Black walnut contraindications and benefits Do you want to know about black walnut? Here we will explain about the benefits and contraindications of black walnut, but first let’s see its botanical aspect.
The black walnut is a deciduous tree native to North America, prized for its beautiful, dark-colored heartwood.
It grows in small groups or as scattered individuals on the moist, fertile soils of mixed hardwood forest. It can also be found in pastures, meadows, and hillsides.
Its natural range extends from western Vermont and Massachusetts west to eastern South Dakota; south to Texas and Florida.
Black walnut does well in a variety of soil conditions, from light (sandy), medium (clay), and heavy (clay) soils ranging from acidic, neutral to basic (alkaline).
According to ancient mythology, when the gods walked the earth they ate nuts, hence the Latin name «juglans» is a derivative of the words «jovis glans» meaning «Jupiter’s nut».
Native American Indians enjoyed the pleasures and health benefits of black walnut long before European explorers arrived. The upper Great Lakes region provides archaeological evidence of nut consumption dating back to 2000 B.C. c.
In addition to eating the nut itself, the Indians used the sap of the walnut in the preparation of their food. Wherever black walnut grows, there is limestone in the soil, a good sign of fertile soil. The early Pennsylvania Dutch set out to select properties that had a stand of hardy black walnut trees in the ground, assuring them rich soil.
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Black Walnut Description
The black walnut is a large tree that grows to a height of 150 feet with a trunk diameter of up to 5 feet. Its crown is broadly rounded; the trunk is straight and columnar, not reinforced at the base, with thick, deeply furrowed black bark.
Twigs are stout, greenish to orange-brown, hairy, smooth, and gray with brown pith divided by compartmentalized septa. Only the black walnut and a close relative, the walnut, have chambered pith.
Shoots are somewhat rounded at the tip, smooth, pale brown, up to ½ inch long. Leaves are alternate, pinnately compound with 15-23 leaflets up to 31/2 inches wide.
The valves are broad lance-shaped, pointed at the tip, rounded at the asymmetrical base, and serrated along the edges. They are yellowish-green and smooth on the upper surface, paler and hairier on the lower surface, turning yellow in autumn. The several staminate flowers form a thick, hairy, yellow-green catkin.
Its monoecious flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same tree. The flowers are wind pollinated and the tree is self-fertile.
The flowers appear in May and June when the leaves are partially grown.
The pistillates are much less in small spikes; No flower has petals. The seeds ripen in October, growing to 2 inches in diameter in groups of 1 or 2.
They are spherical, green or yellow-green in color, slightly rough with a thick shell covering the dark brown, deeply ridged, oval, hickory nut.
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Black walnut medicinal properties
The tannins in the hulls are considered antibacterial, anticancer, antidiarrheal, antihepatoxic, chelating, antihypertensive, antitumor, cancer preventative, and antiulcer.
The substance iodine is considered to have an effect natural antiseptic and antibacterial.
The bark and leaves of the black walnut tree are seen as alterative, nondescript, astringent, sanguineous tonic, detergent, emetic, laxative, pectoral, and vermiferous.
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black walnut benefitswhat is it for
Although it is valued primarily for its dark brown, fine-grained wood and the unique, pleasant flavor of the fruits, it also has a long history of medicinal use.
Native Americans were aware of the tree’s medicinal properties and used it in various ways, but primarily for its anti-parasitic effect.
The medicinal effects of black walnut are very similar to spices closely related to the English walnut (Juglans regia).
The black walnut of the black walnut is traditionally used for many conditions, and has been promoted as a natural remedy for, for example, the following health problems:
asthma
constipation
diabetes
acidity
high blood pressure
high cholesterol
fungal infections
internal parasites
cancer
thrush
psoriasis
diabetes
High cholesterol Black walnut nuts are believed to help lower cholesterol levels and improve overall heart health and function.
Few studies have shown that black walnut significantly reduced total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol concentrations, and it may be useful as a treatment for high blood pressure.
May be useful for diabetes Nuts can also be useful as a natural control of diabetes, due to the Omega-3 fatty acids that reduce the level of triglycerides (bad cholesterol) and increase the level of HDL (good cholesterol) which in turn can help control blood sugar.
Additionally, the presence of omega-3 fatty acids in the black walnut fruit may help reduce inflammation and promote lung function, which in turn could be beneficial for respiratory-related diseases such as asthma. .
external uses Black walnut is considered useful in treating skin diseases such as herpes and eczema. Traditionally used as a natural remedy for acne, canker sores, psoriasis and other fungal infections.
Externally, it has also been used for skin conditions such as jock itchdermatitis, ringworm, athlete’s foot, blisters, itching with crusts, varicose ulcers and even ulcers from syphilis.
Cancer Studies have shown that juglone, one of the active substances in black walnut, has anti-cancer properties.
It was shown to be toxic (cytotoxic) to cancer cells by both apoptosis (a form of programmed cell death that occurs in multicellular organisms) and necrosis (death of most or all cells in an organ or tissue).
The study is only indicative of the effectiveness of juglone, and more studies are needed to confirm the use of juglone as a cancer treatment.
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Black walnut for what it is used Traditional uses
The juice from the peel of the fruit can be applied externally as a treatment for ringworm or as a poultice for inflammations.
The oil from the ripe walnuts is a traditional remedy for gangrene, leprosy and wounds.
Black walnut is believed to be beneficial as a remedy for poor digestion or diarrhea. It has been used as a natural laxative and is considered useful for cleansing the intestinal tract.
Additionally, black walnut is used in traditional herbal medicine to expel worms, intestinal parasites and harmful pathogens of the body.
The natural tannins present in black walnut are suggested to alter the pH of the intestine, which may help kill fungi, parasites, and yeast, and expel worms and parasites.
The iodine in black walnut shells has antiseptic properties that can increase the response time of the immune system in fighting off bacteria and infection.
Know how to prepare black walnut remedies for parasites, dyeing gray hair and more
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Dosage and administration
The tablets or capsules available in the market usually contain around 500mg – 1000mg of black walnut powder.
Oral doses are usually taken three times a day, but not for more than six weeks due to the high tannin content of black walnut.
Otherwise, the manufacturer’s instructions must be followed carefully.
Related Products You May Be Interested In Next, let’s look at contraindications related to black walnut.
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No.black ogal contraindications
Black Walnut Contraindications In rare cases, black walnut can cause rashes, inflamed skin, hives, and skin irritation.
Rarely, chest pain, airway stiffness, and breathing difficulties have been associated with black walnut use.
Black walnut is not recommended for use during pregnancy or while lactating due to a lack of information.
May interact with certain medications, so a healthcare professional should be consulted regarding medications, vitamins, or other herbs before use.
As with all herbs and supplements, it is vital that they are purchased from a reputable source to ensure that the product is of a high quality.
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