Butternut
Botanical Description & Habitat
Juglans cinerea
Family
Julandaceae
Common Names
Oil nut bark
Lemon walnut
Walnut
White walnut
Habitat
An indigenous forest tree found in northern and southern Canada, and throughout the northern, eastern, and western sections of the United States.
Description
The butternut is a large forest tree reaching 50-75 feet in height and 3-4 feet in diameter (measured 5 feet from the ground). It has wide, spreading branches, and is covered with smooth gray bark. The leaves are alternate, large, pinnate, and consist of 7-8 pairs of sessile leaflets. The male and female flowers are distinct upon the same tree and grow in separate catkins. The fruit is an edible nut that has a hard, irregularly furrowed shell.
Medicinal Parts
Bark - dried
Historical Properties & Uses
Butternut, or white walnut, is used primarily as a mild laxative. The laxative effect may be due to the presence of juglandin. Like the black walnut tree, butternut is also used as an anthelmintic. Since this action has been validated in the black variety, it is presumably also present in the white variety. Cholagogue properties have been found in butternut. Juglone, a constituent, has been shown to have mild sedative, and some antimicrobial properties.
Method of Action
There is presently insufficient data on this subject.
Drug Interactions & Precautions
Known Interactions
Due to its cathartic activity, butternut may potentiate anticoagulant therapy by reducing absorption of vitamin K from the gut. This herb may also inhibit absorption of dextrose from the intestines.
As a cathartic, butternut increases the intestinal transit time. Therefore, the herb may inhibit the absorption of digitalis glycosides, inhibit their absorption and and decrease their cardiac action. Cathartic-induced hypokalemia, however, increases the toxicity and potency of absorbed digitalis, as well as potentiating muscle relaxants.
In addition to the specific interactions listed, the cathartic action of butternut tends to hasten the passage of all oral medications through the gut, thereby inhibiting their action.
Possible Interactions
Laxative-induced diarrhea from butternut may result in decreased absorption of isoniazid. The same is true with sulfisoxazole, but this appears to be a clinically unimportant interactional effect.
The tannin in butternut may potentiate the antibiotic activity of echinacea. The tannin in tea made from butternut herb may be inactivated by the addition of milk or cream.
By sequestering butternut, mineral oil may reduce the herb's anthelmintic effect. The same may be true, to a lesser extent, of antacids.
Comments
Butternut laxative-induced increased speed of intestinal emptying may result in decreased absorption of vitamin K and/or anticoagulants.
Safety Factors & Toxicity
The toxicity level of this herb has not been determined at this time.
Preparation & Administration
Dried bark
2-6 grams
Tea
made from 1-2 tsp dried herb three times a day
Fluid extract
1:1 in 25% alcohol, 2-6 ml three times a day
Note: This Herbal Preparation information is a summary of data from books and articles by various authors. It is not intended to replace the advice or attention of health care professionals.
References
Am Hospital Formulary Service. Am Soc of Hosp Pharm. Wash, D.C.
Azarnoff, D.L. & A. Hurwitz. 1970. Drug interactions. Pharmacol Physicians, 4(2). pp. 1-7.
Beckman, H. 1967. Dilemmas in drug therapy. Saunders, Philadelphia.
Bressler, R., M.D. Bogdonoff & G.J. Subak-Sharpe. 1981. The Physicians Drug Manual. Doubleday & Co, Inc. Garden City, NY. 1213 pp.
Fleisher, N., et.al. 1969. Chronic laxative-induced hyperaldosteronism and hypokalemia stimulating Bartter's syndrome. Annals of Internal Medicine, 70(4). pp. 791-798.
Goldfinger, p. 1969. Hypkalemia, metabolic acidosis, and hypocalcemic tetany is a patient taking laxatives. Journal of the Mount Sinai Hospital, 36(3-4). pp. 113-116.
Goodman, L.S. & A. Gilman. 1975. Pharm Basis of Thera. MacMillan, NY.
Hansten, P.D. 1969. Oral anticoagulant drug interactions. Hospital Form. Management, 4(1). pp. 20-22.
Hansten, P.D. 1979. Drug Interactions, 4th ed. Lea & Febiger, Phila.
Hyde, F.F. British Herbal Pharmacopoeia. British Herbal Medicine Assoc: West Yorks, England, 1983
Interactions of drugs. Med Let Drugs Ther, 12(11). pp. 93-96.
Kastrup, E.K., ed. 1981. Drug Facts and Comparisons, 1982 edition. Facts and Comparisions Division, J.P. Lippincott Co, Phila(St. Louis).
List, P. & L. Hoerhammer. 1969-1976. Hagers Hanbuch der Pharmazeutischen Praxis, vols. 2-5. Springer-Verlag, Berlin.
Martin, E.W. 1978. Drug Interactions Index, 1978/79. J.B. Lippincott Company, Philadelphia.
Mattila, M.J., et.al. 1974. Effect of sodium sulphate and castor oil on drug absorbtion from the human intestine. Ann of Clin Rsrch, 6.
Mowrey, Daniel B., Ph.D. Exper. Psych., Brigham Young University. Director of Nebo Institute of Herbal Sciences. Director of Behavior Change Agent Training Institute. Director of Research, Nova Corp.
Prescott, L.F. Dec. 6, 1969. Pharmacokinetic drug interactions. Lancet, 2. pp. 1239-1243.
Scientific Committee, British Herbal Pharmocopaeia, British Herbal Medicine Assoc, Lane House, Cowling, Na Keighley, West Yorks, Bd Bd220lx, l983.
Stuart, D.M. 1968. Drug metabolism Part 2. Drug interactions. PharmIndex, 10(10). pp. 4-16.
Vincent, D. & G. Segonzac. 1953. Comptes Rendus des Seances de la Societe de Biologie et de ses Filiales, 147. pp. 1776-1779.
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