In this post, we'll discuss how to make black walnut tincture, plus uses and benefits and a black walnut parasite cleanse. Black walnut tincture is easy to make, although a quick search will reveal plenty of variations in technique. Some people use only the green hull, some use the whole nuts in the hull. Most use only green nuts, but I've found a couple sources that use black hulls. I prefer to keep it simple and stick with plain vodka, but some mix half vodka and half glycerin, or even vodka, lemon juice and a layer of olive oil on top. (The olive oil and lemon help prevent oxidation, keeping your tincture green instead of brown.)
This is a people's remedy, not a standardized pharmaceutical. The amount of active compounds in the nut hulls will vary from tree to tree, as will the ratio of hulls per batch. If you are attempting to treat a specific condition, you may wish to consult a trained herbalist to figure out the right dosage for you. I am not a doctor, and this post is not intended to diagnose or treat any illness.
Black walnut side effects/risks are minimal. Don't use it if you have a nut allergy. Handling the nuts will turn your fingers brown, but it wears off – eventually. There may be some risk to the fetus/baby, so it's not recommended for use while pregnant or nursing. WebMD warns against daily oral use due to a possible link with tongue or lip cancer, but others use black walnut powder as part of natural toothpaste blends. (Clear as mud, I know. WebMD is a trusted mainstream resource, but sometimes their information is pretty obviously influenced by Big Pharma.)
How to Make Black Walnut Tincture
When I'm making plant medicine, I generally like to get a nice, concentrated extract, then dilute as needed. For black walnut tincture, this means using only the husks, not the whole nuts. Cutting off the hulls gives you the opportunity to double check the quality of the hulls, too.
Picking Black Walnuts
I collect the nuts off the ground as they fall – sooner is better than later. The longer they are off the tree, the more discoloration and the higher the likelihood of unwanted guests. (See below.)
GROSS OUT ALERT
As we prepped the latest batch of tincture, we found some nuts that looked green and nice at a glance. Upon closer inspection, the stem end was a little squishy. When cut open, the walnuts were crawling with maggots. Sure, the alcohol would pickle them, but I prefer my tinctures worm free.
To make your black walnut tincture:
- Select black walnuts in good condition. You'll need around 2 quarts of nuts for one quart of tincture.
- Select a good quality 80 proof vodka (40% alcohol bu volume).
- Clean your tincturing vessel (a mason jar will work just fine) and fill about 1/3 full with vodka.
- With a sharp knife, cut off hulls and drop into vodka.
- Fill jar with hulls, covering with additional vodka as needed.
- When jar is full, cover and store out of direct sunlight for around 4-6 weeks, mixing or stirring every few days.
- Strain out hulls and store your black walnut tincture in a clean glass bottle. (Colored glass bottles will help preserve the active ingredients.)
- Best brewed fresh each season, but will likely maintain some medicinal value for years, depending on conditions.
Once your nuts are hulled, they can be cured and used like English walnuts (walnut curing instructions here), although they will require a hammer or heavy duty nut cracker.
Black Walnut Uses
Black walnut tincture has historically been known for anti-fungal, anti-helminthic (parasite killing), anti-viral and anti-bacterial effects. Some herbalists use them as part of anti-cancer protocols, such as Dr. Hulda Clark's 21 Day Cancer Cure Program.
Baseline of Health Foundation notes that:
Before vitamins and minerals were commonly used, herbalists were known to use black walnut for a variety of conditions including easing scrofula, ulcers, wounds, rickets, scurvy and as a gargle. In more recent times, Russian military hospitals also used the nut as a cleansing and quick healing medication for wounds and ulcers.
The black walnut hull’s tannin content is thought to help shrink the sweat glands and reduce excessive sweating. Other uses include:
- lowering blood pressure and cholesterol levels
- menorrhagia (heavy menstrual bleeding) and diarrhea
- aiding digestion
- helping relieve colic, heartburn and flatulence
- stimulating bile flow
- easing pain in spleen
- balancing blood sugar levels
- warding off heart disease
- combating malaria
- helping with syphilis
- helping with skin conditions such as boils and acne
How Do I Use Black Walnut Tincture?
