We are surrounded by so many medicinal plants and aren’t even aware of their many uses. For example, did you know that juniper berries have many medicinal benefits and contain antiseptic, astringent, antitoxic, diuretic, and sedative qualities? That’s why these marvellous berries are used in healing herbal remedies, including teas, body scrubs, bathing creams, infusions, hydrosols, tinctures; and let’s not forget essential oils!

The juniper berry is also considered a blood purifier, as well as an overall system cleanser. And the berry’s anti-inflammatory properties can help to ease pain associated with rheumatic conditions, arthritis, sore muscles, gout, nerve pain, and sore, painful joints.

Last year I came across a Juniper Sea-Salt Scrub recipe from the book The Boreal Herbal, by Beverley Gray. I decided to modify the recipe a bit and use Juniper essential oil instead of the ground juniper berries; I also added Rosemary essential oil to the mixture. Rosemary eases pain by numbing nerves. It also produces localized redness and warmth when applied to the skin, which makes it a good choice for bath/scrub and massage oil for treating arthritis, rheumatism, stiff and sore muscles, and gout.

This scrub is super powerful, and the combination of Juniper and Rosemary oils gives it a more powerful aroma. I was amazed at how soft my skin felt after using this exfoliating and moisturizing scrub. I know you’ll want the recipe, so here it is.

Exfoliating Body Scrub with Juniper and Rosemary Essential Oils
  • 2 Cups Epsom salts
  • 1 Cup organic extra-virgin coconut oil
  • 10 Drops Juniper essential oil
  • 10 Drops Rosemary essential oil
In a large bowl, add Epsom salts, coconut oil, Juniper and Rosemary essential oils. Mix ingredients well. Transfer mixture to a pint-sized Mason jar. Cover with lid. In the shower or bath, take a dab of the scrub in the palm of your hand and scrub from the chest all the way down to the tips of your toes. Do not use the scrub on your face.
Relax and enjoy! Be aware of the surface of your shower or tub when using the scrub. It may become slippery because of the oil in this product; so be careful when stepping out! You can use baking soda to clean up afterward so the next person won’t slip.
Important! One thing to keep in mind is that not all essential oils are created equally! These volatile liquids are distilled from plants, and many things can affect their chemical makeup: soil conditions, temperature, harvest season and method, and climate. To get the best therapeutic results, always use certified, pure therapeutic-grade oils.