Make black walnut tincture with the green hulls from black walnuts for its antifungal properties or as an external iodine supplement.
Many people think of black walnut trees as a nuisance. They drop their nuts with green hulls on driveways, roadways, and lawns. If they aren’t picked up immediately the green fruit rinds turn black and stain sidewalks and driveways. They leave behind a slippery mess that just gets worse in the freeze-thaw periods of fall.
Then there’s the nuts – a hard nut. Black walnuts defy cracking with ordinary measures. Only extraordinary techniques can release the delicious nut meats from their hard prison. It seems that few people today value the fruit of the black walnut tree. But I would like you to examine this treasure of nutrition and herbal medicine with fresh eyes.
Recently I was given a box of 10 fresh, fleshy, still green black walnuts in their hulls. I was delighted because I have a single black walnut tree about 12 years old, and I wanted to add a few more black walnut trees to my permaculture garden. However living in BC, I wasn’t able to find any local black walnut trees to gather nuts for planting.
Planting black walnuts
The fruit of the black walnut tree has two parts – a fleshy hull that covers a hard nut in a shell. Using a knife I cut the fleshy, green hull from the nut. I set this hull aside to make an easy herbal tincture. The nuts need to be planted before they dry out to ensure good germination. I did a float test to check the nuts for viability. Out of the 10 black walnuts, 5 sunk to the bottom of the sink of warm water. These are the ones I used for planting.
I planted the nuts in damp sand, in a planting pot and buried the pot in the garden, with a piece of hardware cloth over the top of the pots to discourage squirrels from digging up the nuts. I covered the hardware cloth with a few inches of dirt and marked the spot so that I could find it again in the spring. The nuts require a chill period before sprouting. They’ll get that over our long zone 3 winter – about 5 ½ months covered in snow.
In the spring I’ll wait for the nuts to germinate and then move the sprouted nuts to a new pot with soil.
Where to plant a black walnut tree
Black walnut trees exude juglans, a plant substance that prevents other plants from growing near a black walnut tree. If you plan to put a black walnut in your back garden you may be disappointed when you find that your asparagus, strawberries, and rhubarb struggle. However, there are a few plants that are unaffected by juglans. Here’s a list of 30 plants that are hardy in zone 3, that are good neighbors to black walnut.
How to make a black walnut tincture
The green hull is the part that herbalists are most interested in. It’s important when making a black walnut tincture to use the hulls before they turn black or become bruised. So choose walnuts that are a little under-ripe for best results.
I used the walnuts that I had which were about half fully ripe and half were under ripe. All the flesh was green with only a few flecks of brown. The hulls were about a ¼ inch thick and quite fleshy, with a strong iodine smell. You’ll recognize that smell when you cut into one. It smells just like the iodine that is sold for veterinary wound care.
Black walnut hulls are a strong natural source of iodine. They are nourishing to the thyroid, especially where seaweed is hard to source. Take note of where you can find black walnut trees growing near you. This may be helpful, should you ever find yourself in need of iodine to protect from nuclear radiation, especially radioactive iodine, which can be absorbed by your thyroid in a situation where you are iodine deficient.
During the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, the areas in the fallout zone ran out of potassium iodide and seaweed sources of iodine. They used black walnut tincture as an iodine supplement by painting people’s knee skin with it. It was effective in preventing radiation poisoning of the thyroid in those treated with it. (That’s iodine on the glove). Walnut hulls are also a good source of vitamin C, which helps your body release toxins.
Black walnut hulls are antifungal and anti-parasitic, especially for intestinal parasites. They are also an antimicrobial, blood cleansing, detoxifying tonic. They have some sedative properties.
However, they are not an herbal supplement that should be taken daily. Black walnut hulls can be used externally to help with warts and herpes. To use it as an iodine supplement paint the tincture on the skin of the knees, rather than taking it internally.
It can be used as an antiviral, antifungal or to expel parasites when taken internally. However, because it is such a powerful supplement its use should be limited to no more than 2 weeks at a time.
Black Walnut Tincture recipe
Yield 5 – 100 ml bottles
Black Walnut Tincture
Description
Use black walnut hulls for a locally sourced iodine tincture, use topically.
Ingredients
- 10 to 12 black walnut hulls
- 3 to 4 cups of 40% or higher proof vodka
- 1-quart jar
- 5 amber glass bottles with dropper lids
Instructions
- Fill a quart jar with fresh black walnut hulls. Pour 40% vodka over them. Generally, an herbalist would use an alcohol of at least 50% or 100 proof for this preparation, but where I live you can’t easily find vodka with a higher alcohol percentage. The tincture is still strong enough even with a lower alcohol percentage.
