Black Walnut Hull Side Effects

The extract of the black walnut, an herbal nutritional supplement, is an herbal treatment for a range of complaints (among them digestive ailments, fungal infections, parasites and skin irritations).

History

• Native North Americans used many parts of the black walnut tree as medicine. They used the bark to treat aching teeth, the softer scrapings inside the bark as a digestive, the sap to cure ringworm and the leaves to chase away bedbugs.

Function

• Black walnut is a potent anti-fungal. It works to acidify the pH levels in your lower digestive tract. The acidity kills parasites, yeasts and fungi that need to be in an alkaline environment to survive.

Staining

• Juglone, the substance the black walnut tree produces to keep other plants from crowding its root zone, can easily stain the skin, according to The Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine. In fact, artists and furniture craftsmen use the substance to stain wood and canvas.

Drug Interactions

• Though no verifiable drug interactions have been reported when the recommended dosage of the extract is taken by mouth, the Physician's Desk Reference reports two possible side effects from the use of black walnut extract as a topical ointment. A skin ras may be caused by the extract. The manifestation of skin tumors may result from long-term use.

Allergies & Toxins

• No one who is allergic to tree nuts may use walnut as a supplement. It's important, too, to be careful with the supplement around pets since one of its active components, juglone, is toxic to animals.

Contraindications

• The long-term effects of habitual use are not known. The American Cancer Society notes that the extract contains a chemical which may cause cancer of the tongue or lip.