I can still clearly recall my first couple experiences with juniper as a green and eager forager. I had been familiar with the plant since early childhood, frequently plucking the tips of the leaves and crushing them between my fingers to inhale the uplifting aroma. When I started a regular foraging practice at the age of 19, I read about using juniper berries and leaves as a seasoning and for medicinal purposes. Several months later I contracted a UTI and remembered reading that juniper functions as a urinary cleanser. I made tea from the leaves of a local tree, and with the help of cranberry juice, my UTI cleared up in a few days. It felt empowering to me at the time and greatly increased my appreciation for juniper.
I enjoyed the flavor and made a semi-regular practice of picking juniper berries and leaves for culinary and medicinal purposes. Herbal medicine books urged a light hand, noting that it can be toxic with frequent or heavy use. Many books mentioned a contraindication with kidney disease. Therefore I never used it frequently. It wasn’t until recently that I learned that these warnings are likely conflating a known toxic species of juniper (Juniperus sabina) with edible varieties. Furthermore, I was accustomed to indiscriminately picking any species of juniper, not realizing that certain species should be avoided. While I haven’t completely untangled the mystery regarding juniper toxicity, I have learned quite a bit and share it below to help end misinformation on the subject.
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