Black Walnut

[IdahoHerbalist]

A while ago I was asked by one of my herb friends if I had access to Black Walnut. I had heard previously that Black Walnut had medicinal properties but did not know what they were. I hope that the research I have done may help you make decisions about Black Walnut and if it will be of help for you and your family.

I have been searching in my area (Buhl, ID) for the last several weeks for a source of Black Walnut. I posted a note on a regional sale/wanted list. One person said that he know of some but they were nearly an hour away. I kept my search up and one day on my way home from work I noticed a tree and confirmed that it was Black Walnut. A few days later I got permission to harvest them but was warned that I needed to be fast and “get them before the squirrels do.”

It is one thing to have a source. You also need to know WHEN and HOW to harvest. This is what I found on this page:

The black walnut tree, or Juglans nigra, is native to North America, where it grows predominantly in the eastern and central regions of the United States. The tree produces aromatic nuts in very hard shells, encased within thick green hulls that turn brown and papery as the nut matures. Commercial growers harvest black walnuts just as the green hulls begin to split, removing the hulls and drying them for use in herbal products.

Go to that page for more information.

So, what does Black Walnut have and what does it do?

The primary constituents of Black Walnut are tannins, juglone and iodine. It is antimicrobial, antifungal, antiviral and antiparasitic.

Read the following pages and do your own search for more information.

Additional Resources:

[Dr. Patrick JonesHomestead Instructor]

John Christopher had a great story about clearing up a horrible case of jungle rot on a guy’s head in the army using only a tincture made from black walnut hulls and rubbing alcohol (he didn’t have access to booze on the army base).

He wrapped the guy’s head with a towel and kept it soaked with the tincture for about a week. Cleared him right up. After that the doctors (who’d failed to cure the guy several times) gave him permission to use herbs on anybody he wanted on base. He became the only practicing herbalist in the US Army.

Seems like I used it to kill some warts on one of my kids once. I’ve killed ringworm with it too.

Patrick

Don't use herbs or combine herbs with medications or use them during lactation or pregnancy without talking with your healthcare provider.

[ComfreyStudent]

I’ve been soaking black walnut hulls in 100 proof vodka for the past 4 weeks. I noticed the hulls were rather juicy when I cut them off the walnut, and wondered if I still press the marc to get every bit of liquid out, or if that will dilute the tincture too much. I have to admit, I didn’t weigh anything. Just put the cut pieces in a jar and covered them.

And while I’m asking about tincturing fresh walnut hulls, what about other fresh herbs? Do you prefer to tincture fresh or dry and why? Your thoughts would be appreciated.

[IdahoHerbalist]

Definitely press the hulls. The alcohol will have penetrated the marc and you want to get it all out.

[Dr. Patrick JonesHomestead Instructor]

Yup. Press ’em hard and get all that stuff you can.

Patrick

Don't use herbs or combine herbs with medications or use them during lactation or pregnancy without talking with your healthcare provider.

[Edward E. WaldenStudent]

Comfrey wrote: I’ve been soaking black walnut hulls in 100 proof vodka for the past 4 weeks…

This also makes a good wood stain.

[Edward E. WaldenStudent]

I had a huge black walnut tree in my front yard for twenty years. I usually had bad thoughts about the tree as I was sweeping up what seemed like Billions of walnuts every Fall.

Now I’m thinking about planting one.

[Dr. Patrick JonesHomestead Instructor]

Firehydrant wrote: I had a huge black walnut tree in my front yard for twenty years. I usually had bad thoughts about the tree as I was sweeping up what seemed like Billions of walnuts every Fall.

Now I’m thinking about planting one.

Funny how herbalism causes a paradigm shift. I ave burdock growing in my garden. LOL

Patrick

Don't use herbs or combine herbs with medications or use them during lactation or pregnancy without talking with your healthcare provider.

[IdahoHerbalist]

I have PUNCTURE VINE (goathead)!

[Dr. Patrick JonesHomestead Instructor]

IdahoHerbalist wrote: I have PUNCTURE VINE (goathead)!

Atta boy! Good medicine. And the more of them we use for medicine the fewer of the #&$%! things we have to step on. LOL

Patrick

Don't use herbs or combine herbs with medications or use them during lactation or pregnancy without talking with your healthcare provider.

[sstolzenburgStudent]

Doc and Steven,

I harvested about 2 gallons of black walnuts, but here in California the hulls don’t split, they just turn black. Anyway, I have the whole nut with the black husk on it, and I am pretty sure they are black walnuts. They look just like the pictures Steven posted. At least the tree leaves look the same and the green nuts are the same as they looked a few months ago when they were all green. I have also picked the green nuts before, and when I cut the hulls open, I got an olive brown color staining my hands. The nuts are very hard, and they are alot smaller than the english walnuts from the store. Today I picked the dry black nuts off the trees, the hulls are still on the nuts, they are a bit sticky, and I have tried to get the hull off, but it is a bit dry and stuck to the nut. Did I wait too long in the season? From the Army herbalist article, I would think not.

I have some vodka, (about 6oz) and lots of glycerin, about a gallon and plenty of grape seed, olive oil, a little almond oil, and some sesame oil, and I am trying to figure out what to do now. I don’t have any friends with skin infections, or dermatology problems, and so I am not in a hurry. I guess my question is ….. what is the best medium for black walnut, alcohol,oil, or glycerin. I am really not interested in making wood stain, I am more or less trying to pay my dues by trial and error, but I am not sure what is the best thing to do next. ….And I am sure that depends upon what results I want, but I don’t know, I just want some experience so that if I ever need it, I will know what to do if the situation arises.

I assume that if I scrape off the hulls, wearing gloves, and use the hulls as dry herb, I can make whatever I want. I assume I am going to want a topical remedy rather than an internal. So I would guess either the vodka or the oil would be best? I only have a little 80-poof, and I would think a oil and beeswax salve would be the most useful? So an oil infusion first. How do I avoid making furniture polish, or better yet, maybe it makes good Grecian formula? I am not too grey yet, maybe no one will notice?

…. Waiting for some hand holding from the experts….

By the way, the Smiles on the right don’t work today. All I get is the link, not the face….

Steve

[IdahoHerbalist]

I still don’t know if the green or dried/black hulls are the best. My most clear resource mentioned using the GREEN hulls though. That gels with my gut feeling that the part we want has dissipated by the time the hull gets to the black stage.

[sstolzenburgStudent]

Ok, you are right, most of what i am seeing in the literature suggests green hulls, but they are juicy, and stain anything the juice comes in contact with. If I wanted olive brown skin and hands, It would be attractive, but for medicine, ???????? I don’t want to open a blotchy tanning salon….. :scared:

…but that doesn’t go with the army story from Dr Christopher. His walnut hulls were under the snow in the middle of winter when they were sent to the army base for the isopropyl tincture. And when I go to Mountain rose, the hulls they sell are powdered and black. At least they look black. :confused:

Now I have not invested any thing into this yet, except the time gathering the nuts.

I can still harvest green leaves. But I do not know what I would want to do with them either. I have some dry leaf from Mountain Rose, but it is getting old, and I have not tried it on anything except to try an oil infusion. I just have not tried it since I have no skin diseases.

Maybe I should just drop this experiment for this season. I guess I have to research this one, and it is not anything I need right now. :chimp:

I get the feeling that Walnut is something that takes more skill, not a beginner’s medicine, and can be a bit tricky to handle appropriately.

Steve

[IdahoHerbalist]

Patrick has been trying to teach me to use latex gloves when working with tinctures, especially pressing. That should keep your hands from getting stained as well.

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