As I mentioned above, each batch of black walnut tincture will vary. Dr. Janet Starr Hull includes the following dosing instructions on her website for using black walnut tincture as a parasite cleanse:
Serving size for the Black Walnut green hull tincture is 20 drops. The ingredients in the tincture: wild harvested green hull of Black Walnut (juglans nigra), grain alcohol, with the distilled water/grain alcohol content 45-55%, and the dry herb/menstrum ratio is 1:5. Suggested use for the Black Walnut green hull tincture: take 20 drops in a little water 3 times a day. There are about 60 servings per each 2 fluid ounce bottles. (59 ml)
To use topically on warts or fungal infections such as athlete's foot, you can try applying a small amount of black walnut tincture directly to the affected area with a cotton swab. Note – This is likely to stain your skin brown.
Alternatively, add around a dropper full of tincture to a gallon of warm water in your foot soak basin and soak for 10 minutes per day for up to two weeks. I have not attempted to use this treatment (no athlete's foot), but it should be safe based on internal dosing recommendations that I have read. Watch for any signs of sensitivity and discontinue use if the treatment causes significant irritation.
Stained fingers from processing black walnuts.
Black walnut hulls are also dried and used medicinally, both externally and internally.
Have you used black walnut tincture? If so, please share your experience. There are a wide range of uses out there, and I know I've only scratched the surface in this post.
Where Do I Get Black Walnuts?
Don't have a black walnut tree? You can buy black walnut tincture or chopped and sorted hulls online. Planning to be in your current location for a while? You can plant black walnut seedlings and they will fruit in 7-10 years. Watch where you're planting, as they will inhibit the growth of many other plants trees and shrubs. Only a few plants, like pawpaws, happily grow in the shade of black walnuts.
Other articles you may also find useful:
- Milk Thistle – The Gentle Liver Tonic Everyone Should Know
- Sage Benefits – One Herb, Many Uses
- What if I told you weeds and bacteria could save your life?
- How to Infuse Herbs in Oil, Water, Vinegar, Alcohol or Honey
- Super Easy Hard Lotion Bar Recipe
Originally posted in 2016, updated in 2018.
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Linda D says
I have several varieties of walnut trees, some have leaves similar to willow leaves, (thin)
some have ( wide) leaves, both fruits are similar, how can I tell which is English walnut,
or black walnut? Or, does it matter which one I use?
I enjoy your newsletters very much,
Thank You,
Linda
Laurie Neverman says
The black walnuts have husks that are thick and green, and generally stay on the nuts even after they have fallen. English walnut hulls tend to be a little thinner, and will commonly start to peel off the nut before it drops from the tree. If they are still on after the nut has fallen, they come off very easily. Both have similar medicinal qualities, but black walnut is generally preferred because it has higher amounts of the active components.
Val says
I was introduced to black walnut when I had a horse run into a post. She had a pretty deep gash. After about three days of just drizzling it on, it formed a scab. In about 2 weeks you’d never have known. So I keep in my cabinet for wound care. It works gteat on cold sores too
Laurie Neverman says
Thanks for sharing your experience.
Kate says
Hello, RE: Black Walnut tincture- Has anyone used powdered black walnut to make tincture? I have a wonderful Market that supplies excellent quality bulk herbs. I want to make tincture from the powdered black walnut but can’t find info. I recently ‘rediscovered’ Bentonite clay and was purchasing so much of it from my market that I am now buying it wholesale: bulkapothecary.com They sell food grade as well as industrial quality so pay attention to what you order. Thanks so much for your website and keep up the good work!! Kate
Laurie Neverman says
I haven’t, but I did come across some recipes that did while researching. The powder can be somewhat difficult to strain out, but it should work.
Beestout says
Maybe try decanting the supernatent and leave the powder settled at the bottom. Only concern is if drying the hull would oxidize some of it. I’ve heard of people putting a layer of olive oil on top of fresh tinctures to keep it from turning brown (I suppose if you harvest early enough the tincture is green).
LouAnn Witt says
dried black walnut powered does not have the same medicinal properties since it is the process of the green hulls in the vodka extracting the medicinal components.The vodka tincture is stronger and can be more benefical I have always used that.
