Black Walnut

 

Black walnut is a tree. People use the outer covering of the nut (the hull) and the leaves to make medicine.

Contents

• Uses
• Benefits
• Cautions
• Interactions
• Other Names
• References

Uses

• Black walnut is used to treat parasitic worm infections and certain other infections including diphtheria and syphilis. It is also used for leukemia.
• Some people use black walnut as a gargle, apply it to the scalp as hair dye, or put it on the skin to treat wounds.
• Black walnut contains high concentrations of chemicals called tannins, which can reduce pain and swelling and dry up body fluids such as mucous.

Benefits

• Black walnut contains high concentrations of chemicals called tannins, which can reduce pain and swelling and dry up body fluids such as mucous.

Cautions

• Black walnut is POSSIBLY SAFE for most people when taken by mouth short-term. It is not known what the possible side effects from short-term use might be.
• Black walnut is POSSIBLY UNSAFE when applied directly to the skin. It contains a chemical called juglone that might cause tongue or lip cancer, especially if applied daily.
• Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Don’t apply black walnut to the skin if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. This topical use is POSSIBLY UNSAFE. There is not enough reliable information about the safety of black walnut taken by mouthif you are pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

Interactions

• Minor Interaction Be watchful with this combination
  • Medications taken by mouth (Oral drugs) interacts with BLACK WALNUT: Black walnut hulls contains a large amount of chemicals called tannins. Tannins absorb substances in the stomach and intestines. Taking black walnut along with medications taken by mouth can decrease how much medicine your body absorbs, and decrease the effectiveness of your medicine. To prevent this interaction, take black walnut at least one hour after medications you take by mouth.

Other Names

Carya, Carya basilike, Carya persica, Green Black Walnut, Green Walnut, Juglans nigra, Jupiter’s Nuts, Nogal Americano, Nogal Negro, Nogueira-preta, Noix, Noix de Jupiter, Noix de Perse, Noix Verte, Noyer d’Amérique, Noyer Noir, Noyer Noir Américain, Nux persica, Nux regia, Schwarze Walnuss, Walnoot, Walnut.

References

Source: WebMD, “Black Walnut”, http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/