How to Dry Black Walnut Hulls for Herbal Tinctures

Black walnuts hulls are from a species of the walnut tree that is native to North America and have become one of the most popular herbal remedies for ridding the intestinal tract of parasites by natural means. The active ingredient in black walnut hulls is a compound called juglone, which is not only a potent parasite killer (it is what protects the walnut fruit from insects) but may be a potent herbal therapeutic for other health conditions such as cancer. A study published in the journal Experimental and Toxicologic Pathology in 2009 by Yu-Bin Ji and a team of researchers found that juglone was able to induce the dying off of gastric cancer cells. To fully extract the juglone from the hulls of black walnuts, dry and powder them before making an alcohol tincture.

Things You'll Need

• Coffee or herb grinder
• Sharp knife
• Large tray

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Instructions

• 1

  Peel away all the green hull fruit from the black walnuts with a knife. Cut them into small pieces.

• 2

  Spread the small pieces of black walnut hulls on a large tray and leave to dry in a warm place away from direct sunlight. A food dehydrator will work as well.

• 3

  Wait two or three days, or until the pieces of black walnut hull turn completely dark. Turn over the pieces and mix them once or twice a day.

• 4

  Put the dried pieces of black walnut hulls into the grinder and grind down into a powder.

• 5

  Spread the powder on the large tray and leave to dry for two to three days. Stir occasionally.

• 6

  Grind the dried powder one more time to reduce to as fine a powder as possible. The black walnut hull powder is now ready for tincturing.