Trina Simon says
I used black walnut extract on a staff infection several years ago but now I have another rash I don’t know what it is and I’m wondering if I can just use the powder and mix it into a paste? I accidentally bought capsules of the powder and was going to return it then I thought maybe I could use them this way, I have a store on Etsy and there’s two people on that sell black walnut ointment
Laurie Neverman says
You should probably try to get an ID on the rash before you start treatment so you know what you are treating and can then figure out the most effective treatment options. You could potentially try making a paste, but the powder doesn’t lend itself well to making a paste.
John Powell says
Try healing from outside in using a 35% food grade hydrogen peroxide, a box of typical baking powder, and some epson salts. best used if you can use in a jacuzzi which holds about 6o gallons of water. The jacuzzi mixes the ingredients throughly so I prefer using that bath system. If you dont have one then a regular bath will do. I have used about 12 ounces of the 35% peroxide mixed into the water along with the other ingredients. The water should be warm as you can comfortably stand for about 20 to 30 minutes. I used this to cure small persistent bumps that would emerge after being in the sun. (Not sun poisoning) After 6 baths spaced out 1 week apart the bumps are gone. (Had them for years)…..This is called outside in healing and you may find it works. REcently suggested this to a friend that has shingles and he has not reported back on the results.
Debbie says
I wonder if hickory nut hulls would do about the same? We have no walnuts of any kind around here but LOADS of hickory nut trees. The green hull is very thick and stays on the nut after it falls from the tree. Ideas? Heard of any uses?
Laurie Neverman says
Hmmm…no hickory nuts nearby, so it’s not something I’ve investigated. A quick search comes up with nothing helpful.
The Druid’s Garden notes:
That’s the only reference I could easily find.
Rosemary says
So, you use vodka only for your tincture ?
Laurie Neverman says
Yes. I prefer to keep things simple, and alcohol based tinctures have an excellent shelf life.
Sandy says
I have been trying to steer clear of alcohol that might have been made with gmo ingredients, or foods that are likely to have been treated with RoundUp, ex. corn or wheat, due to the inflammation issues. There is, or was at one time, a certified organic vodka whose price reflected that. Can you recommend a brand, or pointers onwhat to look for on the labels?
Laurie Neverman says
For better or worse, I am not a vodka expert. I’d ask your local liquor store (not a big box store) about obtaining organic vodka. In our area, there are some family run liquor stores that have been in business for decades, and they have the experience to source just about anything you need.
Sigrid Aronsson says
I like the Finnish ”Koskenkorva” and the Swedish ”Absolut Vodka” – Koskenkorva preferred.
They can not be GMO – not possible and they are so famous you could find the companies and call and ask them.
Charlie says
Every single thing we have in America, on any shelf in any grocery store is GMO. Even the Pilgrims used GMO with vegetables to yeild better harvests. People fear everything these days without realizing negative media is typically fueled as propaganda buy benefiting companies.
Laurie Neverman says
Selective breeding to improve yields is a much different process than selectively injecting genes that we have only begun to understand. My husband worked with some of the leading genome studying scientists in the country, and they compared our current attempts at genetic engineering to trying to thread a needle in the dark while wearing oven mitts. Until recently, over 90% of DNA was referred to as “Junk DNA”, because they thought it had no function. Now they’re realizing that the “junk” does have important functions.
I highly recommend you do some more research on sites not funded by companies making huge profits from GM foods.
Thomas Fox says
I have a scaly rash on my right calf and nothing seems to lessen or cure it. I saw a dermatologist years ago who said he did not know what it was. My guess is that it is a plaque psoriasis. I have two black walnut trees in my yard I planted 30 years ago. Yesterday I took a green nut I had squashed with my riding mower and rubbed it on a test spot on my leg twice. Today the spot was less red and the skin a bit softer and less scaly. I am planning to make some tincture and treat the area for a couple of weeks. Do you know of using black walnut tincture on psoriasis? Juglin is a powerful substance and I’m hoping it will work on helping to reduce or clear it up. I purchased a nutcracker a couple of years ago and love eating the nuts and using them in recipes.
