Common Juniper

Common Juniper

Enebro

Juniperus communis

giizhigaandagizi
ogaawa/inzh (Baraga: ogawanj, -ig 'juniper-bush')
(Gilmore: ka"wins; Densmore: ga 'gawan 'dagisid)
Gaagaagwaandag (Plants have so much to give us)

Common juniper is a low shrub, about 4 feet tall, that forms extensive patches. The whorls of 3 evergreen needles have sharp pointed tips and a white stripe down the centre. In May and June the cones are formed, with the sexes found on separate plants. The males are a small catkin-like cluster, while the females are a berry-like fruit with a bluish-white coating. Common juniper grows on sandy shores and dunes, where it is associated with pines, in old fields along with red cedar, in oak-hickory woods, under jack pines and aspens, and occasionally in conifer swamps. Often covered with orange galls, this juniper is an alternate host of the rust fungi that attacks apples.
(Plants used by the Great Lakes Ojibwa)
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An ornamental evergreen of the pine family with trees and shrubs of about forty species. Common Juniper is a smaller species, usually less than 25 ft tall and many of its numerous varieties are less than 10 ft. This shrub is common on dry, sterile hills from Canada south to New Jersey, west to Nebraska and in the Rocky Mountains of New Mexico. The leaves open in whorls of three, are glaucous and concave above, keeled underneath. Flowers in May, with fleshy fruit of dark-purplish colour, ripening in the second year after the flower.
(Indian Herbalogy of North America)
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It takes 2 years for the female fruits to mature, and it is then that the oils of the fruits are used to flavour gin. The bark is reddish-­brown, thin, scaly, and shreds into papery strips which were traditionally woven into mats. Traditional medicinal uses included a decoction of the twigs to treat asthma.
(Plants used by the Great Lakes Ojibwa)
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Medicinal part is ripe dry berries, serve as diuretic, stimulant, carminative. Obstinate stomach troubles have been relieved by releasing pressures that cause stomach tissues weakness, indigestion, in general poor assimilation., For sluggish conditions of the kidneys, Juniper berries will be found most serviceable; they increase the flow of urine, but should not be used alone in sensitive conditions. Small dosses reduce irritation while larger doses may increase it, so it is best to combine with peach leaves, Marshmallow root, parsley, alfalfa. A useful agent for many ailments: expels wind and strengthens the stomach, for coughs and shortness of breath, consumption, rupture, cramps, convulsions, gout, sciatica, dropsy and ague. It will strengthen the nerves and is an agent used for epilepsy. Kills worms in children and adults. For fumigating a room which has been used by a patient with an infectious disease, a solution used as a spray destroys all fungi. To make an infusion: several tablespoons of berries macerated., add them to 1 pint of boiling water for 1/2 hour or more. Cool, take 4 times daily, 10 to 30 drops.
(Indian Herbalogy of North America)
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Bear and deer use it as a playpen for their young, baby bear cubs and newborn fawns are left underneath and do not stray due to sharp foliage, protecting them also from attack.
(Plants have so much to give us)
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Mi'kmaw used juniper for many purposes. The gum was used to heal cuts, sores, burns, and sprains, and to treat colds and influenza. The tips of the juniper branches were steeped in water to make a beverage. The inner bark and juice were used to treat stomach ulcers. The former would be steeped in water and taken as tea.Juniper roots were named "rheumatism roots" and were considered effective for treating the problem. The roots were simmered in water and the liquid rubbed on the area or mixed into a salve. Also used to treat kidney ailments and as a urinary tract medicine. A good all purpose tonic, entire plant steeped in water, best collected near apple picking season. Steep until the water turns colour. Should not be used on a regular basis as a pleasure tea. Compound Medicine: the dried inner bark of black cherry, balsam fir buds and green or dried juniper bark was steeped in water to make a medicine for the treatment of colds and influenza.
(Mi'kmaq Medicines and Recollections)
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Gran diurético. Cocimiento al 30 por mil, en el reumatismo y la gota. 4 tazas por día. Para el mal aliento masticar unas semillas. Para ahumar ambientes, desodoriza cuartos. Ls bayas de enebro sirven para destilar la rica bebida ginebre.
(La Vuelta a los vegetales)

Mi'kmaq Medicines and Recollections, Laurie Lacey

Plants used by the Great Lakes Ojibwa, Meeker, Elias and Heim, Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission, Odanah, WI, 1993