THE CANDLENUT TREE or MOLUCCAN WALNUT TREE,or Indian walnut, Aleurites moluccanus (or moluccana), is an Euphorbiaceae native to South-East Asia, it has been introduced into the majority of tropical-equatorial countries where it is sometimes considered as an invasive species.
The populations of the Pacific islands carried it with them on their great migrations and introduced it into the majority of the islands encountered.
This is how this Asian plant became the official tree of the state of Hawaii and throughout most of the Maori linguistic area it is called the same way (tutui, kukui, kukui nut tree) but on the other hand it is « ama » in the Marquesas Islands, « rama » in the Gambier or « lama » in Samoa.
It is present in New Caledonia, Reunion and throughout the Antilles.
The candlenut tree is a tree with light wood, fast growth, which can reach 15 to 20 m but sometimes vegetates in groves of more stunted trees, it is often as tall as it is wide with branches falling towards the ground.
Its green leaves, with long petioles, are velvety with white or silver reflections. They are of two types, the most basal leaves have 3 or 5 lobes, the leaves of the upper parts approach a heart shape.
The small and numerous white flowers are fragrant, the fruit is a rounded, more or less oval drupe 4 to 6 cm in diameter; initially green, it turns brown as it ripens
The nut of this drupe is black and hard, it contains one or two oilseeds.
OILY BUT SLIGHTLY TOXIC CANDELNUT
Candelnut contain 50 to 60% lipids.
Fatty substances are sensitive to rancidity oxidation because they contain a large percentage of unsaturated fatty acids, an average composition: oleic acid 25%, linoleic acid 40%, linolenic acid 25%.
The raw seed contains saponins and phorbol derivatives.
These are substances that are irritating to the digestive mucosa and slightly toxic (see carcinogenic for phorbol derivatives). Eating raw moluccan nuts induces diarrhea.
Lightly roasted nut seed is more acceptable to the digestive system but it is not a truly edible almond.
It is used in small quantities in Indonesian cuisine to thicken certain sauces but the saponins can give bitterness to the dish.
CANDELNUT OIL SICCATIVE PURGATIVE COSMETIC
MOLUCCAN WALNUT TREE oil is drying like linseed oil, it is also used for the same purposes, protection and impregnation of wood, paints.
It is a purgative oil but this use is not recommended.
For a long time it was an oil intended for lighting, sometimes more simply by threading several almonds on a plant stem (vein of coconut leaves, sliver of bamboo) the almonds were consumed one after the other so regularly that one could use them to « measure » the time during the night.
The Maori (Polynesians) used the black carbon deposit from this burning oil collected on a cold surface above the flame and mixed it with other plant extracts and water to make a tattoo « ink ».
Candelnut oil is cosmetic, softening, protective of damaged skinor as an hair detangler.
It can be tried on dry eczematous lesions or psoriasis plaques.
It tends to go rancid quite quickly, it must be kept in containers filled to the maximum if possible in a cool and shaded place. You can add a few drops of vitamin E as an antioxidant.
CANDELNUTS AND WEIGHT LOSS DIET
Some websites offer fresh Indian walnut as a miracle weight loss diet. In fact, this nut, of which we only consume a small fraction per day, is very irritating to the intestine, purgative, and sometimes induces diarrhea.
The main danger is the confusion which has arisen several times between these wicker nuts and another much more dangerous kernel, that of the yellow laurel, Thevetia neriifolia = Thevetia peruviana.
Several women were seriously poisoned and this weight-loss diet with candelnuts mixed with yellow laurel kernels led them to the hospital urgently (risk of cardiac arrest).
The sale of candelnuts for weight loss diet is therefore now prohibited in many countries.
ALEURITES MOLUCCANUS MEDICINAL TREE
Plants contain compounds capable of acting on the digestion of fats.
Some plants facilitate the action of digestive lipases, others on the contrary reduce or oppose the action of these enzymes secreted in the stomach and especially in the intestine.
These lipases separate the different parts of fatty substances from foods (example: glycerol and fatty acids) thus allowing their absorption by the body.
Plants which reduce the action of digestive lipases are useful to help lose weight and in cases of blood lipid disorders (too high cholesterol and triglycerides).
The candelnut tree leaf has this anti-lipase property.
It could therefore be used at a low dose (infusion) to accompany a weight loss diet or in cases of type 2 diabetes, taking into account the presence of tannins which can induce constipation.
The hydro-alcoholic extract of candelnut tree leaf contains compounds which act on pain, perhaps through an anti-inflammatory effect.
The bark of the candlenut tree contains a lot of tannin, it was traditionally used for tanning skins, protecting nets or in medicinal use to treat chronic ulcers, oozing or hemorrhagic wounds.
The sap obtained by peeling off a green fruit can be used to calm a childhood toothache, treat a fungal oral infection (thrush) and even conjunctival irritation in the absence of eye drops.
THE WORMS OF ALEURITES MOLUCCANUS
Candlenut tree wood is light and not very resistant to rot. Large beetles lay their eggs in dead candlenut trees, their large larvae, having the appearance of a large white grub, are traditionally eaten raw or lightly cooked, but first they must be « disgorged », cleaning themselves a few days generally in grated coconut. It’s the occasion for a celebration in Farino in New Caledonia.
Copyright 2024 : Dr Jean-Michel Hurtel
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