Black Walnut Tree

The black walnut tree is a large deciduous tree which is native to the eastern part of North America. The scientific name of the tree is Juglans nigra and these trees belong to the flowering tree in the hickory family. The history of these trees dates back to the Neolithic period. The trees are said to have originated from Persia, but, according to the archaeological remains, they were also found in the eastern Himalayas, Italy, Switzerland and Turkey. Black walnuts have several health benefits as well as commercial benefits. Given below are some of the uses as well as some information about the trees.

Important Facts

Before we go any further, let us first learn more about these deciduous trees. They usually grow up to a height of nearly 100 feet. The bark of the tree is thick, gray-black in color and consists of deep furrows. The leaves are rich green in color and they are usually 30 to nearly 50 cm. They are tapering at the end and have rough edges. The twigs are brown in color, blunt and stout and some even have prominent leaf scars. The fruit of this tree either grows separately or in pairs. They are large in size and round in shape, with an edible nut inside a hard and deeply furrowed shell, making it look like a tiny model of the human brain. The kernel of the fruit is rich in oil and if not careful, then this oil can stain your hands or clothes; thus, it is best to use gloves while handling these nuts. The wood of this tree is useful for making furniture. Black walnut extract is also very useful to us and we will see how in the next section.

Beneficial Uses

If we say that only the nuts are useful, it will be a mistake because the whole tree is useful to us in several ways. Given below are some of the uses of this tree. The first thing that comes into our mind while talking about the black walnut benefits, are its various health uses. For centuries these nuts have been used by people for treating various health related issues and all this is possible due to the various nutritional properties that are present in the nuts. Let us see what are the various black walnut uses.

• Black walnuts are good for people suffering from heartburn. They decrease the inflammation in the arteries and also prevent them from getting blocked.
• These walnuts are also used to treat various skin-related infections like ringworm, or athlete's foot, jock itch and so on.
• Black walnuts are also beneficial for those suffering from intestinal parasites and worms. These nuts have natural tannins which alters the pH level in the stomach which in turn increases the acidity level. This acid kills the parasites and worms in the stomach.
• Presence of omega 3 fatty acids in the nuts lowers the chances of diabetes. It also lowers the cholesterol level.
• The nuts are also used to treat high blood pressure. The omega 3 fatty acids in the nuts help in thinning the blood, hence preventing clotting of the blood.
• Various other health related issues such as asthma, cancer, constipation and tumors can also be prevented by these nuts.
• The leaves and the wood are also useful to us in several ways. Tea made from the leaves of this tree is a good astringent.
• The leaves can also be used as a cleaning agent and they also help to treat ringworm.
• The wood of this tree is good for making furniture, and beautiful artifacts which are sold in the market.
• Walnut shells are used in petroleum industries for filtration purposes.
• Shells are also used to make various cosmetic products such as facial scrubs, polish for the tooth, soaps and so on. Black walnut is also used for making dyes.

Hence, these were the various uses of the black walnut tree. It's amazing to know how each and every section of the tree can be used for the benefit of man. If it's possible you too can plant the tree in your garden and enjoy the various uses of this tree.