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Will Black Walnut Hull Kill Parasites All Over the Body?

Oil or tincture of black walnut hulls is often recommended as a natural and highly effective remedy for all kinds of parasitic infections, fungal and helminthic (worms), for humans and animals alike. However, the black walnut tree is also known for being highly toxic, and care should be taken when using any form of black walnut extract.

  1. Black Walnut Facts

    • The black walnut tree (Juglans nigra) is a deciduous tree native to North America. It is related to the hickory and English walnut. All members of the juglandaceae family contain the chemical compound juglone, a known toxin. The black walnut contains particularly high levels of juglone, concentrated in the leaves, roots, husks and bark of the tree. The actual nuts do not contain the toxin and so are shelled commercially for food preparation. Meanwhile the juglone-rich hulls are extracted and used in alternative medicine, as black walnut has well-known anti-parasitic properties.

    Folk Medicine

    • Traditional folk medicine has long been aware of the anti-parasitic properties of black walnut. Daniel Moerman's book "Native American Ethnobotany" lists the many uses of black walnut against worms as well as other complaints. Black walnut exhibits anti-parasitic effects whether taken internally or externally. The hull extract can be bought prepared as a liquid extract, loose powder or in capsules. A liquid decoction, made by boiling the hulls, can be applied directly to the skin, and has traditionally been used to combat fungal skin infections such as ringworm.

    Dr. Hulda Clark

    • Dr. Hulda Clark was a controversial naturopath who wrote extensively about human parasites, believing them to be extremely widespread and even the cause of most human disease, including cancer. In her 1995 book "The Cure for all Diseases," she recommended black walnut for the elimination of adult and larval worms in humans, and advocated combining it as part of a strategic program along with wormwood and cloves. Dr. Clark attested that black walnut and wormwood together would kill parasites anywhere in the body, while cloves would kill the eggs.

    Evidence

    • In recent years scientific evidence has confirmed the anti-parasitic properties of black walnut. Juglone and another compound called plumbagin are both found in black walnut hulls, and according to a U.S. study, are both scientifically proven to be highly effective against parasitic worms, larvae and eggs. The two compounds are also effective against parasitic fungal infections such as Candida albicans, which causes yeast infections, as well as ringworm and other common complaints.

    Warning

    • Clinical trials involving humans and the anti-parasitic effects of black walnut have not yet been carried out. For this reason traditional herbal medicine advises extreme care in the use of black walnut in humans and animals, and should only be used for short periods, if at all. Drug Information Online states that black walnut extract has severe contra-indications for pregnant and lactating women, and is best avoided. Black walnut is also toxic to many animals, including horses and dogs.

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