Plant-Grow-Bloom: Black Walnut

​Black Walnut trees are native to Eastern North America and can grow up to 100 feet tall.  Beyond using the wood for its known beauty and strength, this plant has many health benefits.
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Juglone is a component found in the hull of Black Walnut, which deters insects and expels worm parasites from the human body.  It is a recommended addition to a parasite cleanse.  Another benefit of Black Walnut is healthy skin, because the astringent effect helps with warts, poison ivy, acne, eczema, and more.  Consuming walnuts has been linked to improving cardiovascular health.  Juglone found in the leaves, bark and roots of Black Walnut trees blocks the transcription of cancer cells.  This plant has been used in China to treat liver, lung, and gastric cancer.  Historically, Black Walnuts were considered good “brain food” and were used to help aid headaches and mental disturbances.​

Fun Fact: Black Walnut leaves can be used to kill fleas.  Simply
​pick branches with leaves and lay across the floor of home.

​Black Walnut is a great source of iodine, especially in the outer hulls of the nuts.  This plant also has potassium, magnesium, manganese, sulfur, copper and silica.  The nuts contain lots of fatty acids.
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The Black Walnut plant can help balance the nerves, intestines, Lymphatic System and the skin.  It affects the following meridians: Large Intestine, Spleen, and Kidney.

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1. Pick black walnuts while they are still green.

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Here's our walnuts!

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3. Using a knife, carefully peel the hull apart from the nut.  This process is messy!

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​Here's our hulls ready to be soaked.

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4. Put peeled hulls into glass jars.

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5. Fill the jars with 100 proof vodka.  Seal & set in the sun.  Gently shake twice a day for 2 weeks.  Then, strain and bottle the liquid. 

​Tincture Internal uses:
Diarrhea
Parasites (intestinal worms)
Warts
Dosage: Take 15-30 drops 3-4 times daily.

Word to the wise: If you're going to handle lots of black walnuts, be sure to put on some gloves!  The high level of iodine really stains the skin!

Leaf and Bark Tincture

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​1. Pick leaves off of the tree before they start to brown.  We missed the window so we just found the best leaves that we could.  Late spring, early summer is the best time to pick leaves.

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​2. Pick bark off of tree.  We used a knife and this was really difficult!

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Here's the peeled bark from the branches.

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​3. Put leaves and bark in dehydrator or air dry for days.

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​4. Put dried leaves in a blender and pulse until fine.  Put in a glass jar.
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​5. Repeat blending with dried bark, making sure to have a 1:1 ratio of leaves to bark.

We used 1 oz of each and poured 8 oz of 100 proof vodka into jar.  *Although, the recipe only requires 20 proof vodka.  100 proof is just our personal preference.

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6. Seal & set in the sun.  Gently shake twice a day for 2 weeks.  Then, strain and bottle the liquid. Don't forget to label your bottle!

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Tincture External uses:
Abscesses
Acne
Eczema
​Hemorrhoids
Psoriasis
Shingles

Dosage: Apply 15-30 drops 3-4 times daily to the area of concern.

Resources:
-The Book of Herbal Wisdom Using Plants as Medicine by Matthew Wood
-Practical Herbalism Ordinary Plants with Extraordinary Powers by Philip Fritchey, MH, ND, CNHP
-https://draxe.com/black-walnut/
-http://www.encyclopedia.com/science-and-technology/astronomy-and-space-exploration/astronomical-observatories/black-walnut