How to Use Black Walnuts

With a distinct, smoky flavor, the black walnut has been used around the world for centuries. The nutmeat, hull, leaves, and bark are found in folkloric medicine to promote health. Additionally, the nut lends a smoky zest to baking and cooking. Moreover, the black walnut naturally stains wood and textiles. Purchase fresh black walnuts at farmer's markets, specialty stores, and online. As a supplement or herbal remedy, black walnuts are found in organic and health-food stores.

Instructions

How to Use Black Walnuts

1

Use black walnut meats for cookies, cakes, and breads. Harvested during the autumn months, the nuts are high in unsaturated fat and protein. Substitute for English walnuts but decrease the required amount due to their rich flavor. Add to wild rice and stuffing for an earthy taste. Add in streusel toppings for pies. Sprinkle chopped nuts onto yoghurt with a drizzle of maple syrup. Oil is used for flavoring or added to vinaigrettes for a smokier dressing.

2

According to basketmakers.org and other weaving sites, you can make dyes for handicrafts such as reed basketry. Gather black walnuts from the ground. Place walnuts in a mesh straining bag. Tie securely. Put the bag into a clean garbage can. Drape the string of the bag over the edge for retrieval. Pour hot water over the bag until it's immersed. Cover with lid. Allow to steep. When desired color is achieved, strain the dye and remove bag. Store dye in a dark location.

3

Ingest black walnut hulls in capsule form as an herbal remedy for parasites and glandular disorders. The green hulls that surround the nut are stripped and cleaned. The hull is ground into a powder that can be used externally as a washing compound and is found in creams, lotions, and ointments. Black walnut hull extract in tincture form is used topically as a fungal remedy for ringworm, athlete's foot, and psoriasis. The hull is also beneficial as a mild laxative.

4

Steep black walnut leaves for tea infusions, said to soothe sore throats and canker sores. According to folkloric medicine, immerse a handful of partially dried leaves in a pint of boiling water. Allow to steep. Strain out leaves. Drink one cupful for liver, gallbladder, and lymph node conditions. Placed directly on the skin, black walnut leaves are said to treat skin conditions like eczema. Purchase teabags for topical salves to treat minor scrapes, insect bites, and burns.

5

Chew the inner bark of the black walnut, which performs like an astringent for toothaches. The bark is a constituent of toothpaste in Pakistan, said to promote healthy tooth enamel. The Greeks, Romans, and Native Americans applied a bark poultice to treat fungal-related skin conditions. The inner bark is boiled to use as a laxative tea. Topically, the bark facilitates healing of skin rashes, acne, and bruising. It can be purchased in bulk online.