Black Walnut

Description:

Black Walnut is the hull of the black walnut tree. It is also called American walnut and eastern walnut. It belongs to the family of walnuts, Juglandaceae and scientifically called Juglans nigra. It requires high labor work to process the nuts and hence they are not cultivated in plenty. It is one of the highly demanded nuts.

How it is grown:

Black Walnut is a large deciduous tree that grows in closed forests, but it requires sunlight for better growth and nut production. It can grow up to 30-42m of height and 0.6-1m of trunk diameter. It produces male and female flowers that ripen during the autumn season to yield brownish green, semi fleshy husk and a brown nut. The fruit falls in October. The seed is small, hard, straight, irregular and medium-textured.

Where it is grown:

Juglans nigra is native to eastern North America. It grows in riparian zones, from Ontario, west to South Dakota, south to Georgia, Florida and southwest to Texas. Black walnut develops best on deep, well-drained and neutral soils that are moist and fertile.

Nutritional facts:

The black walnut kernel is high in unsaturated fat and protein. It is the source of vitamin B and C, tannin, calcium, iron, beta-carotene, magnesium, potassium, silicon, phosphorus, manganese, zinc and acids. It contains low carbohydrate level and high omega-3 fat alpha linolenic acid, which is one of the good fats.

Health benefits:

The nuts give an excellent range of health benefits. It is used as herbal medicine for thousands of years.

• Traditionally used to treat intestinal problems, scurvy, snake bites and ulcers. The juglone present in black walnuts aids it to fight against the parasites in intestines.
• Considered as the laxative that can expel the parasites as part of the cleansing process of the body.
• Used to treat several diseases such as leukemia, Diphtheria, Syphilis and diarrhea.
• Lowers blood pressure and cholesterol levels by burning toxins and fatty acids.
• Promoted as cancer cure as it kills the parasites that are responsible for the disease.
• Aids digestion and also helps to get relieved heartburn, flatulence and colic.

Facts and other uses:

Black walnut contains large amount of tannins which is mordant and hence it is used for dyeing process. In olden days, black walnut is used as hair dye due to its dark color. The kernel of the nut is used in traditional treats like cakes, pies, cookies and fudge. The heartwood of black walnut tree is also used in furniture, paddles, flooring and in various wood products. The chemical, juglone present in black walnut may cause lip and tongue cancer if applied directly on to the skin daily. Also black walnut should not be used during other medicinal treatment as it may decrease the effect of medicine.