What is the medicinal value of Black walnut?

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Walnuts are known for their high content of Omega-3 fatty acids which are good in maintaining a healthy heart as they have very low saturated fats and high polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats. There are different types of walnuts such as the English walnut, white and black walnut. While the English walnuts also known as the Persian walnuts, originally came from India and from around the Caspian sea, the white walnuts and the black walnuts are native to North America and are commercially produced.  One of the leading companies in Black Walnuts is Hammon’s Products of Stockton of  Missouri.

What is the Classification of the Black walnut?

• Family : Juglandaceae
• Botanical name : Juglans nigra
• Height : 70-90ft tall
• Bark : Dark, thick and greyish black in color
• Leaves : Up to 6 dm long, has  9-23 leaflets attached directly to a stout rachis
• without a supporting stalk.  
• Flowers : Green and 
• Fruits : Thick, semi-fleshy, husk  with short hairs, yellowish-green color.
• Nut :   Black, corrugated with rounded ridges.  

How is the wood of Black Walnut?

Black walnuts are known for their timber which is dense, straight grained and dark in color. The straight grain gives this wood a smooth finish. The American walnut is denser and smoother than the Asian species. The walnut tree is frequently found in mixed forests and it grows in small natural groves, pastures, meadows and slopes. Because of its heavy logged straight grained wood it is used to make furniture and gun stocks.  The trees  provide medium shade, are ornamental and provide a beauty to the land around it, be it a house or a grove. They are valued for their wood but  a living tree any day has more value. The Black walnut tree produces "juglone" which hinders the growth of other trees and plants around and kills them. All tress produce this to some extent but Black walnut produces juglone in larger quantities. Because of this they are not grown in urban gardens. The fruit is a large, rounded, brownish black nut enclosed by a finely ridged shell. The nut is borne on the tree singly or in pairs. Black walnuts nuts have been used for both food and medicine from the 4th century. The nuts are normally harvested after the first frost. The green husk enclosing the nuts will turn  black in time. The husk residues are removed by rinsing the nuts in waterand the nuts are dried and stored in a cool place.

What is the nutritional value of Black Walnuts?

Black Walnut is rich in nutrition but its specially known for its medicinal properties.

• Black Walnut helps in the treatment of skin disorders. Native Americans used it to treat a wide variety of skin diseases.
• Black Walnut contains appropriate amounts of magnesium, potassium and omega 3 and 6 fatty acids which are required for a healthy heart. The omega fatty acids help in improving the HDL cholesterol and thus help keep the heart healthy.
• Eating a handful of black walnuts daily also helps with heart burns.
• They are suggested to have anti yeast and fungal properties and can be used for fighting off candida. The hulls of the Black nuts are used in powdered form to treat psoriasis, canker sores, eczema,ring worms, acne and blisters and to get rid of intestinal parasites when taken internally.The Comanche native Americans prepared a paste of the leaves and the husk of the fruit powder for treating ringworm infections.
• The hull powder is used for treating thyroid problems, gout and rheumatism. Cancer patients can benefit tremendously from this as it helps in cleaning kidneys and has antioxidant properties.
• Eating of black walnut regularly is an easy way to gain strength and weight.
• Black Walnut oil is used to in the treatment of colic, dandruff, dry hair, general and open wounds.

Word of Caution: Though the bark is considered to have medicinal properties The USDA specifically mentions that it is poisonous and should be used with caution. 

What is the Commercial Value of Black Walnuts? 

• Black walnut hulls are used in the cosmetics industry, its a huge market. They use it in self tanning products.
• The hull powder is added in metal cleaning and polishing, oil well drilling, and as an ingredient in paints and explosives.
• Black walnut oil  is not being produced or marketed at this time. But research has shown the oil to be flavorful and nutritious. Maybe in the future it will be introduced if commercially viable.