Black walnut trees, or Juglans nigra, thrive in the eastern and central portions of the United States. Several parts of black walnut trees are used to make supplements, including the nuts, hulls, bark and leaves. Black walnut supplements come in various forms, including tablets, tinctures, teas and capsules. Check with your doctor before using black walnuts to treat health ailments.
Nutritional Value
Black walnuts are rich sources of protein, essential fatty acids and dietary fiber, notes Drugs.com. The nuts also contain small amounts of various minerals, including iron, magnesium, zinc, sodium and phosphorous. The University of Maryland Medical Center explains that magnesium helps keep your heart and muscles healthy, while phosphorous helps build strong teeth and bones. Drugs.com adds that 100 g of black walnuts contain about 700 calories, which makes them a healthy snack choice when you wish to gain weight.
Parasites
Black walnut hulls contain a chemical substance known as juglone, which might contain anti-parasitic qualities. Black walnut hull supplements may help you get rid of intestinal worms, such as pinworms, hookworms, roundworms and tapeworms. Botanical.com suggests consuming black walnut hull tea until your parasitic condition clears up. Talk with a health care provider before using black walnut to treat intestinal parasites.
Skin Conditions
Black walnut hulls may also contain anti-fungal and anti-microbial properties, but The American Cancer Society notes that more research is needed to support these claims. Botanical.com explains that skin washes made with black walnut hulls might help to treat a variety of skin conditions, such as topical yeast infections and ringworm. Placing black walnut tree leaves directly on the affected skin areas might help to relieve some of the symptoms of acne, poison oak rash and eczema flare-ups.
Other Health Benefits
According to The American Cancer Society, early research suggests that the juglone compound found in black walnut hulls might contain anti-cancer and tumor-fighting properties, but more human studies need to be performed. Drugs.com adds that black walnut leaves might help your body fight off free radicals, which could improve your overall cardiovascular health. Some researchers state that consuming walnuts actually lowers your levels of low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, which is the "bad" cholesterol. The American Cancer Society points out that most of this research was performed on English walnuts, however, and more studies should focus exclusively on black walnuts.
Other Uses
Manufacturers of dental cleansers and hand soaps often use black walnut hulls to add abrasive qualities to their products, notes the Virginia Tech website. Black walnut hulls are sometimes ground up and used to make jet engine cleaners, metal polishes and jewelry cleaners. The oil drilling industry often uses black walnut hulls to create and maintain fracture zone seals.
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