Black Walnut - Juglans nigra

Black Walnut, Juglans nigra, is actually the green, tennis ball-like hulls that surround the walnut shell. The green hulls are used to combat parasitic worm infections and fungal infections. Constituents in black walnut hulls include polyphenols, flavonoids, and glycosides which exhibit different biological activities such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, antitumoral, antifungal, and antibacterial effects. Black walnut has a long history of use as a vermifuge, or de-wormer. The active anti-parasitic is juglone, a phenolic compound and toxin which may kill worms. It is also the compound that keeps other plants from growing under black walnut trees. The hulls are also rich in tannins, which are astringent. It is active against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Candida albicans, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus epidermidis, S. aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Aspergillus niger.¹

Tincture dosing: 10-15 drops 2-3 times a day. Start slow as allergies are always possible. Do not take it continuously for more than three weeks. Take this one hour before or after other oral medications as it can interfere with absorption.

Possible side effects: Gastrointestinal upset. Possible effects on kidney and liver function in susceptible individuals. Always consult your physician if you are going to use any herbal remedy.

Contraindications: Individuals with tree nut allergies should avoid black walnut products, as they may cause a serious allergic reaction. Do not use it if you are pregnant or breast feeding. 

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose or treat any illness. Wash hands thoroughly before applying salve.

¹Ho, Khanh-Van, Zhentian Lei, Lloyd W. Sumner, Mark V. Coggeshall, Hsin-Yeh Hsieh, George C. Stewart, and Chung-Ho Lin. "Identifying antibacterial compounds in black walnuts (Juglans nigra) using a metabolomics approach." Metabolites 8, no. 4 (2018): 58.