The green husk of the walnut, also known as the immature fruit husk of the walnut tree in the Juglandaceae family, is harvested in the summer and autumn when the immature fruits are picked. The dried fleshy husk is used to treat stomach and abdominal pain, dysentery, and other illnesses. The specific medicinal values are as follows:
Basic Information of Green Walnut Husk
Alternative names: Green walnut husk (Emergency prescription), Green dragon robe (Shandong Herbal Handbook).
Source: The immature fruit husk of the walnut tree in the Juglandaceae family. Please refer to "Walnut Kernel" for detailed plant morphology.
Harvesting: Harvest the immature fruits in autumn, sun-dry them until the outer husk cracks, pick the husk, and then dry it again.
The dried fleshy husk is wrinkled and semi-spherical or slab-like in shape, with a diameter of about 3-5 centimeters and a thickness of about 6-10 millimeters. The surface is relatively smooth, black-green in color, with black spots, and one end has a broken stem. The inner surface is yellow-white and uneven. It has no odor and a bitter and astringent taste. The best quality husk is large, thick, neat, and black-green in color.
Main production areas: Hebei, Shandong, Shanxi. It is also produced in Shaanxi, Northeast China, and other regions.
Chemical composition: Contains alpha- and beta-juglone.
Properties and flavors: Shandong Herbal Handbook: "Bitter, astringent, neutral." (Toxic)
Effects of Green Walnut Husk
Used to treat stomach and abdominal pain, dysentery, abscesses, and toxic sores.
① Shandong Herbal Handbook: "Detoxification and swelling reduction."
② Shaanxi Herbal Handbook: "Treats cowhide psoriasis, fish scale psoriasis, lotus leaf psoriasis, and ringworm."
Internal use: Decoction, 9-15 grams; or ground into fine powder and taken orally. External use: Crushed for application or boiled for washing.
Selected Formulas of Green Walnut Husk
① Treatment for unstoppable dysentery: Take 30 grams of green walnut husk, grind it into powder, and fry it in an iron pot. Take three Qian (9 grams) of the powder with boiled water in the morning. (Fang Mai Zheng Zong)
② Treatment for abscesses and toxic sores: Take an appropriate amount of green walnut husk, decoct it with water, and use it to wash the affected area. (Shandong Herbal Handbook)
③ Treatment for carbuncles and ulcers: Take green walnut husk, grind it into powder, and mix it with a small amount of fermented soybean paste and realgar. Wash with rice water before applying the medicine. (Emergency prescription)
④ Treatment for vitiligo: Take one green walnut husk and a piece of sulfur the size of a soapberry. Grind them evenly and use the mixture daily. (Outline of Materia Medica)
⑤ Treatment for ingrown nails: Burn the green walnut husk to ash and apply it. (Outline of Materia Medica)
Clinical Applications of Green Walnut Husk
Used for treating stomach pain.
In early June of the lunar calendar, pick 6 catties of immature green walnut husks, wash and crush them, and put them in a bottle. Add 10 catties of 60-degree distilled liquor, seal it, and expose it to the sun for 20-30 days.
When both the liquor and walnut husks turn black, filter out the residue with gauze and add 1350 milliliters of simple syrup. Take 10 milliliters per dose, 1-2 times a day, or as needed for pain relief.
Alternatively, green walnut husks can be soaked in distilled liquor at a ratio of 3:10 for 24-48 hours, and the filtered liquor can be used when it turns brownish-yellow.
It has a significant analgesic effect on stomach ulcers, duodenal ulcers, and gastritis. According to observations of 2020 patients, 98.2% experienced pain relief within 10 minutes, with 93.5% experiencing immediate pain relief.
The green husk of the raw walnut has a mild irritant effect on the skin, but no adverse reactions have been found in animal experiments and clinical applications after it is used to make liquor.
