The home of the walnut tree is southeastern Europe, China, Central Asia and the area extending from Asia Minor to northern India. The tree is now grown in North Africa, North America, East Asia and throughout Europe. The leaf material comes from imports from the Eastern and Southeastern European countries.
Walnut tree in herbal medicine
In herbal medicine, mainly the whole-edged leaves of the walnut tree (Juglandis folium), freed from the rachis, are used, and more rarely the outer fruit shells (Juglandis fructus cortex).
Walnut tree: special characteristics
Walnut trees grow between 10 and 25 m tall. They bear large, imparipinnate leaves that are first reddish, later green. The female flowers hang in twos or threes at the ends of the branches, while the male flowers hang down in long catkins.
The walnut is a drupe surrounded by an initially smooth green shell; later the shell turns brown. Inside the hard walnut are the brown, cartilaginous cotyledons, which are edible and a popular ingredient in cereals, cakes, salads and many other dishes. Also edible are the nuts of the black walnut (Juglans nigra) and those of the gray walnut (Juglans cinerea).
Walnut leaves as a medicine
The cut drug consists of brown-green, brittle and hairless leaf fragments on both sides. Only with a magnifying glass can small tufts of hair be seen on the underside of the leaves. The leaf veins are also clearly visible.
Walnut leaves give off a faint aromatic odor. The taste of the leaves is slightly bitter, scratchy and astringent.
