Eastern Red Cedar
OTHER NAME(S): Ashe Juniper, Bois de Virginie, Cedar, Cedarwood, C dre Rouge, C dre de Virginie, Cedro Rojo, Enebro de Virginia, Genévrier Rouge, Red Cedar, Red Cedarwood, Red Juniper, Texas Cedarwood, Virginia Cedarwood, Juniperus virginiana, Cedro de Virginia, Genévrier de Virginie
Overview
Eastern red cedar is a tree. The wood, berries, and leaves are used for medicine.
People take Eastern red cedar for cough, bronchitis, joint pain (rheumatism), water retention, and flatulence. They also take it to improve appetite and digestion, and as a treatment for fungal infections and worms.
There isn't enough information to know how Eastern red cedar might work as a medicine.
People apply Eastern red cedar to the skin for wounds, skin rashes, hair loss, eczema, acne, warts, fungal skin infections, and hemorrhoids. They also rub it onto joints for rheumatism, and onto the chest for asthma.
In manufacturing, Eastern red cedar is used as a fragrance for soaps, perfumes, and cosmetics. The oil is also used as an insect repellant against moths, flour beetles, cockroaches, mosquitos, termites, and ants.
There isn't enough information to know how Eastern red cedar might work as a medicine.
Uses
Insufficient Evidence for
- Acne.
- Bronchitis.
- Cough.
- Fungal infections.
- Hair loss.
- Helping appetite and digestion.
- Joint pain (rheumatism).
- Skin rash.
- Warts.
- Water retention.
- Worms.
- Other conditions.
More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of Eastern red cedar for these uses.
Precautions
Eastern red cedar is POSSIBLY UNSAFE when taken by mouth in large amounts. Burning in the stomach, vomiting, convulsions, coma, and even death have been reported with overdose ingestion of Eastern red cedar essential oil.
There is not enough information to know if Eastern red cedar is safe when taken by mouth in small amounts or when applied to the skin.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Eastern red cedar is LIKELY UNSAFE to use during pregnancy. It might cause abortion. Don't use it.
Breast-feeding: Not enough is known about the use of Eastern red cedar during breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
Interactions
Moderate Interaction
Be cautious with this combination
- Sedative medications (Barbiturates) interacts with Eastern Red CedarSome sedative medications are changed and broken down by the liver. Eastern red cedar essential oil might increase how quickly the liver breaks down these medications. Using Eastern red cedar essential oil with these medications might decrease how well these medications work.
Dosing
The appropriate dose of Eastern red cedar depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for Eastern red cedar. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.
References
- Leung AY, Foster S. Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Food, Drugs and Cosmetics. 2nd ed. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, 1996.
- McGuffin M, Hobbs C, Upton R, Goldberg A, eds. American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, LLC 1997.
- Brinker F. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions. 2nd ed. Sandy, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications, 1998.
- Tumen I, Süntar I, Eller FJ, Keles H, Akkol EK. Topical wound-healing effects and phytochemical composition of heartwood essential oils of Juniperus virginiana L., Juniperus occidentalis Hook., and Juniperus ashei J. Buchholz. J Med Food 2013;16(1):48-55. doi: 10.1089/jmf.2012.2472.
- Cushman KE, Maqbool M, Gerard PD, et al. Variation of podophyllotoxin in leaves of Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana). Planta Med 2003;69(5):477-8.
- Johnson W. Final report on the safety assessment of Juniperus communis Extract, Juniperus oxycedrus Extract, Juniperus oxycedrus Tar, Juniperus phoenicea extract, and Juniperus virginiana Extract. Int J Toxicol 2001;20 Suppl 2:41-56.