Black Walnut Uses

Juglans Nigra

Parts Used Bark, Leaves,  Fruit Hulls (Green), Nut (Edible)

Article and Photographs Copyright Karen Shelton, Karen Bergeron 2001-2021

The graceful Black Walnut is a common tall hardwood tree in the Eastern United States. Self seeds easily.  It is said that Black Walnut trees exude a chemical that prevents some types of other plants from growing around it. 

The wood is used for fine furniture. In herbal medicine, Black Walnut leaves have been used to make a soothing skin and eye wash, powder from green hulls is anti-parasitic, the bark is astringent and was chewed for toothaches. Use poultice of green hulls for ringworm. Inner bark used as a laxative. Do not use internally during pregnancy.

Black Walnuts are hard to crack, but the nut is extremely tasty and some companies buy them in large quantities. If this plant is common in your area, you may see newspaper ads offer to buy them in the fall. The market for Black Walnuts exceeds a million dollars a year.

Book References

 The Herb Book by John Lust

The Complete Medicinal Herbal by Penelope Ody

Peterson Field Guide to Eastern/Central Medicinal Plants

 References - Informative Web sites

 Wildman Steve Brill - Cracking Black Walnuts and Recipes

 More information about the Black Walnut tree and its uses

Black Walnut Herbal Uses and Contraindications

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