Laurie Neverman says
I haven’t found anything definitive on the use of black walnut for psoriasis, but I have used it at times and it seems to help. Other diet and lifestyle changes made a bigger impact for me. I shared my personal battle with psoriasis in this series – https://commonsensehome.com/home-remedies/#Beating_Candida_and_Psoriasis
John Powell says
I have successfully used Black Walnut tincture along the wormwood and cloves (Hulda Clarks book) for curing lots of health issues. Parasites, fungal infections, skin cancer on my face etc. I use this as a therapy and prevention. An interesting find was a friend was bitten by a brown recluse spider on his index finger. Being stubborn and not wanting to visit a doctor (due to the typical surgery method of removing dead skin and infection) he came to me and ask for a solution. This was seven days into the infection and the finger was badly swollen and had necrotizing skin. As a therapy I suggested we use a cotton ball soaked in Black walnut held in place over the wound with plain surgical tape. Two days the necrotizing skin was healing and in one week the wound was gone with no scarring. Black walnut tincture changed my life and literally saved me from death due to a significant parasitic infection which was never detected in test despite me telling the docs that I had coughed up a worm. They never believed me but I am well now for 25 years and better than ever.
Laurie Neverman says
Thank you for sharing your experience, John.
Kate says
Black walnut, clove, and wormwood are the ‘sacred triad’ against any parasitic invasions and personally I believe that ‘psoriasis’ is simply ‘parasites’. Somehow the medical establishment has hijacked our health and uses different names for these symptoms but they all stem from foreign invaders, ie: Parasites!
Are we really so delicate in nature that we cannot imagine our bodies have things crawling inside and outside of us? This is of paramount importance!! Spread the word because our govt. and the CDC do not want us to know this. The rest of the world communicates the need for parasite control, indeed, parasites are an epidemic.
Use the black walnut, clove and wormwood add, Goldenseal or Oregon grape root, Turkey rhubarb root, Neem leef powder and many others, brewed into a strong tea, add some psyllium seed to make a nice jelly and use as a shower scrub works miracles! I will post my bentonite clay mixture later today, we’ve been battling these skin parasites for two years and have learned that the PH of our bodies is of tantamount importance. We are slowly raising ours and are slowly getting better. Thanks and much love to you all, Kate
Laurie Neverman says
Thank you, Kate. I’m curious to hear more.
Joe says
Why are most of us fat, Besides the GMO”S etc? I think that the main issue concerning black walnut husk or hull is it’s ability to control the thyroid gland. Look it up. Iodine deficiency is epidemic world wide and it is the Iodine in the husks that turns black. Metabolism, weight gain, energy levels? Depression, headaches, dry skin? Black walnut has the largest amount of NATURAL iodine which is what controls the thyroid gland. I am taking the tincture daily and have noticed a spike in energy levels and weight loss without doing anything but taking the tincture I made from my own trees in the back of my yard. I am not endorsing a company, I think we all need to examine the Kennedy assassination film again, and look at the people standing on the sidewalk and ask ourselves “why were all those people thin?” 96% of people world wide are iodine deficient, that means you. make a friend with a tree for fresh hulls, and at least try it.
Laurie Neverman says
Joe – if you don’t mind my asking, how long have you been taking it and how much are you using? There’s a ton of bromine in soft drinks and grain products now. (Grains used to be iodized, now they’re bromated. Soft drinks and other foods use bromated vegetable oil.) I think this is yet another factor in people getting not enough iodine and too much bromine.
Sandy says
I read a few years ago, and can’t remember where right now, that the Midwest is blessed to have two sources of food-sourced iodine, black walnut and black mulberry. And further bless them, they taste pretty good! The article didn’t state how much needs to be consumed to get ample iodine. I would like to know how much would be the equivalent of the 18 grams of seaweeds daily the Japanese who survived nuclear bombing were said to be eating.
Laurie Neverman says
It’s impossible to tell how much iodine would be in any given tincture without lab testing, because it would vary based on the iodine in the hulls, which would vary based on the soil iodine.
Cindy Elston says
Thank you for sharing this ihave the same problems and i have walnut trees could you share how you make this tiinture
Lynn Galey says
What is your daily dosage of your home made tincture and do you take a break from taking it?
Jose says
Laurie,
Just a sidenote: trappers have been using walnut husks for a very long time to “stain” their traps. Walnuts have a very long and varied history.
Laurie Neverman says
That makes sense.I know they’ve been used for wood and fabric staining, too.
