Water Nut (rogulnik) - Useful Properties And Recipes For Using Water Walnut

2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 21:43

Water walnut

Useful properties and recipes for the use of water walnut

Botanical description of water walnut

Water walnut belongs to the family of hornbeams. It is also known under the names "roguelnik", "chilim", "devil's nut". This herb can be annual and perennial. It lives in the water. For the development of a water nut, fresh, standing, heated water is most suitable. These can be lakes and oxbows. There are whole thickets of this plant. Water walnut grows in Europe and Africa. In Russia and Ukraine, this plant is found in the lower reaches of the Volga, Don, Dnieper, Bug rivers, in the Far East, Siberia, and also in the Caucasus.

The plant is a stem that floats in water. Its roots attach to the bottom like an anchor. It is attached to last year's nut or with the help of a filiform brownish root. If the water level rises - for example, during high water - the plant that floats on the surface of the water breaks off. However, it does not die, but continues to float freely on the surface of the water. As soon as its roots hit the ground in shallow water, they take root.

The external features of the plant are as follows: first of all, very thin leaves, like threads, grow on the stem, which, however, fall off rather quickly. Further, on the surface of the water near the water nut, one or more rosettes in the form of jagged leaves are formed. They are located chaotically, as they have different petiole lengths. It is in these petioles that there are cavities in which there is air. Thanks to this, the outlet does not sink, but remains on the surface of the water.

Water walnut flowers are solitary and usually have white or transparent petals. The flowering time of the plant is in May or June. The fruit has a black-brown color, one drupe-like seed. On the surface of the fruit, growths grow, resembling bent horns. Ripe fruits, falling into the silt, do not lose their properties for ten years. Fruit germination is also preserved.

At home, water walnut is poorly stored. But if, nevertheless, there is a need for this, then store it unpeeled in a cool place, since peeled nuts lose their taste in 2-3 days. It is best to consume the nut immediately after removing the shell, then you can appreciate the taste of the fruit: it will be juicy and tasty.

Application of water walnut

Even in ancient times, the water nut was valued for its taste and was eaten. They even made flour out of it, replacing bread with it. To obtain flour, the fruits are ground using hand mills. Waternuts can be eaten raw or cooked whole, they can even be canned, added to salads, or baked over a fire. The kernel of a water nut contains approximately 50% starch.

Currently, water walnut is grown in China, Japan, India. The plant is especially popular in India. It is there that cakes are baked from water nut flour, stews are boiled. Hindus especially love it with spices. The bread made from it is very similar to wheat bread. This plant has also found its use in the treatment of various diseases.

Chemical composition of water walnut

Due to the fact that this plant contains carbohydrates, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, triterpenoids, tannins, vitamins, nitrogenous compounds and mineral salts, it is used for medicinal purposes. Starch, fatty oil, carbohydrates, various vitamins and microelements are found in the fruits of water nuts, therefore, water nuts are still used for treatment more often than other nuts.

It should also be noted that Japanese, Tibetan and Chinese folk medicine very often uses water walnut to treat people from various ailments.

Indication for the use of water walnut

Fresh water walnut is used to treat kidney disease, dyspepsia and impotence. It is also an excellent diuretic and restorative agent that helps to restore the body after illnesses.

Water nut is also used as a tonic, astringent, diaphoretic, antispasmodic, fixing, sedative and choleretic agent.

The juice of this plant is effectively used in the treatment of gonorrhea, with leucorrhoea, to get rid of tumors of various origins. It is used as an antiseptic, as well as after snake or insect bites. For eye diseases, freshly squeezed juice is used.

Water walnut has strong antiviral properties. It also has a beneficial effect on the body after stress.

Water Nut Medicines Recipes

Water walnut infusion. To prepare it, you will need 20 grams of flowers and leaves. They are poured with 200 milliliters of hot boiled water, then left to infuse in a water bath for fifteen minutes. After the infusion, leave to cool for 45 minutes and then strain. The resulting product is taken orally three times a day, 1/3 cup before meals. If the infusion is applied externally, then its concentration should be increased by about 2–3 times.

Water walnut juice. Usually water walnut juice is used to treat eye diseases. To do this, squeeze juice from the whole plant and dilute it with cold boiled water in a ratio of 1:10. It is necessary to consume the juice of a water nut by mouth, 30-40 drops at a time, 3-4 times a day before meals. If the juice is used for external treatment of other diseases, then it must be diluted in a ratio of 1: 3.

The author of the article: Sokolova Nina Vladimirovna | Phytotherapist

Education: Diploma in "General Medicine" and "Therapy" received at the Pirogov University (2005 and 2006). Advanced training at the Department of Phytotherapy at the Peoples' Friendship University of Moscow (2008).