Black walnut
Black walnut

Background

Black walnut (Juglans nigra) is a tree native to the US that's harvested for its wood and edible nuts. The tree bark has been used in traditional medicine.

Black walnut contains high concentrations of chemicals called tannins, which can reduce pain and swelling and dry up body fluids such as mucous.

People use black walnut to lower the risk of heart disease, for skin wounds, and for other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.

Tree nuts, including black walnut, are considered major food allergens in the US. Don't confuse black walnut with English walnut. There are not the same.
When taken by mouth: The fruit (nut) of black walnut is commonly consumed in foods. But the bark is possibly unsafe. Taking the bark daily might increase the risk for tongue or lip cancer. There isn't enough reliable information to know if the leaf or the shell of the nut (hull) are safe to use as medicine. These parts of the plant contain chemicals called tannins. Taking too much tannin can cause stomach upset and kidney and liver damage.

When applied to the skin: Black walnut is possibly unsafe. It contains a chemical called juglone that can irritate the skin.

Special Precautions & Warnings:

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: The fruit (nut) of black walnut is commonly consumed in foods. But the bark is possibly unsafe. Don't take black walnut bark by mouth or apply it to the skin. There isn't enough reliable information to know if black walnut leaf or shell is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

Allergies to peanuts and tree nuts: People with peanut allergies are more likely to be allergic to nuts called "tree nuts." Black walnut is a tree nut. People who are allergic to one tree nut are also more likely to have an allergy to at least one other tree nut.

Effectiveness

There is interest in using black walnut for a number of purposes, but there isn't enough reliable information to say whether it might be helpful.
Likely effective Effectiveness definitions
Possibly effective Effectiveness definitions
Likely ineffective Effectiveness definitions
Possibly ineffective Effectiveness definitions
Insufficient evidence Effectiveness definitions

Dosing & administration

Black walnuts are commonly consumed in foods. As medicine, there isn't enough reliable information to know what an appropriate dose of black walnut might be. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult a healthcare professional before using.

Interactions with pharmaceuticals

It is not known if Black Walnut interacts with any medicines. Before taking Black Walnut, talk with your healthcare professional if you take any medications.

Interactions with herbs & supplements

There are no known interactions with herbs and supplements.

Interactions with foods

Black walnut contains tannins. Tannins can reduce the absorption of nutrients from foods, but it's not clear if this is a big concern.
 
5.0 (1 prac)
5.0 (1 client)
Practitioner product
Parex
Practitioner product
ParaStrike
RRP: $46.95$32.87Save: 30%
Create account
Triplex
RRP: $54.95$43.96Save: 20%
No longer stocked by vital.ly
Create account
vital.ly has licensed monographs from TRC Healthcare.
This monograph was last reviewed on 17/06/2024 10:00:00 and last updated on 19/11/2020 01:35:22. Monographs are reviewed and/or updated multiple times per month and at least once per year.
Natural Medicines disclaims any responsibility related to medical consequences of using any medical product. Effort is made to ensure that the information contained in this monograph is accurate at the time it was published. Consumers and medical professionals who consult this monograph are cautioned that any medical or product related decision is the sole responsibility of the consumer and/or the health care professional. A legal License Agreement sets limitations on downloading, storing, or printing content from this Database. No reproduction of this monograph or any content from this Database is permitted without written permission from the publisher. It is unlawful to download, store, or distribute content from this site.