Homemade Apothecary: Black Walnut Hull

When building you homemade apothecary, you look for things that have a multitude of uses and can be gathered or sourced locally, if possible. Living in Missouri, we have access to a giant heap of natural, wild medicinals and one of my favorites is Black Walnuts.

Let's be honest, the best part of having a endless supply of black walnuts is the ability to eat until your heart is content. But, if you were to dig a little deeper, you'd find that they are an amazing medicinal as well.

When harvesting black walnuts you want to look for mature fruit that has fallen to the ground. While you can use the bark, leaves and the fruit (the hull and the seed/meet, for now I'm just going to focus on the use of the hull. (We'll leave the leaves and bark for another rainy day.)

While traditionally used to treat internal parasites, the benefits of the hull do not just stop there. High in Omega-3 fatty acids, tannins and iodine, this little (yet sometimes pesky) plant has natural antibacterial, astringent, laxative and emetic properties that make it wonderful for treating several ailments.

Black Walnut can help manage/treat:

• Eczema & Psoriasis
• Acne
• Canker Sores
• Poor Digestion and Diarrhea
• Worms, Parasites and Ring Worm
• Yeast and Fungal Infections
• Warts (it is said to be a traditional remedy- apply the hull directly 3x daily for as long as needed)
• Possibly reverse the effects of radiation (source)

There are several ways to take black walnut hull, but no matter the form, you shouldn't take it internally for longer than six weeks at a time. Black walnut hull is high in tannins, and if taken for too long can cause issues for your kidneys. It is not considered safe for use during pregnancy and should be heavily considered before use while breastfeeding. It has been shown to decrease milk supply.

Black walnut hull can be dried into a powder, put into pill form, made into a tincture or for skin ailments, used in a compress or directly on the skin from the hull. Pick up some black walnuts and whip up a batch of all forms or purchase from your favorite source.

And for further reading, stop by and check out these pages:
(The links might be hard to see, I'm working to fix this problem.)
The Herbal Resource
Global Healing Center 
Vitamin E-Store 
Livestrong 


**These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. They are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any condition or disease. What I share is what I use personally for my own family, and I greatly encourage you to research and talk over these items with your preferred choice of a health care provider (I recommend Naturopaths and Chiropractors.)**

Is Master Tonic For You!?!

This past week I have been doing a lot of late fall/winter preparations. Putting up some of the last ends of the harvest, making laundry soap to last until spring and even delving into making kombucha at home. (Have you ever priced that stuff?!? It's outrageous.) 

Here in the upper Ozarka winters can be harsh. They can literally throw you into the 1900s with no electricity, water or internet. So the preparations have to start early, because without running water or heat, there can be many opportunities for  catching some nasty bug. 

Perhaps the biggest preparation I have started was my Master Tonic. While this is mainly for myself to use as a preventative to not catch anything (never know when a mama is going to go into labor) that might come floating around. 

So what is Master Tonic?

Master Tonic is a potent blend of food ingredients that are known to hold anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-microbial properties. Very similar to the concoction of herbs used by thieves during the Black Plague to prevent people who came in contact from catching it. 

What is in Master Tonic?

The blend can vary a lot depending in the region and the creator of your blend. Personally, I like to use all fresh ingredients either grown in my garden or wild crafted to get the most benefits out if them. Dry herbs can be used for just the plain herb version, but you will sacrifice some of the potency of your tonic. 

The list of herbs used in Master Tonic is considerably shorter and uses more common kitchen ingredients than Thieves   Vinegar, they can be used interchangeably with some discretion. **You would want to exercise caution in using anything on your skin or internally that could cause a reaction.**

Herbs/Ingredients Traditionally Used:

White Vinegar

Apple Cider Vinegar

Red Wine Vinegar

Wormwood

Meadowsweet 

Wild Marjoram 

Sage

Cloves 

Campanula Root

Angelic

Rosemary

Horehound

Camphor

Lavender

Rue

Thyme

Mint

Garlic

Ginger

Onion

Horseradish

Hot Peppers (cayenne, Thai, jalapeño, etc.)

**Please research any ingredient before you use. Some are not intended for use in people with health condition, pregnant or nursing moms or with certain medications. Consults a physician or pharmacist with any questions. 

So do I still have you interested? Want to make your own version of Master Tonic? I'll provide two versions that I use. I like to start them on a New Moon and finish them up on the Full Moon. Make sure to shake vigorously atleast once a day. 

Standard Master Tonic

Garlic

Onion

Ginger 

Horseradish

Cayenne Peppers -Seeds and Gills incld. 

Apple Cider Vinegar

Use equal parts of food ingredients. 

Grate or chop all ingredients into small pieces. Put in glass jar to about 3/4 full. Cover with ACV and put a lid on and let sit for 15 days. 

CVM's Ultra Potent Master Tonic

Cayenne Peppers

Ginger

Sage 

Mullein
Garlic
Onion 
Clove

Apple Cider Vinegar

Equal parts on all ingredients except the ACV. 

Chop or grate ingredients. But all ingredients into a glass jar to about 3/4 full, cover with apple cider vinegar and put a lid on it. Let sit for 15 days. 

To Finish

Strain "pulp" in a cheese cloth over a bowl and squeeze pulp to remove extra liquid. (Wearing gloves is smart!! This is super strong.) Put your liquid in a jar with a lid and store in a cool dark place. Out pulp in another jar and save for salads and such. It is still very potent and adds zing to meals. 

To Use

Take 1 ounce and swish it around your mouth for 30 seconds and then swallow. Use 2x-3x daily as a preventative during cold an flu season. 

You can also put it on your hands to help prevent contracting any bugs when interacting with people. 

Master Tonic is a great preventative that packs a potent kick in upping your immune system and fighting bugs while still supports your overall health. So, is Master Tonic for you? 

Send in your pictures of your completed tonic to share!! I'd love to hear how yours turns out! 

(sources)

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Thieves_Vinegar

http://heal-thyself.ning.com/m/blogpost?id=2814160%3ABlogPost%3A10555