Black walnut is a tree that was not originally distributed in Russia. The fruits of the tree and its leaves contain a large amount of juglones, polyphenols and other useful components. But, as it turned out, it is possible to grow such a culture on the territory of our country. As a rule, this is done in the southern regions of the country. In the article, we will consider the benefits and harms of black walnut oil.
Description of the appearance of culture
The black walnut tree looks like other walnut trees, but there are some features that are specific to this particular crop:
- the trunks of the plant are painted in a chocolate brown hue, the tree can reach a height of up to 50 meters;
- wood is particularly strong, easy to process, which is why this material is widely used to create various wooden structures
- wood has an attractive appearance and pleasant texture, which is why it is used in interior decoration and indoor furniture;
- tree crown vaulted, wide,tapers downwards;
- roots are painted black, covered with deep cracks, grow deep underground. The root system of the plant is pivotal.
Leaves of culture of odd-pinnate type, arranged in turn. Usually they are oval in shape, slightly oblong and with small teeth along the border. In length they reach up to 10 centimeters, in width more than three. The venation is pinnate. The leaves on the tree begin to form in April or May.
The black walnut tree is a monoecious crop. Stamens form single catkins, the length of which varies from 5 to 15 centimeters, and pistillate - 5 flowers in one brush. The flowering of trees begins only at the age of 7-10 years (in April or May).
The fruits of the black walnut tree are round ovoid and obovate nuts with a pointed top. The fruits can be up to five centimeters in size. The peel of a nut is 0.5-1 centimeters. Inside the peel you can find a strong shell, which is not so easy to peel. Under it is a whole kernel - a nut, which has an unusual smell. Nuts are considered resistant to oxidation
Walnut Varieties
Black walnut is a member of the genus Nut, the Nut family, the Bukotsvetnye order, the Dicotyledonous class, the Flowering department. It also includes the following types of nuts:
- walnut;
- California;
- Manchu;
- gray;
- small-fruited;
- ailantholic.
Placesgrowth
Black walnut is native to North America, where it is distributed from Massachusetts to Florida and Texas. This culture was brought to Russia in the middle of the 18th century. Today, the walnut tree is widely distributed throughout Europe, excluding the Scandinavian countries, where the climate for this crop is too unfavorable. On the territory of our country, black walnut grows in the Krasnodar and Stavropol Territories.
The places where the culture spread are as follows:
- broad-leaved forests;
- mountains characterized by fertile and moist soil;
- on the banks of water bodies;
- on the alleys,
Methods of collecting fruits and their processing
Nut picking is carried out in autumn. To date, to facilitate the collection of crop fruits, experts have designed specialized machines and devices for collection. If there are no such devices, then you can assemble them yourself. Ripe nuts fall to the ground on their own. They can only be assembled by hand. It is best to wear thick rubber gloves before harvesting.
To accelerate the fall of ripe fruits to the ground, it is allowed to use sticks and other devices. They hit the branches of a tree, but you need to remember that such events can only harm the branches and leaves of the plant. Also, some fruits grow so high that it is simply impossible to get them.
After harvesting nuts need to be processed. This procedure can be carried out with the help of special devices. Atthick rubber gloves should also be worn when handling it yourself, as the black walnut leaves behind hard-to-wash stains.
The rind of ripe fruits can change color from dark green to yellow-green. It is removed with a small knife. The second method: the opened skin is removed by hand, after crushing the shell.
Third method: opened nuts can be placed in a container of water. In this case, the peel will float to the surface, and the nuts themselves will remain at the bottom. After that, you need to dry the extracted walnut fruits well. To separate the kernels from the shell, you can use tongs, a vise and hammers.
Storage Features
Storing nuts is easiest with the shell. To do this, they should be put in a resealable container or packaged in cotton bags, then put in a dark and dry place. This method of storing nuts can last for six months.
Nut kernels should be kept in the refrigerator, preferably in the freezer. To do this, they are placed in a closed container (it is best to use airtight plastic containers for this) or in polyethylene bags. Can be placed in food foil.
To extend the shelf life of both shelled and unshelled nuts, as well as to prevent the negative effects of insects that only spoil the fruit, you should roast them on the stove or in the oven.
Peeled kernels are heated in a frying pan. But it is important to remember that during heat treatment, some useful propertiesproduct may be lost.
What's included?
The composition of black walnut fruits is very diverse. It contains the following components:
- essential oils;
- organic iodine;
- tannin, carotene;
- Jugladin alkaloid;
- flavonoids;
- polyphenolic substance - juglone;
- glycoside, phytoncides;
- quinones;
- enzymes, sugars, tannins and other useful substances;
- stearic, arachidic, myristic, lauric, palmitic, linolenic, oleic acids.
