Akschota, Arbre au Sommeil, Coque de Noix, Feuille de Noyer Commun, Fructus Cortex, Gland Divin, Gland de Jupiter, He Tao, He Tao Shu Zhi, Hu Tao Ren, Juglans, Juglandis, Juglandis Folium, Juglans regia, Nogal, Nogal Inglés, Noix Anglaise, Noix de Grenoble, Noix Italienne, Noix Perse, Noyer Anglais, Noyer Commun, Noyer de Grenoble, Noyer Royal, Walnussblätter, Walnussfrüchtschalen, Walnut, Walnut Fruit, Walnut Hull, Walnut Leaf.
English walnut is a tree. The fruit (nut) is a popular food. The nut, the nut's shell (hull), and the leaf are used to make medicine.
The nut is used as a part of the diet for lowering cholesterol. The hull of English walnut is used as a “blood purifying agent” and to treat digestive tract swelling (inflammation) and “blood poisoning.”
The leaf is used for treating diarrhea, digestive tract inflammation, and intestinal worms. It is also used as a “blood-purifying” agent.
Some people apply English walnut hull directly to the skin for skin diseases, skin infections, and eyelid swelling. It is also used in hair dye and in sunless tanning products.
The leaf is applied to the skin for surface swelling of the skin; excessive sweating of the hands and/or feet; and for skin conditions such as acne, eczema, ulcers, and infections.
In combination with other herbs, English walnut hull is used to treat diabetes, stomach inflammation (gastritis), and “tired blood” (anemia).
In foods, English walnut is commonly eaten as a snack, in baking, and in salads.
How does work?
The nut of the English walnut contains chemicals called fatty acids, which might be useful as part of a cholesterol-lowering diet. It also contains chemicals that can expand blood vessels, possibly improving circulation and the way the heart works.
QUESTION
In the U.S., 1 in every 4 deaths is caused by heart disease. See AnswerPossibly Effective for...
- Coronary heart disease (CHD). Some research suggests that people who eat more walnuts and other nuts might have a lower risk of coronary heart disease and death due to heart problems.
- High cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia). Eating walnuts as part of a low-fat diet seems to lower cholesterol. Total cholesterol and “bad cholesterol” (LDL) are decreased when walnuts are eaten instead of fatty foods and account for up to 20% of the calories in the diet. When English walnuts are added to a low-fat diet, total cholesterol may be decreased by 4% to 12% and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) may be decreased by 8% to 16%. Substituting walnuts for other dietary fats also seems to improve the ratio between “good cholesterol” (HDL cholesterol) and total cholesterol in people with type 2 diabetes.
Insufficient Evidence to Rate Effectiveness for...
- Diarrhea.
- Diabetes.
- Anemia.
- Acne.
- Eczema.
- Ulcers.
- Swelling (inflammation) of the skin.
- Excessive sweating (perspiration) of the hands and feet.
- Other conditions.
English walnut nut is safe for most people in usual food amounts. There isn't enough information to know if larger amounts are safe to use.
The nut can cause softening of the stools and bloating, as well as weight gain unless other fats are removed from the diet. English walnut may cause allergic reactions in people who are sensitive to it.
The following doses have been studied in scientific research:
BY MOUTH:
- For lowering cholesterol: 8-11 English walnut nuts or 30-56 grams (about 1/4 to 1/2 cup) has been substituted for other dietary fats.
SLIDESHOW
Heart Disease: Symptoms, Signs, and Causes See SlideshowNatural Medicines Comprehensive Database rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate (detailed description of each of the ratings).
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Anderson KJ, Teuber SS, Gobeille A, et al. Walnut polyphenolics inhibit in vitro human plasma and LDL oxidation. J Nutr 2001;131:2837-42. View abstract.
Asero R. Detection and clinical characterization of patients with oral allergy syndrome caused by stable allergens in Rosaceae and nuts. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 1999;83:377-83. View abstract.
Bonamonte D, Foti C, Angelini G. Hyperpigmentation and contact dermatitis due to Juglans regia. Contact Dermatitis 2001;44:101-2. View abstract.
Chisholm A, Mann J, Skeaff M, et al. A diet rich in walnuts favourably influences plasma fatty acid profile in moderately hyperlipidaemic subjects. Eur J Clin Nutr 1998;52:12-6. View abstract.
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. Title 21. Part 182 -- Substances Generally Recognized As Safe. Available at: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?CFRPart=182
Feldman EB. The scientific evidence for a beneficial health relationship between walnuts and coronary heart disease. J Nutr 2002;132:1062S-101S. View abstract.
Hu FB, Stampfer MJ. Nut consumption and risk of coronary heart disease: a review of epidemiologic evidence. Curr Atheroscler Rep 1999;1:204-9. View abstract.
Inbaraj JJ, Chignell CF. Cytotoxic action of juglone and plumbagin: a mechanistic study using HaCaT keratinocytes. Chem Res Toxicol 2004;17:55-62. View abstract.
Perusquia M, Mendoza S, Bye R, et al. Vasoactive effects of aqueous extracts from five Mexican medicinal plants on isolated rat aorta. J Ethnopharmacol 1995;46:63-9. View abstract.
Ros E, Nunez I, Perez-Heras A, et al. A walnut diet improves endothelial function in hypercholesterolemic subjects: a randomized crossover trial. Circulation 2004;109:1609-14. View abstract.
Sabate J, Fraser GE, Burke K, et al. Effects of walnuts on serum lipid levels and blood pressure in normal men. N Engl J Med 1993;328:603-7. View abstract.
Tapsell LC, Gillen LJ, Patch CS, et al. Including walnuts in a low-fat/modified-fat diet improves HDL cholesterol-to-total cholesterol ratios in patients with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care 2004;27:2777-83. View abstract.
Zambon D, Sabate J, Munoz S, et al. Substituting walnuts for monounsaturated fat improves the serum lipid profile of hypercholesterolemic men and women. A randomized crossover trial. Ann Intern Med 2000;132:538-46. View abstract.