Gallnut Natural Dye

Gallnut is a group of very special natural products characterized as the plant-insect symbiont. They are formed as the pathological excrescence on the young branches or twigs of plants as a result of the insect attack and deposition of the eggs. Gallnut has been used by both Western and Eastern cultures as a traditional medicine for various body disorders as an astringent in painful haemorrhoids and antiphlogistic for the inflammatory condition. The gallnuts are said to find extensive application in tanning, dyeing, mordanting and in the manufacture of ink. When used on its own gallnut extract produces beiges on wool, cotton, silk. With an iron after-bath, the colour changes to grey and black. This extract can also be used to sadden other colours. Gallnut extract is also very useful for the mordanting effect of tannic.