Candlenut

Candlenut (also known by Aleurites Moluccanus) is actually a flowering tree in the genus Aleurites belonging to the family Euphorbiaceae. The genus contains two species: A. moluccanus (L.) Willd and Aleurites rockinghamensis (Baill.) P.I.Forst. Genus name comes from the Greek word aleuron meaning floury in reference to the white flour-like dusting present on juvenile leaves. Specific epithet means from the Moluccas (aka Spice Islands) located in eastern Indonesia which is part of the native habitat for this tree.

It is also commonly known as Indian walnut, Candleberry, Candlenut, Candlenut-tree, Kukui, Lumbangtree, Varnishtree, Bankul nut tree, Indonesian walnut, Kukui nut, Moluccan oil tree, Tallow tree, Buah Keras, Tung-nut, Otaheite walnut, Balucanat and Belgaum walnut.

Candlenut coming from medium sized, perennial, evergreen, upper-canopy tree that grows about 10–47 m tall.  They are grown largely in the warm (tropical and subtropical) regions of the world such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Queensland as well as some parts of Australia. It is common in wet secondary forest at the margins or along stream and along the seashore. It will also thrive in a semi dry to wet subtropical forest climate and in areas. Candlenut trees grow on a wide variety of soils which includes acidic soils, sandy soils, red loamy soils, limestone and stony clay soils. They are not fond of alkaline soils. However, they can tolerate soils which are neutral to slightly alkaline. The soil should be moist and well drained. These trees also have a good tolerance for infertile soils. The plant has straight and cylindrical bole and can be up to 70 – 150 cm in diameter. Its bark is grey-brown to blackish colored.

The leaves are very distinctively shaped but also quite variable in gross morphology. Young leaves and leaves on lower branches are often three-lobed or five-lobed, while older leaves and those on higher branches tend to be a simpler triangular or oval shape. They are typically 10–20cm long with wavy margins, and are arranged alternately. Where the leaf stalk joins the blade of the leaf, there are a pair of glands that produce a sweet secretion. The petioles are almost 30 centimeters in length. The leaves have a pale green coloration.

The inflorescence is around 10 to 20 centimeters in length. They have an upper axillary or terminal and thyrsoid arrangement. The unisexual flowers are white in color. The female flowers are found on the ultimate branchlets of cymes. The smaller male flowers are arranged all around the female flowers in groups. The sepal is comprised of 2 or 3 lobes at the anthesis. The male flowers are comprised of 5 lance-shaped petals around 6 to 7 mm in length and almost 10 to 20 stamens. The petals are larger in the female flowers, around 9 or 10 mm.

Fruit is a round nut that is 4 to 6 centimeters in diameter. They have a hard shell covering which is green or brown in color. Inside the hard shell there is the whitish flesh or pulp. Single nuts grow on stout stalks. The nuts contain one or two seeds. The soft, elliptical, cream-colored seeds are found inside the nut. The coats covering the seeds are very hard. The length of each seeds is around 2.5 centimeters. It filled with rich contents of inflammable oil that enables the seeds to burn as candles. The seed shells are white in color which turns black as they mature.

History

Candlenut has been widely introduced to South and Central America, the Caribbean, Japan and Africa. In the tropical oceanic islands of the Pacific, it was intentionally introduced as a useful plant by the first Polynesian migrants at least 1000 years ago and is now widely naturalized (Larrue et al., 2010). In the West Indies, this species first appears in herbarium collections made in Puerto Rico in 1885, in Cuba in 1889 and in Guadeloupe in 1892 (US National Herbarium).

Benefits

Candlenut tree have many health benefits. It usually used in Asian cuisine as a thickener and a texture enhancer in their cooking. The high oil content in the nuts makes them suitable for edible uses. The oils also popular as a strong hair stimulant and is widely used in hair care. Listed below are few of the health benefits of candlenut.

• Improve Digestive System

Candlenuts are excellent sources of fiber, therefore their inclusion in the diet can be very beneficial for the GI tract. The oil contained in these nuts can be serve as mild laxatives. In result, regular use of these nuts can help facilitate the digestive process and also helps promote regular bowel movement. Candlenuts also have antimicrobial properties which can be used for people who are suffering from diarrhea and dysentery.

