Black walnut capsules are promoted as effective for resolving many health disorders, including removing parasites. A small number of herbal medicine practitioners say parasites cause cancer. Scientific evidence, however, does not support the theories that parasites cause cancer or that black walnut can eliminate parasites or prevent or cure any type of disease, according to the American Cancer Society. Although black walnut supplements do not cause side effects for most people, consult a qualified healthcare provider before taking black walnut capsules.
Claimed Benefits
In addition to its claimed use for eliminating parasites, black walnut is purported to be beneficial for many other conditions as well. As listed by the American Cancer Society, these conditions include acne, eczema and other types of skin irritation, ringworm, digestive problems, colitis, thyroid disorders, hemorrhoids and tonsillitis and other types of sore throats.
Allergic Reaction
Many people are allergic to tree nuts, and this presents the main problem with black walnut capsules. Individuals who have known allergies to walnuts or to other tree nuts can develop severe allergic reactions to black walnut supplements, cautions the American Cancer Society. According to the Teens Health website from the Nemours Foundation, reactions to black walnut can present as hives, rash, redness and swelling around the mouth or on the face, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, runny or stuffy nose, sneezing and itchy and watery eyes. An allergic reaction to black walnut can also be life-threatening if anaphylaxis occurs. This causes airway swelling and a drop in blood pressure, leading to severe difficulty breathing and loss of consciousness.
Pregnancy Considerations
You should not take black walnut capsules if you're pregnant because the substance appears to have mutagenic properties and may harm the fetus, warns Drugs.com. Mutagenic agents alter genetic material and can cause birth defects.
Caution
Laboratory studies indicate that a toxic component of black walnut called juglone may have antitumor properties, according to the American Cancer Society. Although this finding can raise hope for black walnut as a treatment for cancer, the organization warns that the effect may not translate to humans. Taking black walnut capsules in an attempt to cure cancer while foregoing other treatment may have serious health consequences, the society warns.
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