Botanical name – Juniperus communis
Family- Cupressaceae
Identification No.: SDACH/HG/190
Names in different languages:
Hindi name: Aaraar, Haubera, Abhal
English name: Common Juniper Juniper berry
Bengali name: Havusha
Marathi name: Hosha
Punjabi name: Abhal
Persian name: Hab-ul – Bruta
Kashmiri name Betar, Petthri, Pama, Chui, Haubl
Kumaon: Chichia, Jhora
Deccan : Abhal
Arab Habbul – Aaraar
French: Geneverier, Cad, Bruta
Catalan: Ginebra
Chamda: Betar
Denmark : Enebaer
Morphology of Juniperus communis Linn:
It is a species of evergreen aromatic shrub as tree distributed chiefly in the northern hemisphere from the arctic zone to the mountains of the tropics some of the species furnish commercial woods suitable for pencil making. In India, the plant is found in the Himalayan belt, growing to a height of 10-15 m.
The bark of the tree is thin and brown in colour. The leaves are 1-2 cm in length with bluish tinge, with a single white stomatal band on the inner surface. The flowers are unisexual in nature and are seen in the spring season. The fruit are berry-like cones, initially green, ripening in 18 months to purple-black with a blue waxy coating; they are spherical, 4-12 mm (0.16-0.47 in) diameter, and usually have three (occasionally six) fleshy fused scales, each scale with a single seed. Juniper oil is a colourless or pale greenish yellow liquid with a characteristic odour of the fruit a some- what burning bitter flavour. On storing, the oil turns viscous and acquires a turpentine odour.
Synonyms–
Habusha, visra
Types –2
- Hapusha
- Ashwathphala
Rasapanchak–
Rasa- Tikta, kashaya
Guna- Guru, Ruksha, Teekshan
Virya- Ushna
Vipaka- Katu
Doshakarma–
Vatakapha nashak
Therapeutic indications-
Udar Rog, Grahani, Kustha, Gulma, Shula, Vata Rog
Parts used-
Fruit, oil
Dose-
3-4 drops of oil
3-5 gms of churna
IUCN
Least Concern (LC)
Research Updates
2020 – Pharmacognosy Journal: Evaluated antiurolithiatic potential of Juniperus communis fruit extract in rat models; significant reduction in calcium oxalate crystal deposition.
2021 – Journal of Essential Oil Research: Essential oil showed potent antibacterial activity against urinary tract pathogens.
2023 – Journal of Ethnopharmacology: Clinical pilot study suggested improvement in PCOS symptoms due to phytoestrogenic and antioxidant properties of Juniperus communis berry extract.