Reni says
What color should the tincture be? I used fresh hulls with 100 proof vodka and it’s turning a really dark color within the first 24 hours. I still have 6 weeks to go! Perhaps I did something wrong? Input please.
Laurie Neverman says
Dark color is normal. I know some people claim to be able to keep theirs green by covering the tincture with oil, but it sounds messy and I have my doubts that it would work.
Cindy Elston says
Olive oil lemons
Justin says
I thought that you were suppose to use everclear in the tincture.
Laurie Neverman says
Booze with a higher percentage of alcohol can draw out more bitter compounds from the plant material, which may be helpful in some cases, but is not required.
A U says
To Sandy and others: A few years ago, I used apple cider vinegar in the way described for tincture, using dried walnuts hulls–still on the walnuts, and peeled off. I think it worked well for those who want to avoid alcohol.
Thanks, everybody for additional helpful information. For a couple of weeks I had been trying to get the hulls dry ON the walnuts, which I’d been given. Some are now molding.
Laurie Neverman says
If you hope to use the nuts inside, leaving the hulls on the nuts will make the nuts inside bitter.
Tom says
If you want to get the hulls dry they would need to be exposed to the sun in warm weather in a single layer on a hard surface like a patio, driveway or table. Put out plenty of nut as you may lose a few to the squirrels. Another option would be some time in a food dehydrator. I don’t know what the time required would be on that since I do not own one. Are you drying them to make your tincture at a later date?
Yes leaving the hulls on too long will make the nuts stronger tasting. I generally try to remove them from the nut between the green to yellow stage.
Mitzie Payne says
Can you use bourbon instead of vodka? Thank you.
Laurie Neverman says
It should work if that’s what you have available.
Shannon says
I made a tincture with the instructions above but forgot about it in my closet (never shook it) it was about 3 months ago. Is it still usable?
Laurie Neverman says
It should be. Alcohol tinctures are pretty forgiving, as long as the plant material stays submerged.
Belialith says
So my first time making it this year. I gathered a bunch of green balls that were on the ground around the tree. Washed and dried them, then put them in a tall jar. I squeezed a half a lemon into a bowl then poured it in, and poured half a bottle of organic vodka (of what I had left) and the rest of it I filled up with Absolute Vanilla vodka. (I made a really big jar of it!). Then I poured about one fourth cup of sunflower seed oil on top. I covered the top of the jar with parchment paper that you use for baking with, and then sealed the lid over it. I placed it on the counter in a dark area and covered it with a thick green tea-towel so the light doesn’t get to it. Then I would just twist the bottle back and forth a few times every once in a while as it sat there for 6 weeks. I couldn’t shake it, it’s too big.
So finally November 12 was the day I was to open it. I did, and I forgot everything I read about this medicine. I poured it into a bowl that had a sieve and some cheesecloth on it. Then I poured that into a black bottle and corked it, put it in the fridge. But I still had a lot left so I put some into a regular glass jar and stuck that in the fridge. But before I put it in my dropper, I was excited about my first time making this and wanted to taste it. So I poured some into a shot glass, half a shot glass full, and drank it, because I’m thinking this is just vodka, and I’m use to vodka. Upon first ingestion it tasted nice because of the lemon juice and vanilla flavors. But right away I noticed the aftertaste was really strong, and I knew it was the black walnut chemicals. It was like really biting my entire esophagus and throat, tongue and mouth. I’m thinking wow, this is some strange medicine. Then as I was cleaning I started sweating. And that’s when I remembered, oh-oh, I’m suppose to only use a few drops from a dropper, not an entire half a shot glass full. So I thought ok, I’ll just let it work on me. But I began to feel awful. So I went and lay down on the bed. But this medicine is totally SO powerful, I just couldn’t handle it. I went to the washroom and got sick. That’s when I got scared of it. But I figured, hey, I made a mistake.
Just use a few drops in water every day and it will be fine. So I put some into a brown glass dropper bottle and have been putting two to four drops in every glass of water I drink. It’s very diluted so it doesn’t taste like medicine, except when I first drink it after I’ve stirred it in. But the thing is, I’m glad I started off really strong, because now I know why sometimes I get hot feelings and a light sweat. This stuff is SO powerful that only a few drops used every day in every glass of water I drink, makes my body to shift from hot to normal. I know it’s working because of that. I use it because I smoke cigarettes and three of my female family members died of breast cancer, so I heard this stuff has a lot of good in it, and it tastes just like 35% hydrogen peroxide (when I downed it the first time) so I know it will help keep my body clean and healthy.
