Black Walnut is also known by the names English Walnut and Persian Walnut. The genus name "Juglans" or "jovis glans" means "Jupiter's nut." Mythology tells us that the 'gods' residing on earth lived off Walnuts. The name "Walnut" is from the Teutonic "welsche nuss", meaning "foreign nut". Because Walnuts are similar to the shape of the human head, they were historically thought to benefit the brain. Furthermore, in Asian medicine, Black Walnuts were regarded as a kidney tonic, which makes sense as they consider the brain to be governed by the kidneys. Walnuts have also been carried by some cultures as a charm for fertility. Black Walnut Bark, including the kernel and the green hull, have been used by the Asians to expel various kinds of intestinal worms, as well as by some American Indian tribes. A substance taken to expel or control parasites (most often referred to as "worms") is technically called a "vermifuge." The fruit, leaves and bark of the Black Walnut tree offer many other benefits. Taken internally, Black Walnut helps relieves constipation, and is also useful against fungal and parasitic infections. It may also help eliminate warts, which are troublesome growths caused by viruses. Rubbed on the skin, Black Walnut extract is reputed to be beneficial for eczema, herpes, psoriasis, and skin parasites. External applications have been known to kill ringworm. The Chinese use this herb to kill tapeworms with extremely good success. The high tannin content is primarily responsible for its anthelmintic property, although other constituents such as juglandin, juglone and juglandic acid may also be involved. It is known that Black Walnut oxygenates the blood to kill parasites. The brown stain found in the green husk contains organic iodine which has antiseptic and healing properties. Black Walnut is also used to balance sugar levels and burn up excessive toxins and fatty materials. Black Walnut has the ability to fight against fungal infections, and acts with an antiseptic property which helps fight bacterial infection. |
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Pumpkin and other squashes are native to North and Central America, but have since been cultivated around the world. The medicinal use of Pumpkin Seeds was adopted by Oriental healers sometime in the seventeenth century. When the first explorers arrived in America, they noticed the Pumpkin plant in the cultivated maize fields of the Indians. The native Indians utilized the plant for medicine as well as for food. An emulsion made from a mixture of Pumpkin and watermelon seeds served to heal wounds for members of the Yuma tribe. The Catawba tribe ate the fresh or dried seeds as a kidney medicine, while the Menominee tribe drank a mixture of water, powdered squash, and Pumpkin Seeds to ease the passage of urine. In settler folk medicine, the ground stems of Pumpkin were brewed into a tea to treat "female ills", and the ripe seeds were made into a palatable preparation to dispel worms. Modern folk healers advocate Pumpkin Seeds to rid the body of intestinal worms, and they point out that the seed oil is especially helpful for healing bums and wounds. People of Germany discovered that raw, hulled Pumpkin Seeds contain substances that stimulate sex hormone production. The seeds contain large amounts of zinc, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, calcium, vitamin A, and vitamin B. So, eating a handful of Pumpkin seeds a day may help prevent impotence. The seeds are famous for improving vision. Ethiopians chew Pumpkin Seeds (which contain fiber) as a natural laxative. Pumpkin Seeds are also a balanced source of good proteins. They are very nourishing and energizing. Pumpkin Seeds, being high in zinc content, aids the healing process, and is useful in treating an enlarged prostate gland. Other nutrients include magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, copper, potassium, niacin, folic acid, riboflavin, and thiamin. They also contain pantothenic acid, unsaturated oils, and antioxidants. Pumpkin Seeds and husks also aid milk production in lactating mothers, and are used to reduce postpartum swelling of the hands and feet.
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