| Latin Name : | Juniperus communis |
| English Name : | Juniper (common) |
| French Name : | Genévrier commun |
| Origin : | Canada |
History and Origin
Common juniper is largely distributed around the world. It is the only indigenous juniper found in Northern forests. Transcontinentally present in North America, it grows as a low, mat-forming shrub. It likes rocky and dry soils and full sunlighting. In traditional Native medicine, it is used to treat a wide variety of disorders ranging from stomach pains and respiratory disorders to venereal disease. It is also widely used to treat many disorders related to the urinary system. Ancient Greeks would burn it to fight epidemics. Incidentally, it was used in Germany (1856) during a cholera epidemic as well as in France (1870) to treat smallpox.