20 subjects, while a 5% oil in petrolatum test caused no irritation or sensitization. It also cites a study of 86 patients with allergic reactions in which juniper berry oil caused allergic reactions in 6 of them. [4] The assessment report gives these figures from older sources and we could not check them further. The monograph also says a full bath should be used with caution in hypertension. [1] Animal tests showed the oils of J. communis and J. virginiana were not skin irritants. [7] That is not a guarantee for people; see skin reactions.
• Genetic safety. The assessment says genotoxicity (damage to genes) has not been studied, so a list entry could not be granted. [4]
• Surgery: tell the surgical team about any oil or supplement product. Pets and children at home: keep oils locked away. [8]
• Liver and asthma: not described for juniper oil in the sources we read.

Quality and adulteration

The sources we read do not describe adulteration of juniper oil specifically. For general information, see purity and adulteration.

Official statements

• EMA committee on herbal medicinal products (EU), monograph 2010 and assessment report 2011: traditional use only; cautions for kidney disease, pregnancy, lactation and children. [1][4]