- Cap tightly. Label and date the jar. Shake the jar once a day or as often as you think of it. After 6 weeks, strain the jar contents, reserving the liquid. Press the spent walnut hulls with a potato ricer or other press, to capture as much of the tincture as possible. Discard the walnut hulls. Pour the completed tincture into amber glass bottles. Cap with a dropper lid.
- Label and date. The tincture will be good for years. Iodine is very stable.
Notes
The normal dosage of this tincture is very low since the herbal remedy is so strong. 15 drops can be taken in water, 3 times a day. To use it as an iodine supplement it’s just as effective to paint the skin with it as it is to take it orally.
Ingredients:
- 10 to 12 black walnut hulls
- 3 to 4 cups of 40% or higher proof vodka
- 1-quart jar
- 5 amber glass bottles with dropper lids
Method:
- Fill a quart jar with fresh black walnut hulls. Pour 40% vodka over them. Generally, an herbalist would use an alcohol of at least 50% or 100 proof for this preparation, but where I live you can’t easily find vodka with a higher alcohol percentage. The tincture is still strong enough even with a lower alcohol percentage.
- Cap tightly. Label and date the jar. Shake the jar once a day or as often as you think of it. After 6 weeks, strain the jar contents, reserving the liquid. Press the spent walnut hulls with a potato ricer or other press, to capture as much of the tincture as possible. Discard the walnut hulls. Pour the completed tincture into amber glass bottles. Cap with a dropper lid.
- Label and date. The tincture will be good for years. Iodine is very stable.
The normal dosage of this tincture is very low since the herbal remedy is so strong. 15 drops can be taken in water, 3 times a day. To use it as an iodine supplement it’s just as effective to paint the skin with it as it is to take it orally.
Standard herbal preparation
The tincture is 1:2 in 50% alcohol, the Usual supplement is 15 drops 3 to 4 times daily. (20 drops is equal to 1 ml).
Contraindications: It shouldn’t be used by those allergic to tree nuts, or by pregnant or nursing mothers.
(Talk to your holistic health professional for personal recommendations — this is for information and educational purposes only.)
Other uses for black walnut include making natural dyes and homemade ink.
I made a pint–now to process nuts and make stain from the rest of the hulls.
However, I feel obligated to mention that I haven’t found a single non-anecdotal reference for black walnut ‘iodine’. I checked with my father–ex-biochemist and longtime biodiesel aficionado (also ex-cattle farmer, who learned about selenium deficiency symptoms the hard way). I checked the internet. I checked with Jim Duke, deceased author of The Green Pharmacy and the science behind the Peterson Field Guides’ Eastern/Central Medicinal Plants and Herbs, among others. I stuck my nose into my tincture, a bottle of vet povidone iodine, a fresh walnut hull, and a bottle of the stuff they sell for humans just for good measure. If you smell a similarity between veterinary iodine and black walnut tincture, it’s the alcohol. I checked the Alternative Advisor, and three other books.
The big reason I mention Dr. Duke is this–he dedicated most of his life to cross-referencing ethnobotany (folk medicine) with biochemical research (or at least trying to), SPECIFICALLY to challenge US big pharma and the bottlenecking of pharmacopeial research in the FDA. If there was a plant as well-known as black walnut available to answer common thyroid problems, he’d have been all over that.
In The Green Pharmacy, he mentions that a green walnut decoction showed promise in one study by raising Thyroxine levels 30+%–a hypothyroidism treatment, yes, but not related to iodine. Walnuts are used in Turkish folk medicine for endocrine disorders.
The blurbs in [Peterson] are organized to account for traditional ethnobotanical uses for different parts of a specific species, then talk about recent biochemical findings. While black walnut hulls are traditionally considered antifungal, antidiarrheal and sometimes anti-inflammatory, and extract is sold commercially as vermifuge, nowhere could I find any reference to iodine content. (Something I didn’t know is that the *leaves* are the bit with a lot of juglone–which recent research suggests is very sedative. That makes sense as even walnut saplings struggle under adult trees. You wouldn’t want to poison your own offspring anymore often than you can help, and prepackaging them in growth inhibitor would seem to do just that.)
The last word in the six books I checked is this: if you are in a region of iodine poor soils (and if you’re in British Colombia, the odds are good), don’t look to locally grown produce or animals for your iodine sources. That’s just not how iodine works. Try Kombu.
Perhaps the reports I read from Ukraine and Russia had to do with the antinuclear properties of Black Walnut protecting from Radiation and the people assumed it was iodine that was the active ingredient.
