Names
Shoshone:
wah·pee
English: Creeping Juniper
Scientific: Juniperus communis
Zone
Upper Foothills
Harvest Time
- Time not specified
- Grows under forest canopy, hence the name “creeping”. This is the juniper to collect green berries from
Primary Uses
- Peptide enzymes- helps digest proteins
- HCl production increases
- Green: mash to put topical onto wound to kill bacteria
- Blue: used to treat glomerulitis
Secondary Uses
- Eat 3 or 4 blue berries before meal: or solvent for greens.
- Green berries: boil
- Ceremonially for purity and longevity
Cautions
- Never take green berries internally! Harms kidneys:
- Too many blueberries can cause abortion
Active Principle(s)
- Juniperin and volatile oils (antiseptic in urine)
Video Description of Plant
Click play on the video to learn more about this plant.
Notes
Processing prep
- Use blueberries and pound them first. Then pound into the meat. Offsets strong flavor of mule deer or antelope.
Medicinal Uses
- Antibacterial: Berry and leaf tea drunk for UTI and applied topically
- Appetite Stimulation: Berries chewed to stimulate appetite
- Contraception: Berries chewed
- Glomerulitis: Kidney disinfectant
- Healing: Berry tea healing to urinary tract
- Infection: Tea, berry (blue phase), UTI
- Kidney Nephritis: Blue phase of berry tea
- Urinary Tract Infection: Leaf or berry tea