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Contents:
Common Names
Parts Usually Used
Plant(s) & Culture
Where Found
Medicinal Properties
Biochemical Information Legends, Myths and Stories
Uses
Formulas or Dosages
Warning
Bibliography
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Common Names
Walnut
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Parts Usually Used
Bark, leaves, rind of the fruit
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Description of Plant(s) and Culture
Black walnut is a large, Temperate Zone forest tree growing to 120 feet; its
bark is rough and dark. The leaves are pinnately compound, with 9-21 ovate lanceolate,
serrate leaflets. Male and female flowers grow in separate catkins. The fruit
is a deeply grooved nut inside a spherical, rough husk. October-November.
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Where Found
Found in rich woods. Western Massachusetts to Florida; Texas to Minnesota. Canada
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Medicinal Properties
Bark: astringent, laxative, alterative
Leaves: alterative
Rind: herpatic
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Biochemical Information
Juglon (also called nucin or juglandic acid)
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Legends, Myths and Stories
Black walnut produces the famous walnut wood of commerce, as well as the familiar
edible nuts. Treats dog or man bites, painter's oil, flavoring. Black walnut
hulls are used for dyeing hair. Boil the hulls in 1 quart of water. Allow to
steep until a very dark brew is obtained. Add copperas, the size of a pea, to
set the dye. Strain and use as a hair rinse after shampoo. Repeat rinses until
desired shade is acquired.
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Uses
Use an infusion or decoction for diarrhea and to stop the production of milk.
Use it as a douche for leukorrhea and as a mouthwash for soreness in the mouth
or inflamed tonsils. The leaves can be used to make a cleansing wash, and the
green rind of the fruit makes a good poultice to get rid of ringworm. Dried
bark may be taken in a strong infusion as a purgative. The unripe nut kills
intestinal worms. Chewing the bark is a remedy for toothache; an insecticide
for bed bugs.
Rubbed on the skin, the extract of black walnut is said to help eczema, herpes, psoriasis, fungus infections, and skin parasites.
Native Americans used inner-bark tea as
an emetic, laxative, chewed the bark for colic, poulticed for inflammation.
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Formulas or Dosages
Tea: steep 1 oz. of either the bark or leaves in 1 cup water and take 2 or 3
times daily.
Extract: mix 10 to 20 drops in water or juice daily.
Externally: rub extract on skin 2 times
daily.
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Warning
Husk will stain anything it touches.
