Herb of the Week~ Black Walnut Hull

Black Walnut Hull

Hulls, Inner Bark, Roots and Leaves of the Black Walnut Tree are the plant parts most used by Herbalists.  It is interesting how the fruits are not commonly used medicinally but that some formulas call for the Peels of Nuts, Fruits and the Vegetables.  This is mostly because the highest quantity of Enzymes, Vitamins and Minerals are found in the Orange Peel or the Watermelon Rind and even the Husks from Grain contain other beneficial components not present in the inner part of the Grain.  Such is the the case with the Hulls of the Black Walnut Tree. 

Historic Uses:
Herbalists have used Black Walnut Hulls for the killing of Worms and Parasites internally but also found it effective for killing off Fungus externally.  I've seen my fair share of boy's dorms and from my personal experience, nothing works better on athlete's foot than Black Walnut Hull Tincture, but I've seen it used effectively on Warts, Skin Tags, Tumors, Cysts and any kind of Fungus on fingernails and toenails.  It also works miracles on Impetigo Problems.  Note:  Supposedly, Black Walnut Hull can be toxic if one ingests too much.


Survival:
One never knows when one might find oneself in a survival situation having to drink the water from a stream or brook.   This water is frequently teaming with parasites and these little buggers can make life miserable with Diarrhea, loss of energy, etc.  One can even get Worms or Parasites and have them for years and not even know it.  Anyhow, remember the Black Walnut Hull.    

Animals:
Black Walnut Hull is the cat's meow when it comes to de-worming without subtracting years from your pet's life but I was super happy to read how people have been using Black Walnut Hull Powder for generation to rid their animals of fleas and ticks.  Although Black Walnut Hull is safe when administered correctly, it can be toxic if your pet ingests too much.


Taste:
I have a bottle of Doc's Black Walnut Hull tincture here with me now so, here goes . . .   Like Dirt and Oak Bark with a hint of perfume.  Strong and potent but not unpleasant.  I tasted it three times and have determined that it tastes like a fine scotch.  Make that four times.  It tastes really good in my humble opinion.  :o)))


Soap:
Black Walnut hulls have also been used in soap making.


Dye:
Black Walnut Hulls make the most amazing dye for people like myself who tend to ware earthy colors.
 
If you live in an area that has Black Walnut Trees than you've probably seen the squirrels fighting over them and the piles of hulls left by the tree rodents. This may not be an ideal way to get your Black Walnut Hulls for Herbs, but it is great for Dye because all the work is done for you.  Ever try to remove the Black Walnut from its hull?  Not easy.  They even use Black Walnut Hulls to dye animal hides to get that nice leather color and smell.  Click here if you're going to be making your own dye. 


Iodine Supplement:
Many people use Black Walnut Hulls as an Iodine Supplement.   The herb contains lots of Iodine and when I put a drop on my skin it feels like an Iodine Antiseptic.


Repel:
Black Walnut Trees, their Leaves, Roots and Hulls repel many insects and pests, but I was researching away when I read that Black Walnut contains a chemical known as Juglone.  Juglone production is a defense method that protects the Black Walnut tree against some insect damage and inhibits the growth of nearby plants competing for nutrition.  "What!!!!!! It repels plants?" Well as shocking as this data was to me I know it to be true.  I remember trying to garden near a Black Walnut Tree and how Tomatoes would not grow no matter what I tried.  I now know why I failed with that garden.  So Don't garden near a Black Walnut Tree.


A Black Walnut Hull Story
There was an amazing Natural Healer by the name of Dr. Christopher.  I would call him the greatest Natural Healer of his time, and in studying his works, I came across this Black Walnut Hull Story.  There was a young man in the Service who contracted a serious case of Impetigo and his scalp was raw with sores oozing with pus.  At the time, Dr. Christopher was in the Military as an assistant Medic and to begin with, they forbade him to use any Natural Remedies.  But nothing was working on this young man with Impetigo.  The Military then told the young man that he was not fit for service and that he was to go home, but the young man would not.  He said "I didn't come into the Service with this contagious disease and I'm not going home with it."  This gave the doctors a problem and one that none of their drugs could fix.  Of course Dr. Christopher started yapping about Black Walnut Hull, and they got fed up with his gab and told him that he and his voodoo had seven days with the patient.  If at the end of seven days, Natural Healing had not improved the young man's condition than Dr. Christopher would stop talking about it, but if there was improvement, then the doctors would at least listen to what the Naturopath had to say.  Dr. Christopher called a friend in Utah who ran outside and dug in the snow for Black Walnuts and shipped the Hulls to the Army Base.  This took a few days.  Dr Christopher made a tea using the Hulls received, soaked a cloth, and then bandaged the young man's head.  A couple days later the doctors gathered around the patient telling Dr. Christopher that his time was up.  The bandages were striped away and the condition was totally gone.  The sores were healed over with new skin and the man's Impetigo never returned.  From that point on, Doc was given free rein in his department. 

Doc Shillington's Formulas
The reason I chose Black Walnut Hull as this week's Herb is because it is present in several of my Dad's Formula's.  It is an ingredient in his Liver / Gallbladder Formula as well as the Body Balance+ Formula that corrects the Body's pH.  It is of course the only ingredient in Doc's Black Walnut Hull tincture, and it is also a key part of his Intestinal Cleanse Formula.  These Formulas and Recipes can be obtained from Organic Solutions at: 575-772-5888 or email to:  Office@AcademyOfNaturalHealing.com if you want to make your own Herbal Preparations.  These Recipes can also be found in the Herbal Remedies Yahoo Group Archives at:  http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Herbal_Remedies/ 
and the ingredients can be found in Nature.  Cheers!  

~Bryan

Bryan Shillington is a 24 year old Estates Manager and Gardener who is a Journeyman at the Academy of Natural Healing.
Bryan is also a Musician, Flute Maker, Blacksmith, Survival Instructor, Handyman, Artist, Wood Worker and a chronic drinker of Spearmint Tea.
The secret to good Spearmint Tea is to grow your own organic spearmint:o)) 

If you have questions regarding these herb notes, feel free to write me at bryan@academyofnaturalhealing.com.  If you do not wish to receive my weekly herb notes please write a note to Doc@AcademyOfNaturalHealing.com  saying - "Unsubscribe"