Juniper

Juniper berries are growing! Juniper (Juniperus spp.) “berries” are actually modified cones on the female plants. Multiple juniper species produce edible "berries,” but some species produce tastier ones than others, with Juniperus communis being the most commonly used. Juniper berry is a powerful diuretic. It is also a strong antimicrobial. These twin properties make it valuable in a formula for UTIs, perhaps combined with gentler herbs as taken alone over time it can be irritating to the kidneys and digestive tract. The berry is being studied for use in blood sugar control in type 2 diabetes, and also in reducing heart disease risk by interacting with cholesterol in the body. Due to its high antioxidant levels, it is sometimes seen as an ally in cancer cases as well.