Huairou Walnuts

Huairou Walnuts

　　      Specialty Culture: Walnuts, once called “hutao” (胡桃) or “qiangtao” (羌桃), originated in Western Asia and Southern Europe. During the reign of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, envoy Zhang Qian traveled to the Western Regions and introduced walnuts to China upon his return. The “Records of Broad Knowledge” (博物志) by Jin Dynasty scholar Zhang Hua states: “When Zhang Qian returned from the Western Regions, he brought back walnut seeds, hence the name ‘hutao’ (胡桃, barbarian peach).” The “Compendium of Materia Medica” (本草纲目) by Ming Dynasty’s Li Shizhen also records: “Walnuts come from the Hu and Qiang peoples. During the Han Dynasty, Zhang Qian brought their seeds back from the Western Regions, planted them in central Shaanxi, and gradually spread them to the eastern regions.” Legend has it that in 319 AD, the Xiongnu general Shi Le occupied the Central Plains and established the Later Zhao Dynasty. Due to a taboo on the character “Hu” (胡, meaning barbarian), he changed “hutao” (胡桃) to “hetao” (核桃), and the name has been used ever since.

　　       Specialty Efficacy: Modern medical research suggests that the phospholipids in walnuts are beneficial for brain nerves. Walnut oil contains unsaturated fatty acids, which help prevent arteriosclerosis. Walnut kernels are rich in essential trace elements such as zinc, manganese, and chromium. Zinc and manganese levels tend to decline as the body ages, while chromium helps promote glucose utilization, cholesterol metabolism, and protects cardiovascular health. Walnut kernels also have notable effects in relieving coughs and calming wheezing, making them especially effective for patients with chronic bronchitis and asthma in winter. Thus, regularly eating walnuts not only strengthens the body but also combats aging. Many people turn to tonics, but actually eating a few walnuts morning and evening can be far more beneficial than taking supplements.

　　       Walnuts are excellent for dietary therapy. Whether used medicinally or eaten raw, boiled, dipped in sugar, or cooked in dishes, they provide benefits such as enriching blood and qi, nourishing kidney essence, relieving cough and wheezing, moisturizing dryness, and improving bowel movements. There are many ways to consume walnuts: boiling them in salted water and drinking the water while eating the residue can treat kidney-deficiency related lower back pain, spermatorrhea, impotence, forgetfulness, tinnitus, and frequent urination. Cooking walnuts with coix seeds and chestnuts into porridge can alleviate frequent urination, spermatorrhea, loose stools, and diarrhea before dawn. Making sugar-coated treats with walnuts, sesame, and lotus seeds can nourish the heart and brain and treat night sweats. Eating raw walnuts with longan flesh and hawthorn can improve heart function. Walnuts are also widely used in treating neurasthenia, high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, emphysema, and stomach pain.

　　       Walnuts are an excellent food remedy. Whether used with medicine, or eaten raw, boiled, candied, or cooked, they offer great benefits such as replenishing blood and qi, nourishing kidney essence, soothing coughs and wheezing, moistening dryness, and relieving constipation. There are many ways to eat walnuts: boiling them in salted water and drinking the broth while eating the residue can help with kidney-deficiency related back pain, nocturnal emission, impotence, forgetfulness, tinnitus, and frequent urination. Boiling walnuts together with coix seeds and chestnuts to make porridge can treat symptoms like frequent urination, nocturnal emission, loose stools, and diarrhea before dawn. Combining walnuts with sesame and lotus seeds as a sugary treat can strengthen the heart and mind and treat night sweats. Eating raw walnuts along with longan and hawthorn can improve heart function. Walnuts are also commonly used in treating conditions such as neurasthenia, hypertension, coronary heart disease, emphysema, and stomach pain.