Walnut

Juglans nigra

Other Names - American Walnut, Noyer noir

Family - Walnut Family (Juglandaceae) Distinctive Features: Tree. Similar species:

Butterrnut (Juglans cinerea) - has a large terminal leaflet.
Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina) - twigs and branches fuzzy.
Smooth Sumac (Rhus glabra)

Flowers - Flowering Season: Spring. Leaves: Alternate, Compound, Toothed. Alternate, compound. Habitat: Forests, open areas. Edible: Nuts are edible.

Description - The walnut/butternut group (Juglans spp.) contains 15 species which grow in South America [6], Eurasia [4] and North America [6]. The word juglans is the classic Latin name of walnut, meaning nut of Jupiter. Black walnut is native to the eastern United States, from southern Minnesota east to Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York; south to South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama; west to Texas; and north through Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, and South Dakota. Many plants such as tomato, potato, blackberry, blueberry, azalea, mountain laurel, rhododendron, red pine and apple may be injured or killed within one to two months of growth within the root zone of these trees. The toxic zone from a mature tree occurs on average in a 50 to 60 foot radius from the trunk, but can be up to 80 feet

Pharmacology - Walnut contains quinones, oils, tannins; nuts contain essential fatty acids, including cis-linoleic and alfa-linolenic. Black Walnut is often applied to treating cases of diptheria, leukemia and syphilis, and to kill and expel intestinal worms . The chief known constituent of Black Walnut is juglone, which has demonstrated both antibacterial and antifungal properties. James Duke lists juglone as being antiparasitic, antiviral and a fungicide (4), while Martindale claims some efficiency of juglans in treating lymphatic disorders such as scrofula .

Medical - Black Walnut has been used in folk medicine as an astringent, laxative and a vermifuge. It is used to expel tapeworms and other internal and external parasites. The American Medical Ethnobotany Reference Dictionary claims that the juice from Black Walnut hull is effective against ringworm, but some warnings have been issued regarding the topical use of this herb. Black walnut (Juglans nigra), is used to treat athlete's foot and parasitic infections. Black walnut bark helps relieve constipation and is useful against fungal and parasitic infections. It is used to expel, rather than kill, worms during the normal course of laxative-induced cleansing of the body. It may also help to eliminate warts, which are growths caused by viruses. Use externally, black walnut is beneficial for eczema, herpes, psoriasis, and skin parasites. Black walnut is also used to balance blood-sugar levels and to burn up toxins and fatty materials. It has been shown to exhibit anticancer properties due to the acids and alkaloids it contains

Applications -

Leaves:

Iinfusion - Use for skin problems and eye inflammations, and as a digestive tonic for poor appetite.

WASH - Use the infusion for eczema or for wounds and abrasions.
EYEWASH - Use either a well - strained infusion or 5 drops tincture in an eyecup of water for conjunctivitis and blepharitis.

Outer Nut Rind

INFUSION - Use for chronic diarrhea or as a tonic in anemia.
HAIR RINSE - Use the infusion as a rinse for hair loss.

Nut (Oil) - Take 2 tsp unrefined walnut oil daily as a dietary supplement for menstrual dysfunction or for dry, flaky eczema.
Inner Bark

Decoction - Use for constipation, sluggish digestion, as a liver stimulant, and for skin diseases.
Tincture - Take up to 5 ml daily for the same ailments as the decoction.

Veternary - Equine Horse bedding that has been adulterated with shavings of black walnut has been known to cause laminitis. The toxic phytochemical is juglone (5-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone), which is cytotoxic and consistently produces laminitis in dosed horses. But the plant can also be found as an ingredient in some equine herbal wormers. In this case it is important to note how much black walnut the horse will get, and also what the other ingredients of the mixture are. Many other plants (eg. rosemary and thyme) contain nitroxide stable radicals which reduce the cytotoxicity of juglone.

Contra-indications - Black Walnut is listed as poisonous to equine (horses). Black Walnut is listed as safe for short term human - oral or external (topical application) treatments should be closely monitered for negative reactions. Due to the lack of reliable studies on the use of Black Walnut during periods of pregnancy or lactation it is not recommended for use during these times.

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