Hello,
What is the best way to ship the green hulls of black walnut so that they stay green?
Thank you.
hi, I am a novice and I hulled the black walnuts but then chopped them up, so they definitely were not still green when I put them in the jar and added vodka. is that problem? did I just waste my time and my product?
It should be fine. As long as there aren’t any mold issues on the outside of the hulls you should be fine.
Can I use the whole walnut, without breaking it down. I m traveling in upstate NJ . I live in upstate SC and there are no black walnut trees near me. I have the jars and plastic no leak lids and 100 proof vodka is available. Thank you for your response and for sharing your knowledge and experiences.
Whi do you have to use vodka .
Can you use Ever clear 150 prof?
You can use everclear. You’ll need to dilute it to 40% alcohol when you are finished infusing the alcohol.
Just made some. A friend gave me some. Did not realize at first that I needed to wear gloves. How do I get the stains off my hands.
I am trying to find out how to use my black walnut hulls I got from
Starwest. I want to make a tincture with them. They look like little
black bee bee’s. I know its not the same as the green hulls.
Will this work for a good tincture? I really need to hear from
someone.
Thank you, Sharon
Yes, you can use dried walnut hulls to make a tincture. It will work just fine.
Can apple cider vinegar be used in stead of vodka. My husband will not allow vodka in the house even for medicinal purposes.
Yes you can use ACV instead of vodka.
I have made black walnut tincture many times and have friends always wanting to have some for stomach issues.
I prepaid it the same way as you but use the whole nut before the center nut is hard. I cut the green and nut into quarters and cover with vodka. After the first soak I strain the mixture into a clean jar and cover.
I then cover the original hulls with water and soak for another few weeks. I sometimes add cloves and a few cinnamon sticks (they do not really improve the taste…maybe the smell is better)
After the water solution has darkened, I strain it into the vodka solution, mix it and bottle it for storage.
My question is, do you think this second soak compromised he strength of the tincture to much?
I appreciate your advice. Donna
Not having access to a black walnut tree I want to make a tincture of
the black walnut hulls I purchased online Starwest Botanicals.
Do you think it will be effective? I love Black Walnut tincture. I make
other tinctures with dried herbs, will this be the same? The bag is
about 8 oz. Use all of it and fill with vodka? Wait six weeks?
Thanks,
Sharon
I just got gifted some black walnut tincture with the hulls still in the vodka from 2017. I strained the tincture in to a new jar. Now I dont know if it is usable because it sat for over two years with the hulls in it. What is your opinion?
It should be fine
Your instructions say to apply “15 drops in water, 3 times a day” Although your message is wonderful and an incredible way to use our natural plants for health benefits, there is an extremely vital piece off information missing here which could possibly cause bothersome situations for new learners…..
How much WATER would you add said 15 drops to? Just food for thought…Thank you very very much for spreading nature!!!
Did you get an answer on the amount of water to be used? Also , if one rubs on the knee, is this done once a day, or 3 times? Our area of the country almost everyone has very low iodine , so many people have thyroid problems. I had both hyper and hypo nodules , which were removed along with thyroid and 2 para thyroid. This sounds like this is something that might be good for the body.? Thank you
Can the vodka be reused to make more tincture . Also if you want more walnut trees get a squirrel with a bad memory. I have to destroy dozens every spring so they must be champions at planting walnuts.
The vodka becomes the tincture. So it doesn’t get reused.
If I’m using the tincture for external use only is there any reason not to use rubbing alcohol or prepared witch hazel as a menstruum? Thank you for all your great articles!
I haven’t tried it but it seems that witch hazel (which is actually a tincture of witch hazel) would work. I would avoid rubbing alcohol. They put things in ethanol to make it toxic, so that alcoholics don’t drink it. You wouldn’t want those toxins being drawn into your skin.
I have 7 fresh green walnuts in the front of me. I would love give them LIFE in my gaden
Please help…I have no experaince
Thank you and and looking forward
Korina
I just harvested my trees and have a bunch for sale !
I have black walnut trees & they’re dropping nuts. I can’t wait to make some tincture.
Is the main reason for using green hulls instead of black, to avoid the mold? Any other reasons?
Hi my name is Tara, I also have a couple black walnut trees outside my home I’ll ship to anyone who will pay for shipping ! I have 2 6 week old puppies that have been dewormed but is almost due for another treatment. Is it safe to use this method on these babies?
I would love to get some of the Black walnut
willing to pay for shipping and you time
Thks,
Marvin
Can the tincture be used as a flavoring in cooking?
If not,can a flavoring be made at home?
