Not long ago, I discovered a little patch of athlete's foot between two toes. Yes, mine. I dutifully tried lavender essential oil, not only for its known healing properties but also for anti-fungal abilities and its most beautiful scent. Sadly, my toes' affliction didn't seem at all affected, so I did some experimenting. I knew from my studies that walnut hulls are very tannic and are also known for their anti-fungal properties. Coincidentally, right outside our back door lives the most regal of walnut trees and exactly when I was in need, it happened to be festooned with its brightly colored fruits. Fresh walnuts, ripening in midsummer are covered with a protective skin known as a hull. Squirrels seemed undeterred by this mysterious cloak that disguises the familiar wrinkled, hard shelled nut inside. In fact the little harvesters came daily to gnaw on each bauble, taking maybe one or two bites only to fling the rest down, sometimes missing my head by inches. I gathered a...