• Relieve of Fungal Infections

These infections may not be dangerous, however it will make sufferers uncomfortable and not confident. To have an optimal result, the sufferers need to applied candlenut oil regularly on the body parts with fungal infections.

• Reduce Heart Disease Risk

Candlenut are very beneficial for people who have high cholesterol levels. It help increase the levels of good cholesterol (HDL or high-density lipoprotein) and in the process lowering the levels of bad cholesterol (LDL or low-density lipoprotein).

The potassium contained in candlenut is can cause relaxation of the walls of the blood vessels, allowing the blood to flow more freely throughout the body system. In result, it can be used to lower high blood pressure. This helps to save the heart from being overworked and become swollen.

• Overcome Insomnia

The melatonin contained in candlenut will cause a relaxing effect, and therefore can make people with insomnia to quick fall asleep.

• Treat Sprue

Sap in bark can benefits in health as treat of sprue. To get the sap, the bark skin need to be ripped off and we need wait until the sap has shown up. After it has shown up, put it with cotton and gives some coconut milk. Then apply it on the sprue.

• Relieve Constipation

Blend all the ingredients below until smooth (without water) :

• 1 pc candlenut
• 2 pc onions
• 5 gr pulasari
• 10 gr cinnamon
• 30 gr urang-aring leaves
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ tsp fennel

Boil all the ingredients that have been blended above with 800 cc of water. Boil it until water volume at least 400 cc. Filter it and put in the glass. Drink twice a day with a dose of 200 cc each.

• Fever Medication for Children

Boil 15 gr of pulutan’s root and some candlenut’s oil with water. Then, filter and put in a glass for drink.

• Healthier Joints and Stronger Bones

Regular consumption of candlenut prevent joints from pain and swelling due to regular wear and tear. According to nutrition experts, phosphorous, which can be found in candlenut, also vital to keep the bones strong.

• Treat Toothache

Candlenut’s sap also can be used to treat toothache, similar with treating sprue. Apply the sap on the tooth which have toothache. Put it on the tooth until 10 minutes, then replace it with the new one.

• Building Muscles and Reduce Weight

Candlenut contain heavy amounts of protein, which really helpful for building muscles. The protein also speed up the metabolism process, hence the body will burn lots of calories.

• Heals Insect Bites

Bake 2 pcs of candlenut and turmeric. Then, mashed it up until smooth. Put it on the body part that was itchy caused by insects bite.

• Strong hair grow stimulant

Candlenut oil can prevent dry hair. Amino acids and essential fatty acids contained in it can penetrate into the deep scalp layer. This helps to moisturizing hair and make it looks healthy and avoid hair dandruff. Its gamma-linoleic acid can used as natural conditioner for hair which will make hair looks shinny. Candlenut oil also can prevent hair loss and stimulate new hair growth. It can be used as hair mask that has effect on strengthening hair.

Traditional uses and benefits of Candlenut

• Nuts and Kernel
  • Candlenut has been extensively used in folk medicine for the treatment of ulcers, headache, fevers, diarrhea and hypercholesterolemia.
  • Kernel has been used as a laxative and in poultices for headache, fevers, ulcers, swollen joints and constipation in traditional medicine in south and Southeast Asia.
  • Pulverized kernels, burnt with charcoal, were applied around the navel for costiveness in Sumatra. It is used for stomach-ache in Celebes.
  • Pulverized kernel was use as poultices for headache, fevers, ulcers and swollen joints in Malaysia.
• Seeds
  • Seeds were also used as a mild purgative in the Philippines.
  • Seeds are applied externally to the male genitals as a contraceptive in Papua New Guinea.
• Bark
  • Bark has been used for dysentery and decoction of leaves for treating scrophulosis and boiled leaves used externally for headache and gonorrhea.
  • Bark was used as a remedy for dysentery (diarrhea with blood) in Java.
  • Bark has been used on tumors in Japan.
• Flowers
  • Flowers and the sap at the top of the husk were used to treat oral candidiasis in children in Hawaii.
• Oil
  • Candlenut oil uses include as a mild purgative, as embrocation for sciatica and treatment against hair loss.
  • Javanese used the oil to stimulate hair growth.
  • Candlenut oil has also been used as a remedy for worms and piles.
  • Oil has a mild aperient action like castor oil.
  • Oil has been used as a dressing for ulcers in India.
• Leaves
  • Leaves are used to treat constipation and food poisoning.
  • Decoction of the leaves is used in treating coughs, diarrhea, pains in the chest and hernia.
  • An infusion of the leaves is used as a lotion or is ingested for mouth infections of infants.
  • Boiled leaves are used as a poultice to treat headaches and gonorrhea.

