ButterNut Bark/White Walnut

Species Name: Juglans cinerea

Also Known As: Butternut, White Walnut, Oilnut, Gray Walnut, Lemon Walnut, Oilbean Nut

Native to parts of North America and Canada, the White Walnut tree is deciduous, and can reach heights of over one hundred feet.

Its bark is a grayish color, which was historically used to dye wool. The White Walnut has dark green, slightly hairy leaves. The fruit nuts grow in bunches of two through six.

The leaves of this tree possess similar medicinal properties as the leaves of the Black Walnut. Some resources list Black Walnut and White Walnut as similar products or synonyms for each other.

What is White Walnut? White Walnut bark, leaves, and the inner root bark is used medicinally. Generally the White Walnut root bark is labeled and available as a supplement.

White Walnut root bark is sold as bulk herb, is ground into powder and comes in bulk, encapsulated, and in tinctures.

Home Remedies and Benefits of Butternut/White Walnut:

Historically the inner bark of White Walnut was used by settlers and Native Americans as a way to expel worms and a treatment for constipation.

In the nineteenth century it was a widely-used laxative, listed in the United States Pharmacopœia from 1820 through 1905.

White Walnut Bark constituents include essential oils, fixed oils, bitter principle, tannin and napthaquinone (juglone).

Used today, White Walnut root bark can be an effective colon cleanser, it is often recommended in the treatment of constipation, especially when the body also is affected with skin eruptions, liver dysfunction, or indigestion. It is a mild, reliable laxative.

White Walnut is also used to stimulate and increase bile flow in the bile ducts and gall bladder. It will stimulate the liver.

These actions help to further cleanse the body and eliminate waste products, having a beneficial effect on the liver, lymphatic system, and may help alleviate chronic and acute skin conditions.

As a vermifuge, White Walnut is used to effectively expel intestinal worms and tapeworms. It can promote digestion, easing upset stomach and indigestion. Other uses for White Walnut include the treatment of:

  • Feverish colds
  • Influenza
  • Syphilis
  • Ulcers
  • Cleanse and stimulate liver function

Side Effects of Butternut/White Walnut:

With excessive use White Walnut may cause diarrhea and irritation of the stomach and intestines. White Walnut should not be used by pregnant or breastfeeding women.

If you are allergic to nuts, use a little at a time to check for allergic reaction.