Before I get started with the information on how to make your own black walnut tincture, a word of caution is in order. If you have a nut allergy, do not attempt to make or use this tincture. Even though the actual nut is not used, the hull of the walnut is. No need to take a risk on this one.
However, if you do not and you’re looking for an easy recipe for a homemade black walnut tincture, the information in this article is just what you need. Whether you want this tincture to help get rid of intestinal parasites, or any other of the numerous other benefits we will discuss, it’s an easy recipe to prepare ahead of time. It also has a long shelf life, when stored properly.
We will get into all of this later in the article. But, let’s first go over what you will need.
The Supplies
Most of these supplies are easy to find, if you don’t already have them on hand. Here is what you will need:
- Black walnuts, whole and still in the hull
- 80 proof vodka
- Olive Oil
- Lemon juice
- Quart canning jar with lid
- Gloves
In addition to the above you will want at least one small dark-colored glass bottle with a dropper, as well as a sharp knife.
When choosing the black walnuts, it’s best to have the freshest you can find. In fact, if you can get them before they fall off the tree, when they’re still very green, that’s the best option. However, I am making this batch in the fall in a northern and colder region, and most of them have already fallen to the ground by now.
So, rather than waiting until spring, I am making this batch with a more mature selection of black walnut hulls. The final tincture may not be quite as potent, but it’s still effective – and at least you will see the process, so you can be ready when you choose to make it yourself.
Related: How To Make Your Own Herbal Tincture
The Recipe and Process
Once you have gathered all your supplies, make sure to wear your gloves. If you opt to not wear them, be prepared for your hands to be stained for weeks. Also, be careful with anything else these hulls and shells come in contact with before, during, and after the process.
I remember as a kid my grandmother used to make a wonderful black walnut cake. She would run over the walnuts with her car to open them. Yes, they are a hard nut to crack. However, for this recipe, it calls for the hulls, not the actual meat or nut found in the inner shell. The green hull can be opened with just a knife. That leaves the actual nuts to be used for other purposes.
Anyway, making black walnut tincture is very simple:
#1. Fill a quart canning jar about ⅔ full with vodka.
#2. Cut the walnut hulls, approximately 6-7 of them, and place in the jar.
#3. Pour about 2 tablespoons of lemon juice in to help preserve the tincture.
#4. Pour about ¼ cup of olive oil in to help create a barrier from oxidation over time.
#5. Make sure the top of the hulls are covered with the vodka, lemon juice, and olive oil mix.
#6. Cap the filled jar, without stirring the mix, then place in the refrigerator.
The tincture is ready to use anywhere from as quickly as a couple of hours, to as long as 4-6 weeks of sitting. Obviously the longer it steeps, the more potent it will be for you.
The other factor in its effectiveness and strength is the freshness of the back walnut. The sooner you get if off the ground, or picked from a tree (better yet), the more potent the tincture.
#7. Once the tincture is ready to use, strain the mix to remove the hulls and excess debris.
Pour the liquid into small dark-colored bottles that have droppers. The shelf life depends on the freshness of the hulls used. It could last for years, but will be more effective in the earlier stages.
Uses for the Black Walnut Tincture
Historically, black walnut tincture has been used for its anti-fungal, anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-helminthic (killing parasites) traits. In addition to fending off and preventing various infections and intestinal parasites, other uses include:
- Reducing excessive sweating
- Lowering cholesterol and blood pressure levels
- Aiding in digestion
- Slowing down heavy menstrual bleeding
- Relieving heartburn, colic, diarrhea, and flatulence
- Balances blood sugar levels
- Battles heart disease
- Helps with skin conditions such as acne, boils, and warts
So as you can see, black walnut tincture goes well beyond helping with intestinal parasites. But, how do you use it? Good question!
Related: How to Make the Most Powerful Natural Antibiotic
How to Use the Black Walnut Tincture
Now that you know how to make it, and what to use it for, you might be wondering how to use this strange-looking mixture.
When using it as an intestinal parasite cleanse, the dropper discussed earlier comes in handy. Drop 20 small drops of the tincture into a glass of water and drink three times a day until you are feeling better. To give you an idea how long this should last, a 2 oz bottle, should hold about 60 of these servings.
As a topical aid for skin conditions, use a cotton swab dipped in the tincture and dab on the area in question. Just a word of caution though, this will stain your skin for a while, as well as anything else it touches.
And another way to use it would be for athlete’s foot. Simply add a dropper full of the tincture into a gallon of warm water in a small tub, and use as a foot soak. This could also stain, but it’s far more diluted than the dose listed above for other skin conditions.
No matter what ailment you are seeking help for, hopefully this black walnut tincture will aid in finding relief for you soon!
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Good info, but clarification is needed. First off, lemon juice is not necessary to “preserve” the tincture. By its nature the alcohol is a preservative. And the olive oil is not necessary. The action of the alcohol is all that is needed to create a tincture. It is best to wait for 4-6 weeks to leach teh goodness out of the walnut hulls.