Useful effect of the nut
Means prepared from the fruits and leaves of the crop have the following effects on the human body:
- sedative;
- blood and lymph purifying;
- antispasmodic and vasodilator;
- absorbable and antitumor;
- anthelmintic and antitoxic;
- painkiller;
- rejuvenating
- immunostimulatory;
- antiemetic and tonic.
Black Walnut Oil: Benefits and Harms
What else is this culture useful for? From the fruits of the tree, black walnut oil is obtained by extraction. Such a tool can be used in cooking, cosmetology or medicine.
It can be bought both in the supermarket and in any pharmacy. The use of black walnut oil is recommended for:
- rickets and beriberi;
- hemorrhoids and thrombophlebitis;
- spicyconjunctiva;
- inflammatory process in the genitals or disorders in the reproductive system;
- pyelonephritis, urethritis, cystitis, herpes, skin tuberculosis, parasitic infestations;
- diabetes and thyroid problems
- in order to prevent influenza, SARS;
- eczema and other diseases of the dermis (acne, psoriasis, neurodermatitis, warts, allergic form of dermatitis);
- gastric and duodenal ulcers, dyspepsia, dysbacteriosis, exacerbated colitis and gastritis, reduced protective functions of the immune system.
The product may also cause the following harm:
- causes allergies;
- high in calories;
- excessive consumption can lead to vasospasm, as well as inflammation of the tonsils;
Applications
How to take black walnut oil? There are special recipes for using such a remedy:
- Treatment of dry eczema, herpes, psoriasis, herpes zoster, fungal infection, boils, abscesses, household, and sunburn. To do this, the oil is rubbed externally into diseased areas of the body 2-3 times a day.
- Rinsing the mouth. This helps to eliminate ulcers and boils, as well as prevent the development of periodontal disease.
- Special steam inhalations are prepared with oil for the treatment of colds. Procedures are carried out every day, using 2 teaspoons of black walnut oil per 250 milliliters of water.
- For ingestion, adults will have enough to consume only half a dayteaspoon of oil three times a day 30 minutes before meals. Children from three years old can also take 10-15 drops three times a day before meals. The duration of treatment is 30 days.
It is important to remember that black walnut oil has contraindications. It is forbidden to use the product:
- people with excessive amounts of iodine in their bodies;
- pregnant and lactating women;
- with gastritis, liver cirrhosis, peptic ulcers;
- at high sensitivity;
- if thrombophlebitis is present.
You can store the finished oil for 2 years in a closed container, in the shade and at a temperature of 25 degrees Celsius.
Other uses
You can also buy vegetable deodorized oil diluted with nut tincture at the pharmacy. The finished product is sold in various pharmacies and cosmetic departments of stores. The main area of use of such a product is cosmetology. The tool helps to strengthen the hair and restore the skin.
This remedy is especially useful for girls with dry and problem skin, unhe althy hair. Both homemade and professional black walnut masks help to restore the he alth of the hair, return it to its former smoothness and he althy shine. Also, such a remedy is actively used to eliminate inflammatory processes, especially if women have acne, rashes and irritations on the scalp. With such problems, the oil should be consumed regularly. Another positive feature of such a tool is thatthat it enriches hair and skin with vitamins and useful components.
To prepare a mask with walnut and black walnut oils at home, take 10 ml of each and mix them with cosmetic clay, add 3 drops of lemon essential oil. The product is applied to the skin for 20 minutes.
Also, for any skin type, it is good to use a product that includes: chamomile infusion (50 ml), 10 ml of oil and half a tablespoon of henna. The finished mask is applied to the problem area for 10 minutes, then washed off.
Product usage reviews
Reviews of black walnut oil are mostly positive. Many women note the high effectiveness of the product in restoring the he alth of hair and skin, and actively use it in the fight against various diseases. For medicinal purposes, the oil should also be used regularly. External use is recommended for acne, warts, boils, lichen and psoriasis, burns and dermatitis. Oral may be given if the patient has an STD.
In this case, a tablespoon of oil is drunk an hour before meals, the treatment is carried out for 2 months. You can use the medicine inside for colds, during remission of ulcers and gastritis.
For cosmetic treatment, it is best to use deodorized oil, which can be bought at a simple pharmacy. Purchasing specialized cooking nut oil is much more complicated, but it can also be found in some beauty supply stores.
We looked at the benefits and harms of black walnut oil. Walnut is also usefulfor the body, its oil is actively used both in medicine and in cosmetology.