Culinary and Fashion Uses

Candlenut is an important spice in Indonesian and Malaysian cuisine.

• Kernels

Kernels are eaten when thoroughly dry or after roasting to destroy mild toxins. It commonly used as :

• Cooking
  • Curries cooking
  • To make a thick spicy sauce (usually for satay sauce) that is eaten with rice and vegetables in Java, Indonesia
• Roasted and eaten as a snack
  • Residual oil cake is processed into a snack food called ‘ dage kemiri’ in Indonesia.
• Added to desserts, cakes, and pies.
  • Roasted kernels are mixed into a paste with salt, seaweed or chili pepper to make inamona condiment, a key ingredient in traditional Hawaiian pokes
• Oil
  • Can be used to burn them like candles.
  • Can be used to prepare sweet scented oils that are particularly useful for the skin.
• Flowers, shells and leaves
  • Can be used to make garlands.
• Bark
  • Can be used to make a red brown dye.

Other Facts

• Pacific Islanders, namely Fijians, Hawaiians, Tahitians and others have been reported to use the acrid juice of the fruit wall and charred nuts for tattooing.
• Tongan used pulverized kernels in a paste as soap and shampoo.
• Nuts have been used as toys such as marbles and tops.
• Crushed kernels have been used mixed with other ingredients as fish bait.
• The shells, which can be polished to a high luster, are fashioned into earrings and other costume jewelry.
• The shells of the nuts, flowers and leaves have been used for leis in Hawaii.
• Nut in association with an iron nail and cockle shells have been used in social ceremonies when the new rice was dried in Malaysia.
• Candlenut, leaves of Bryophyllum, cockle shells and iron nail were put into water for bathing an infant suffering from fever in Malaysia.
• Candlenut oil has been used for various purposes, such as for the preparation of paints, varnishes, wood polish and linoleum, for illumination, soap manufacture, cosmetics and wood preservation, preservation of fishing nets and in the batik industry.
• Candlenut oil used in combination with coconut oil has been used for skin and hair treatment.
• After removal of the oil, the remaining seed cake has been used for cattle fodder and as fertilizers.
• Roots provide a red dye for tapa cloth, kapa and aho cordage in Polynesia.
• Wood is also made into light furniture, small boats, canoes, small utensils, fuel-wood and matches and is also suitable for paper pulp.
• Candlenut oil is used to make massage oil for a certain kind of headache (possibly caused by meningitis) in Cook Islands and Tahiti.
• Flowers, shells and leaves of these trees are used to make garlands.
• Red-brown dye is manufactured from the bark and used in kapa and aho.
• A coating of candlenut oil is applied on the fishing nets to preserve them.
• Candlenut tree wood is used for making canoes, gunwales and seats.
• Candlenuts are also used in the funerary rituals of Tonga.
• Candlenut is used for making several sweet scented oils which can be applied to the skin.
• Agrionome fairmairei larvae eat the dead wood of these trees.
• Candlenut oil is used to make a type of varnish.
• Candlenut tree is considered to be a symbol for enlightenment, protection and peace in Hawaii.
• On May 1st, 1959, Candlenut was declared as the state tree of Hawaii due to its numerous uses.

Precautions

• Raw candlenuts can be toxic as they contain saponins and phorbol.
• Fresh seed contains a principle resembling croton oil and should not be eaten.
• Nut should not be eaten raw as the toxin in the oil can induce nausea and vomiting.

Reference

• https://www.healthbenefitstimes.com/candlenut/
• https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=845627#null
• https://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/61031/
• http://www.hear.org/pier/species/aleurites_moluccana.htm
• https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxonomydetail.aspx?id=2191
• https://www.pfaf.org/USER/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Aleurites+moluccanus
• https://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/4124
• https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=364364&isprofile=0&
• http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl/record/kew-5934
• https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=ALMO
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aleurites_moluccanus
• https://gaya.tempo.co/read/1258860/6-manfaat-minyak-kemiri-untuk-rambut-bisa-atasi-psoriasis/full&view=ok