Black Walnut
- Juglans nigra L.
- Juglandaceae
- Walnut family
Common Names
 Walnut
Parts Usually Used
Bark, leaves, rind of the fruit
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.
Where Found
Found in rich woods. Western Massachusetts to Florida; Texas to Minnesota.
Canada
Medicinal Properties
Bark: astringent, laxative, alterative
Leaves: alterative
Rind: herpatic
Biochemical Information
Juglon (also called nucin or juglandic acid)
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.
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.
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.
Warning
Husk will stain anything it touches.
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