Juglans regia, as magic herb to tonify Qi and nourish blood

What are juglans regia(Walnut, Hu Tao)?
Medicinally it refers to the kernel of Juglans regia L., a plant in the family Juglandaceae. Other common names of this plant also include the Persian walnut, English walnut, common walnut, and so on. But this species is a little bit different from the Black Walnut (J. nigra). The former is native to Persia and the latte is originated from eastern North America. Today in China it is cultivated all over the country, especially in north, northwest and northeast regions. The ripe fruits are usually harvested in September to October. Next, remove the fleshy pericarp, dry in the sun, crack the hard shell and take the seeds. Medicinally it is used raw of fried.

Walnut tree is one of desiduous trees, 20 to 25 meters high. Bark is gray, smooth when young and with shallow longitudinal cracks when old. Twigs are covered with short glandular hairs, with obvious lenticels. Odd pinnately compound leaf is alternate, 40 to 50cm long. Leaflets are usually 5 to 9 pieces, but 13 sometimes. Flowers are unisexual, bloom simultaneously with leaves. Fruits are nearly spherical, drupaceous, and 4 to 6cm in diameter. Its blooming period is from May to June, and fruiting time is from September to October.

Main chemical constituents of its nuts are fatty oil that mainly contains linoleic acid glycerides, proteins, carbohydrates, calcium, phosphorus, and so on.

Juglans regia benefits
This plant, in particular juglans regia nuts, has high medicinal value and thus offers many health benefits. No wonder "Shen Nong’s Herbal Classic" (Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing) listed it as the top grade tonic of prolonging life, slimming body, and tonifying qi. Else, generations of physicians viewed it as one of top herbs that could cure a variety of diseases. Among the medical books, "Compendium of Materia Medica" (Ben Cao Gang Mu) said it could tonify Qi and nourish blood; Yu Yao Yuan Fang (Prescription from Emperor Medical Institute) commented it could replenish the blood and complement marrow; Kai Bao Ben Cao (Materia Medica In Kai-Bao Reign) claimed it could makes a man healthy, moisturize skin, and darken hair. Now juglans regia extract, shell powder, extract, oil, tincture, etc. are widely used in homeopathy remedy.