Oil Nut

This genus consists of some 15 species of deciduous trees, distributed from Mediterranean regions to E Asia and through N America into the Andes. Several species are grown for their ash-like, often very large leaves that in some species turn yellow in autumn. Juglans regia is often called "English" walnut, but it is not native to the British Isles and seldom crops well in cool climates. Cultivars of Carpathian origin are hardier than the Persian-type walnuts that are grown commercially in California. The walnut has been cultivated in France since at least Roman times for its nuts and oil. Walnut leaves and husks were the main source of brown hair dyes until the early 20th century, a use first described by Pliny (CE23-79). The N American J. cinerea (butternut) was much used medicinally and as a dye plant by Indian tribes; the Menominee dyed their deerskin shirts brown with juice from the husks. Its main medicinal use was for digestive disorders; it was listed in the U. S. Pharmacopoeia (1820-1905) and was one of the most widely used laxatives in the 19th century. Although strongly purgative, it is considered safe during pregnancy. Among its constituents are naphthaquinones, which have a similar laxative effect to the anthraquinones found in Rheum palmatum (See, Chinese rhubarb) and Senna alexandria (See, Alexandrian senna). Black walnut (J. nigra) is used in the same ways. Walnut wood and veneers come from various different species, including J. regia. Juglans comes from the Latin Iupiter, "jupiter" and glans, "acorn".

Butternut gets its name because Native Americans took kernels from the nut of the Juglans cinerea tree, boiled them to extract the oil, and then used the oil like butter. The inner rind of the bark of the root is used as a gentle laxative for chronic constipation. Butternut is also used to expel, rather than kill, intestinal worms, and is an old-fashioned remedy for sluggish liver, hemorrhoids, and fevers.

Vigorous, spreading, deciduous tree with pinnate leaves to 50cm (20in) long, divided into 7-19 oblong-lanceolate, aromatic leaflets. Male flowers are produced in axillary catkins; females in terminal spikes, followed by clusters of 2-5 ovoid fruits, to 6cm (2½in) long.


Common Name:
Oil Nut
Other Names:
Black Walnut, Butternut, Lemon Walnut, White Walnut
Botanical Name:
Juglans cinerea
Genus:
Juglans
Family:
Juglandaceae
Native Location:
Eastern N America
Cultivation:
Deep, rich, well-drained soil in sun. For reliable crops of good quality nuts, plant self-fertile cultivars of J. nigra rather than the wild species. Remove badly placed and dead branches in winter. Leaves may be marked by bacterial leaf blotch and blight. Young shoots and flowers may be damaged by frost in cold sites.
Propagation:
By seed sown when ripe, or in spring after stratifying (species only); by whip-and-tongue grafting; by chip-budding on to J. nigra.
Harvest:
Leaves are picked during the growing season and dried for use in infusions and liquid extracts. Fruits are collected unripe, or when ripe in autumn, and separated into husks, shells, and kernels ("nuts"). Green rinds are used fresh for infusions; husks are infused for dye, and kernels pressed for oil. Inner bark is collected in autumn and dried for decoctions.
Height:
25m (80ft)
Width:
20m (70ft)
Hardiness:
Z3
Parts Used:
Inner bark. Roots
Properties:
An astringent, purgative herb that has a tonic effect on the liver, discourages intestinal parasites, lowers cholesterol levels, and has antimicrobial and antiparasitic effects.
Medicinal Uses:
Internally for constipation associated with dyspepsia, liver dysfunction, and skin eruptions; also for dysentery, and intestinal parasites.
To treat hemorrhoids, skin, and gallbladder diseases. Germany's Commission E has approved the use of butternut to treat skin inflammations and excessive perspiration of the hands and feet.
Possible Side Effects:
Diarrhea and gastrointestinal irritation.
Drug Interactions:
Taking butternut with these drugs may increase the risk of hypokalemia (low levels of potassium in the blood):
Acetazolamide, (Apo-Acetazolamide, Diamox) Azosemide, (Diat) Beclomethasone, (Beconase, Vanceril) Betamethasone, (Celestone, Diprolene) Budesonide, (Entocort, Rhinocort)
Budesonide and Formoterol, (Symbicort) Bumetanide, (Bumex, Burinex) Chlorothiazide, (Diuril) Chlorthalidone, (Apo-Chlorthalidone, Thalitone) Cortisone, (Cortone)
Deflazacort, (Calcort, Dezacor) Dexamethasone, (Decadron, Dexasone) Ethacrynic Acid, (Edecrin) Etozolin, (Elkapin) Flunisolide, (AeroBid, Nasarel)
Fluorometholone, (Eflone, Flarex) Fluticasone, (Cutivate, Flonase) Furosemide, (Apo-Furosemide, Lasix) Hydrochlorothiazide, (Apo-Hydro, Microzide) Hydrocortisone, (Anusol-HC, Locoid)
Hydroflumethiazide, (Diucardin, Saluron) Indapamide, (Lozol, Nu-Indapamide) Loteprednol, (Alrex, Lotemax) Mannitol, (Osmitrol, Resectisol) Medrysone, (HMS Liquifilm)
Mefruside, (Baycaron) Methazolamide, (Apo-Methazolamide, Neptazane) Methyclothiazide, (Aquatensen, Enduron) Methylprednisolone, (DepoMedrol, Medrol) Metolazone, (Mykrox, Zaroxolyn)
Olmesartan and Hydrochlorothiazide, (Benicar HCT) Polythiazide, (Renese) Prednisolone, (Inflamase Forte, Pred Forte) Prednisone, (Apo-Prednisone, Deltasone) Rimexolone, (Vexol)
Torsemide, (Demadex) Triamcinolone, (Aristocort, Trinasal) Trichlormethiazide, (Metatensin, Naqua) Urea, (Amino-Cerv, Ultramide) Xipamide, (Diurexan, Lumitens)
Taking butternut with these drugs may increase the loss of electrolytes and fluids:
Cascara, (Cascara sagrada)                                                      Docusate and Senna, (Peri-Colace, Senokot-S)
Taking butternut with these drugs may increase the adverse effects of the drug:
Digitalis, (Digitek, Lanoxin)
Taking butternut with these drugs may reduce or prevent drug absorption:
Ferric Gluconate, (Ferrlecit) Ferrous Fumarate, (Femiron, Feostat) Ferrous Gluconate, (Fergon, Novo-Ferrogluc)
Ferrous Sulfate, (Feratab, Fer-Iron) Ferrous Sulfate and Ascorbic Acid, (Fero-Grad 500, Vitelle Irospan) Iron-Dextran Complex, (Dexferrum, INFeD)
Polysaccharide-Iron Complex, (Hytinic, Niferex)
Taking butternut with these drugs may be harmful:
All drugs. Butternut reduces gastrointestinal transit time and may therefore reduce the absorption of some drugs.
Supplement Interactions:
Culinary Uses:
Nuts are eaten raw or used in the same ways as walnuts. Unripe fruits are pickled. Seeds are pressed for oil used in cooking.
Bibliography:
Encyclopedia of Herbs by Deni Brown Copyright © 1995, 2001 Dorling Kindersley Limited Pg 247
The Essential Herb-Drug-Vitamin Interaction Guide by Geo. T. Grossberg,MD and Barry Fox,PhD Copyright ©2007 by Barry Fox,PhD. Pp 108-109