I stopped by here looking to see if I”m suppose to rest from taking the drops after two weeks, which I’ve just came up to, and I wondered if I’m suppose to stop taking the drops for a week, because I think I read that somewhere. But I guess not, because it seems I’m only taking a few drops throughout the day, and this black walnut medicine seems to have all the anti-illness things in it, so I suppose I’ll just keep dropping it into my water daily. You get used to it. It’s nice. I feel better already. More energy, deeper breathing. Nicer skin.
Laurie Neverman says
I haven’t come across any warnings to stop taking it, as long as you use small doses.
Lexicon says
Belialith and Laurie
Hear is the deal on Black Walnut. Yes it is powerful but not ever going to kill you unless you drink gallons at a time. 28 years of use for me.
What you probably experienced is a condition called a Herxheimer reaction which is simply put a die off of pathegens, parasites, bacteria, fungus, virus etc. BW is a general cure all for many health issues. Who knows what diseases are harbored inside of various people.
You should get the book, the Cure For All Diseases by Hulda Clark, She told it all in the books, (trilogy of them). Follow the regimen she outlines in the book and you will be safe.
At my sickest point in 1992 I was experiencing just about every known malady to mankind. Doctors could not make a diagnosis so left to me own resources which were limited at the time, I did lots of experimenting with various pharmaceuticals and later on natural medicine. BW turned out to the solution and I have never returned to conventional medicine in the last 25 years. If you are not taking cloves and wormwood, you need to complete the program with those items.
There are lots of natural options and to maintain your optimum health so you be your own judge of each natural remedy. In the bible it states Physician Health Thyself. You are the physician so only you know the benefits. Listen to your body because it is telling you everything you need to know. Visit a doctor and get your blood work done to make sure you are in reasonable brackets. Adjust accordingly. You should cycle the use off and on taking breaks until you restore your health to normal whatever makes you feel good.
Laurie Neverman says
Thanks for sharing your experience.
Lexicon says
The best part is it is all true!
Barbara says
Yes thank you sooo much!
Alex says
Hi there, I was wondering if you use it everyday and how long have you been using it for? I heard it could cause liver and kidney failure if you take it for long periods of time. So I was just wondering what your regimen was
Laurie Neverman says
At higher doses (500 mg – 1000 mg of powdered hull in capsule form), I’ve seen recommendations that suggest limiting the dosing period to 6 weeks. It’s also contraindicated if you are nursing or pregnant. I haven’t seen any dosing limitations suggested for modest use of homemade tincture. I’ve been adding about a teaspoon to my morning lemon water.
Inessa says
I’m just wondering what is the difference between making your own tincture and the ones you buy in the health food shops? I’ve tried the ones in the healthfood shops before and haven’t seen a great result. So wondering how making one is going to be different?
Laurie Neverman says
Herbal supplements may or my not be tested for purity and/or specific levels of active ingredients, so there can be a fair amount of variation. They’re made from plant material, and no two plants are exactly alike or growing in exactly the same conditions. Also, each person is different, so again, what works for one person may not work for another. If you make your own walnut tincture, you know for sure what’s in it, and how strong it is. That said, you may or may not see the results you want. I can’t specifically guarantee anything.
Rog says
Can I inject a very small amount with a needle under my skin (mixed with boiled and clean water)?
Its under my skin and not bowel.
I often feel them suddenly moving and I cant stand it anymore.
Laurie Neverman says
Please do not inject yourself. There’s a high risk of other problems if you attempt it. Please see a trained medical professional.
Ann says
Any chance I could make the tincture out of dried powdered hulls?Don’t have any trees around here unfortunately. Trying to make a few tinctures for my hashimotos.
Thank you.
Laurie Neverman says
I think that it should work, but haven’t tried it.
Thomas Fox says
Starting around August to early September check on Craigs List under “free” or “free walnuts”. There should be multiple offeringsfo black walnuts. You will probably have to pick them up from under the tree, but you’ll get some.
Laurie Neverman says
Thanks for the suggestion.