Thanks!
No the tincture is not for flavoring. You can make walnut flavoring by using the nut meats in alcohol. Never use the green hulls for food.
Can i throw the hulls in boiling water and make a strong tea ?
It would be unpleasantly bitter. And it could be dangerous to drink it unless you are dealing with worms. It’s one of the herbs I recommend only using internally under the supervision of a clinical herbalist.
Given the effects of Juglan on other plants, can the used hulls be composted after tincturing? Or will the Juglan be present in the finished compost?
Also, I gather the leaves can be tinctured too. Any thoughts on that?
Thanks!
Yes juglan is present in the compost. But use it on plants that aren’t bothered by juglan. There’s a list here: https://joybileefarm.com/plants-will-grow-near-black-walnut-trees/
I have a HUGE old black walnut tree in my back yard that bombards my house with the huge walnuts. Someone just told me to look up what i can use them for. Thank you! I have a zillion, so if anyone wants some I will gladly mail them to you if you want to pay for the shipping!
Do you still have any black walnuts? Please email me if you do.
sjvontour@hotmail.com
Hi Stacy
Do you have any walnuts that fall early in the year about early June. The end date that I can use walnuts is June 24th, while they are still green. I use the walnuts to make home made liqueur. I need at least 40. I can offer you payment for the nuts and postage. Thanks
I have a huge walnut tree that is bombarding early nuts. If you need them, just let me know.
Please let me know also @
Lahunter1953@gmail
I just built a new home in rural PA and there are several trees in my yard. We considered cutting them because of the mess but they are pretty, almost tropical looking. I was recently diagnosed with Lymes Disease and someone told me about this tincture. Thanks for posting!
Please tell me more about green walnut tiniture and Lyme disease. I was just diognosed and happens to make some tinicture today because I knew it was good for radiation. Thanks
Wow, the things I learn from you ! Thank you. I have always applied oils to the bottom of my feet, it is interesting that this is applied to the knees, wow. In California, the Black Walnuts are grafted with English Walnut (the traditional eating walnuts), I’ve had a few trees die back and now they produce only Black Walnuts, so I will give this a try.
Thank you
The only walnut hulls I have have already started to turn black in places and the flesh is extremely soft. Basically, falling off the nut shell. Can I still use this hull flesh?
If there is no mold you can use it for a tincture. But if you could find green hulls it would be better. Walnut hulls are also used as a dewormer/anti-parasitic.
How much effort do you put into cleaning the gunk off the nuts themselves? I have rinsed and scrubbed them as many as five times before laying them out to dry and then February or March I sit down and shell them. But I’m wondering if I’m making them cleaner then they need to be? What’s your process?
I usually just rinse and scrub once and then let them dry. The residual hull dries and will flake off for me. You just want to watch for mold.
Thank you for the excellent information in this post! I always learn so much from you! Thank you for spending the time researching all of this!
Thank you, Chris! We have a walnut tree that is finally bearing – after over twenty years! We have let it fruit for the biblical four years, and we are now able to use the nuts and hulls! This recipe looks very valuable for the home medicinal pantry! I am grateful for your work!!
Regards,
Rachel
I’m having an impossible time logging in, getting accepted for ebook, etc. Help! Love this site – also tried forwarding it to friends but that didn’t work either. Appreciate your help. Thank you.
Moon, you could try again today. Yesterday there was a internet outages in some places and some of my readers were affected. While my website is based in Canada and wasn’t affected by the outage, the company that manages my email list and ebook deliver was affected. Sorry for the inconvenience.
I’m so happy to help, Rachel.
Rachel, you posted almost 2 years ago. I am just now seeing this info regarding black walnuts and saw your statement …”We have let it fruit for the biblical four years, and we are now able to use the nuts and hulls”.
Could you please give your references regarding your statement? I have tried to find it, but I am unable to locate. If you see this, would you mind responding? Please and Thanks.
It’s found in Leviticus 19:23-25 Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)reads like this:
“When you enter the land and plant various kinds of fruit trees, you are to regard its fruit as forbidden — for three years it will be forbidden to you and not eaten. In the fourth year all its fruit will be holy, for praising Adonai. But in the fifth year you may eat its fruit, so that it will produce even more for you; I am Adonai your God.”
I need a few….Any green walnuts this time of year? I will take a few off your hands. Please let me know soon….Thanks.
Lovely! I remember my living in Tennessee, the farm we lived on had a bunch of black walnuts – I always wanted to do this, but life seemed to steal it… however I think I will add it to my goal list for 2017 – herbal pantry plan. 🙂 ~ Blessings!