Prized for both it’s beautiful wood and its medicinal properties, the black walnut tree grows extensively across the Eastern and Southern U.S. and parts of Europe. The nuts have a rich flavor too, and are great for baking. And while you can craft a gorgeous table out of black walnut, if you’re interested in healing your gut, it’s the hulls that you want. 

Black Walnut History

Native tribes have used black walnut hull for thousands of years, for its natural anti-microbial action. You’ll find this ingredient in a lot of gut cleanse and parasite cleanse products on the market today, but often taking the straight black walnut hull tincture is best. If you’ve been wondering about black walnut hull benefits, and if it might be right for you, then keep reading!

When it comes to the best black walnut hull uses, all we need to do is look to ancient cultures like the Greeks and Romans, as well as Chinese herbalists, who have all used the hulls to fight parasite infections. Ingesting black walnut hull can expel worms, parasites, and other unwanted visitors from the GI tract. It is also effective against fungus like Candida.

Black Walnut Hulls For Gut Health

Black walnut is high in an active constituent called juglone, which is a powerful chemical that affects the balance of the intestinal flora. It’s also this chemical that black walnut trees use to communicate with nearby plants and trees, making it hard to grow things nearby- these trees like their space, apparently. Black walnut is also high in iodine, a vital nutrient for thyroid health, as well as tannins, which are astringents that can not only cleanse the gut but also provide healing benefits to the skin.

Thanks to the active chemical constituents like juglone, iodine, and tannins, black walnut hulls are fantastic at ridding the gut of unhelpful critters, while improving blood flow and acting as a gentle laxative. When it comes to getting rid of parasites, few plants can compete with black walnut! According to modern research, the hull extract is effective against tapeworms, pinworms, threadworms, and even ringworm (a type of fungus). There is even promising research that shows black walnut may even reduce incidence of cancers of the liver, lung, stomach, and colon.

If it’s gut cleansing that you’re after, then pure black walnut hull tincture is your best bet. Just a few drops is a good place to start for most people, as it can be very powerful. 

Often, parasitic infections of the GI tract can present with skin conditions (remember that your skin is a great mirror for what’s happening in your gut at any given time!), and conveniently, black walnut is great for treating the skin too! When applied directly to things like ringworm, athlete’s foot, eczema, viral warts, and even poison ivy, the black walnut extract can relieve irritation, tighten the skin, and promote healing.

To recap, my favorite black walnut hull benefits are:

1. Powerful anti-parasitic

Expel unwanted parasites and worms from the GI tract with the liquid black walnut hull tincture.

2. Powerful anti-fungal

Get rid of that Candida hanging out in your gut, or use it topically for ringworm or athlete’s foot fungus.

3. Skin astringent

The astringency of black walnut hull makes it a great treatment for skin irritations, rashes, and other conditions.

4. Gentle laxative

By improving blood flow and stimulating movement in the colon, black walnut can be an effective cleanser and regulator.

5. Protection against cancer

Black walnut hull may inhibit the growth of certain cancers in the liver, lungs, and GI tract.

6. Digestive aid

Not only can black walnut rid your body of parasites, but it can improve overall digestion by encouraging healthy bile flow, tone inflamed intestinal tissue, and rebalance gut flora.

If you’re looking for black walnut hull uses, this is a great list to start with! I’d recommend a good-quality, pure black walnut hull tincture or extract, as the liquid is most easily absorbed. It’s not recommended for long-term use, but can be a great part of an intentional cleanse. It’s also not recommended for those who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Overall, I think of black walnut hull as one of our best anti-parasitic herbs, and I’ve used it successfully with many of my clients, myself included! Cleaning out the gut can have far-reaching benefits, and can be a great investment in your health.