Page 228 - Lost Book Remedies

The Lost Book of Herbal Remedies

Anti-Viral, HPV, HIV: People have long been us- Warning: Side effects associated with black walnut
ing black walnut to prevent and treat viral infections. use are not common. However, it is important to note
Black walnuts and black walnut hulls inhibit the repro- that nut allergies are very common. Black walnuts or
duction of viruses, including herpes. A study published any of their products should not be given to anyone al-
in Phytotherapy Research found that juglone in black lergic to tree nuts. Risk during pregnancy is deemed
walnut hulls inhibits replication of the HIV virus. low, but it is best to avoid black walnut internally if you
While there are no therapeutic recommendations yet, are pregnant or nursing.
it would be advisable for those exposed or infected by Recipes. Black Walnut Hull Tincture:
HIV to take Black Walnut Hull Tincture. In addition to
the hulls, the roots and buds also contain juglone. Ju- Ground walnut hulls, vodka or another 80 proof or
glone is not soluble in water so best to use an alcohol higher alcohol. Place the ground hulls in a clean, dry
extract/tincture. jar with a tight-fitting lid. Fill the jar 1/3rd full. Pour
80 proof or higher vodka or other alcohol over the hulls
Harvesting: Wear gloves when collecting black wal- to within ½ inch (1.25 cm) of the top. Cover tightly and
nuts since the husk will stain your hands. Collect nuts place the jar in a cool, dark place. Shake the jar every
that have fallen to the ground, nuts that remain on the few days. Watch the alcohol level and add more if
tree are not yet mature. Remove the green to yellowish needed. Soak the hulls for 6 to 8 weeks. Strain the mix-
hull from the nut. Eat the nuts and dry and save the ture through a fine sieve or cheesecloth. Squeeze out
husk for use in poultices, tinctures, and to powder all liquid.
when needed.
Discard the hulls. Place the alcohol extract in a cool
To store black walnuts inside their shell, lay them out place, undisturbed overnight. Strain again through a
and allow them to dry for a few days after harvesting. coffee filter or decant to remove any remaining hull
Store them in a dry, squirrel-proof area. To crack nuts, residue. Store the tincture in a tightly capped glass bot-
use a hammer, nut cracker, or a vise to crack the shell. tle in a cool, dark place.
Remove the meat inside. Black walnut leaves can be
picked for use throughout the season.

Blue & Black Elderberry, green when young. As the wood ages, the bark becomes
smooth and brown, and you will notice round lumps
Sambucus nigra on the bark. As the shrub continues to age, the
bark develops vertical furrows.
ssp. caerulea Opposite compound leaves have 5 to 11 toothed

(blue) and lance-like leaflets per stem. Veins in the leaves
may disappear after leaving the midrib, or they
Sambucus may continue to the tip of the teeth. The eld-
erberry blossom is a dense head of white to
nigra ssp. cream-colored flowers. Flowers are

canadensis radially symmetrical with five flat
white petals and five protruding sta-
mens. The flower head is 6 to 12
(black) inches (15 cm to 30 cm) across. Elderber-
ries are black or purplish-blue when ripe and
Sambucus nigra tincture is with me 24/7 as an anti- occur in clusters.
viral. I dose with it when traveling or at the first sign of
illness. It is in the Adoxacaeae (Moschatel) Family and Important Differentiation: Some people con-
is one of my family’s most important herbal medicines. fuse elderberry with the deadly poisonous water hem-
lock. Water hemlock is an herbaceous plant, not
Identification: Elderberry grows as a wide woody woody, and it does not have bark. The main stem of
shrub to about 12 feet (3.1 meters) tall. The segmented water hemlock is hollow, while elderberry is filled with
stems have a soft white pith. The bark is smooth and
a soft pith. Water hemlock stems often have purple
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