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Black walnut

The black walnut, also known as the black walnut, is a nut whose outer shell is used to make medicine. The black walnut is used to treat worm infections and certain other infections including diphtheria and syphilis. It is also used to treat leukemia. Some people use black walnut in the form of a gargle solution and others apply it to their hair as a hair dye. Black walnut is also applied directly to the skin to treat wounds.

How does black walnut work?

Black wal nut contains high concentrations of chemicals called tannins, which can reduce pain and swelling, as well as dry body fluids such as mucus.

How effective is black walnut?

There is not enough scientific data to assess the effectiveness of black walnut for leukemia, diphtheria, syphilis, worm infestation of the digestive tract, skin injuries, and as a gargle. Further scientific research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of black wal nut in these applications.

Safety and side effects

Black walnut may be safe and harmless for most people when taken orally for short periods of time. It is not known what possible side effects might occur with short-term use. Applied to the skin, black walnut may not be safe and harmless because it contains a chemical called juglone, which could cause tongue or lip cancer, especially with daily skin contact.

Precautions and warnings

Pregnancy and breastfeeding: Pregnant and breastfeeding women should not apply black walnut to the skin, as this type of application may not be safe and harmless. In addition, pregnant and breastfeeding women should also avoid taking black walnut orally, as not enough is known about the safety of taking black walnut orally during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Interactions

Care should be taken when combining black walnut with the following medications

Medications that are taken orally

Black walnut contains large amounts of chemicals called tannins. Tannins absorb other substances in the stomach and intestines. Taking black walnut in combination with orally taken medications can reduce the amount of drug substance absorbed by the body, thereby reducing the effectiveness of these medications. To prevent such an interaction, black walnut should be taken at least one hour after oral medications.

Dosage

An appropriate dosage of black walnut depends on various factors such as age, health status and others. At the present time, there is insufficient scientific data to make a statement about appropriate dosage ranges for black walnut. For this reason, you should follow the dosage instructions on the label and/or consult a doctor or pharmacist before use.

References

  1. Blumenthal M, ed. The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. Trans. S. Klein. Boston, MA: American Botanical Council, 1998.
  2. Brinker F. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions. 2nd ed. Sandy, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications, 1998.
  3. McGuffin M, Hobbs C, Upton R, Goldberg A, eds. American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, LLC 1997.