Thank-you ! Good to know !
What is the reason to put onions in my socks ?
My walnuts have worms in them. She I use them or toss them?
How is this used with regards cholesterol or blood pressure? If you mention a problem that something works to solve, don’t you think it appropriate to say “this could be used in this manner for …” but that has not been tested by the FDA, or some other disclaimer, and then tell how it might be used? Seriously, I hate articles that mention what I am looking to solve – moderate blood pressure issues – but doesn’t say how.
Grandma used black walnut as a hair dye.
Pick the walnuts off the ground when they are browning or black. Take the inside of the hull, that icky black stuff, mix with a little water into a paste. Put it in cheese cloth. Wrap your head and tomorrow morning be 20 years younger.
Does this also work on intestinal parasites in animals?
I was wondering the same thing. Internal parasites are the number one problem with goats and sheep. They are becoming resistant to all commercial wormers!
Yes, you can use it on animals. Read the book, The Cure For All Cancers–by Dr. Helda R. Clark. It deals with the very same thing–parasites and the black walnut/wormwood/clove remedy. I have used her stuff for many, many, years. Both on myself, elderly cats, dogs and elderly people. Also, stay away from the chemicals–proplyene glycol & sodium benzoate (benzene). Seriously, read the book, it’s a lifesaver.
Look up her name and book in Quackwatch. Not very good things to say about her. Claims she died of cancer herself.
I believe the book is “The Cure for All Diseases “
This sounds like something sold in the 1800’s. Back then, it was known as “snake oil”. It cures everything, just believe and don’t ask questions.
It’s like a lot of these. Until I see some papers published in a credible peer reviewed journal, I don’t try any remedies on here nor trust them just because a prepper googled something.
Like I said, READ THE BOOK. It will change your mind about this stuff. And she was published in a lot of credible papers, mainstream media ignored just about all of it. Think of how much money the doctors and hospitals will loose if people started actually taking their health into their own hands and using herbs and vitamins & such to treat/cure nearly all that ails us….
Gene, no offense to you or your belief, or lack there of. My name is Rose, I am a herbalist in MI. I too was Leary, as should you be when taking anything internally, or externally. You should always do your research on all prescribed meds as well. especially prescribed meds, as the side effects tend to be worse then what your treating. Big pharma, doesn’t gain from healing people, but keeping them sick makes them more money. creating different illnesses, while bandaging others is their main way of helping people. What may help you understand a herbalist remedy as a form of healing, is when you read up on an exact herb, plant, moss, or mushroom, just to find that that is the primary ingredients, or active ingredients used to make our modern medicine today. Or, as I say, our pharma meds. The only differences is that they mix other chemicals into their meds, or herbs that are processed differently. As to we use the organic method, and try to cure the ailment, without such side effects. Dont get me wrong, there are side effects in all meds, but if you do your research, and know what you can mix with what, your being safe and smart by doing so with herbalist remedies, and with phama remedies. I hope you come to find, that nature has a more natural way of curing different ailments, then man can create by means of chemicals. Good luck on your research. if your like me, when I found out the truth, and read and researched further, it seemed the more I knew, the more shocked I became, as well as disgusted in our modern meds we use today.
I’ve used traditional medicine for years and I’m still sick. I have been experimenting with natural remedies for some time now and some do work for a bit and other’s don’t. I think it also depends on the person and how they react to them.
Even tired the CBD rout and didn’t get any benefits from it, still in pain.
Now I’m going to go wrap my head in black walnut hulls and wake up 20 years younger! Ha!
I think I will try this remedy though and see if it gives me some relief, you don’t know if you don’t try. Who knows I might even find something that works for FM and Arthritis.
Oh, I will read this book. I think it could also give beneficial information on learning to heal oneself.
Yes, Jim from Louisiana—I did see that a while back. Can’t help what other people want to write, whether pro or con, I can only tell you of my experience using that stuff. True story about how I came to get it—I had a very sick ferret, which I absolutely adored. He had gotten sick, (ferrets are very prone to all types of cancers), anyway, vet said he had only 4 to 6 weeks to go, there was nothing they could do for him. I was devastated and started praying for anything to help him. I went to a health food store and as I opened the door, a large, obese woman was in front of me. Well she went in first and her bag or whatever hit a book on the shelf. It fell and hit me on the foot, she kept on going so I bent down to pick it up and it was that book…. This was back in 1996 or maybe 1997. I have used this stuff ever since. I know some people give her a bad rap, but I have nothing but good results from her stuff. I especially stay away from the chemicals she lists. I mean, if nothing else is working for someone, why not try it and at least read what she has to say?
NM the “health benefits” but this is quite tasty, esp. if stored for 3-5 years before drinking!
– I’d lose the oil+lemon juice, use a strainer in the jar to keep the nuts submerged.