Nutmeg

Known as a popular spice around the world, nutmeg is also popular for its many health benefits. In fact, since ancient times, nutmeg has been used as a remedy for various ailments or to improve health in general. Here are some of the health benefits that nutmeg provides. The health benefits of nutmeg oil include its ability to treat stress, pain, menstrual cramps, heart disorders, indigestion, blood pressure, cough and bad breath.

The health benefits of nutmeg oil can be attributed to its medicinal properties such as its role as a sedative, stimulant, relaxing, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and bactericidal substance. Nutmeg is another spice that has a variety of healing properties and can be used in a wide range of dishes during the holidays and all year long.

Pleasantly aromatic, nutmeg is one of the highly prized spices known since antiquity for its aromatic, aphrodisiac, and curative properties. Nutmegs are evergreen trees, native to the rain forest indonesian moluccas island; also known as the spice islands. Botanically, the plant belongs to myristicaceae family of medium to large trees.

Besides m. Fragrans, several other species of myristica grown all over the tropical regions including m. Argentea, m. Malabarica (indian), and m. Fatua. Although, they are similar to m. Fragrans in appearance, however, they have less intense flavor and aroma.

The spice tree is a large evergreen plant that thrives well under tropical climates. A fully-grown tree reaches about 50-60 feet in height and is the source of nutmeg and mace, two valuable spices. The nutmeg fruit, indeed, is a drupe, about the size of an apricot, which when ripen splits up to reveal single centrally situated oval shaped hard kernel known as "nutmeg spice." the seed is closely enveloped by crimson-red color lacy or thread like arils known as "mace." both spices have a similar warm, sweet aromatic flavor.

Nutmeg and mace spice contains many plant-derived chemical compounds that are known to have been anti-oxidant, disease preventing, and health promoting properties.

The spicy nut contains fixed oil trimyristin and many essential volatile oils such as which gives a sweet aromatic flavor to nutmeg such as myristicin, elemicin, eugenol and safrole. The other volatile-oils are pinene, camphene, dipentene, cineole, linalool, sabinene, safrole, terpeniol.

The active principles in nutmeg have many therapeutic applications in many traditional medicines as anti-fungal, anti-depressant, aphrodisiac, digestive, and carminative functions.

Thisaspice is a good source of minerals like copper, potassium, calcium, manganese, iron, zinc and magnesium. Potassium is an important component of cell and body fluids that helps control heart rate and blood pressure. Manganese and copper are used by the body as co-factors for the antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase. Iron is essential for red blood cell production and as a co-factor for cytochrome oxidases enzymes.

It is also rich in many vital b-complex vitamins, including vitamin c, folic acid, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin a and many flavonoid anti-oxidants like beta-carotene and cryptoxanthin that are essential for optimum health.

Processing nutmeg tree yields up to three times in a season. Once harvested from the tree, its outer coat or husk is removed and discarded. Just underneath the tough husk is the golden-brown color aril, known as "mace," firmlyaenveloping around the nutmeg kernel. Mace is gently peeled off from the kernel surface, flattened into strips, dried, and sold either as whole (blades) or finely ground. Nutmeg kernel is then dried under the sun for several days to weeks. At larger commercial set-ups, this process is accomplished rather more rapidly over a hot drier machine until the whole nutmeg rattles inside the shell. Its shellabroken and from inside, a single, shriveled nutmeg kernel is then taken out. Finally, nuts are dipped in lime-water in order to prevent insect infestation and seed germination.

Insomnia (nutmeg can produce drowsiness so it should be taken when you have a chance to relax or sleep)

Calming muscle spasms

Nausea and vomiting

Indigestion

Diarrhea

Joint pain and gout

Lowering blood pressure

Male infertility and impotence

Improving concentration

Increasing circulation

Lowering cholesterol

Toothaches (nutmeg oil)

Nutmeg oil is very useful for treating muscular and joint pain as it is an excellent sedative.

Nutmeg oil is also anti-inflammatory, so massaging nutmeg oil on the affected area is an effective treatment for arthritis, rheumatism, and lumbago.

Nutmeg oil is an essential part of chinese medicine when it comes to treating abdominal pain and inflammation.

It also reduces swelling of the joints.

Often, overexertion leads to body or muscle ache, and in such cases, nutmeg oil can be very useful in removing the pain.

Nutmeg is also an effective sedative.

In fact, nutmeg is a staple in ancient chinese medicine.

The chinese used the spice to treat inflammation and abdominal pain.

Use nutmeg if you are suffering from aching joints, muscle pain, arthritis, sores and other ailments.

To relieve the pain, apply nutmeg oil to the affected areas.

Some women face menstrual irregularities and suffer from menstrual cramps.

Nutmeg oil is very helpful for these women, and it can also reduce the associated symptoms of periods like mood swings, depression, and hormone imbalance.

Nutmeg oil is a good stimulant, not only for the mind, but also for the rest of the body.

Its relaxing aroma comforts the body, increases blood circulation and therefore helps those who have poor blood circulation.

During ancient times, roman and greek civilizations used nutmeg as a type of brain tonic.

This is because nutmeg can effectively stimulate your brain.

As a result, it can help eliminate fatigue and stress.

If you are suffering from anxiety or depression, nutmeg may also be a good remedy.

Nutmeg can also improve your concentration so you can become more efficient and focused at work or at school.

Nutmeg oil stimulates the brain and therefore removes mental exhaustion and stress.

It is also believed that nutmeg oil improves the quality of your dreams, making them more intense and colorful.

It is a good remedy for anxiety as well as depression.

Nutmeg oil is often used in homeopathy.

In the ancient greek and roman civilizations, nutmeg was popular as an effective brain tonic in spite of its high cost and rarity.

Nutmeg oil also enhances concentration and increases your overall efficiency at study and work.

Nutmeg oil can also stimulate the cardiovascular system and is therefore considered a good tonic for the heart.

Nutmeg oil is good for digestion and helps in relieving stomach aches and removing gas from the stomach and intestines. Therefore, nutmeg oil is good for indigestion, flatulence, vomiting, and diarrhea.

It also encourages an increase in appetite.

Care should be taken when consuming nutmeg oil, and it should only be applied internally in low doses.

If you suffer from digestion-related problems like diarrhea, constipation, bloating, flatulence and so on, nutmeg can effectively offer you relief.

Nutmeg oil relieves stomachaches by removing the excess gas from your intestines.

Nutmeg can also boost your appetite.

The woody aroma of nutmeg oil helps to remove bad breadth.

It is also antiseptic in nature and is effective for toothaches and aching gums.

As a result, it is also added to numerous toothpastes and mouthwashes.

Nutmeg oil forms an important ingredient in many cough syrups and cold rubs as it helps in relieving congestion and cold symptoms.

It is also believed that nutmeg oil can be used for treating asthma.

Because of its antibacterial properties, nutmeg can also effectively treat halitosis or bad breath.

As you probably know, bad breath is usually caused by a build-up of bacteria in your mouth.

Nutmeg can rid your mouth of these bacteria.

This is the reason why nutmeg is a common ingredient in many brands of toothpastes.

Nutmeg can also be used to treat gum problems and toothaches.

Nutmeg seed also offers health benefits by boosting your mineral intake, particularly copper and manganese.

Both minerals help keep your skeleton strong and heathy.

Manganese also helps you synthesize sex hormones, while copper boosts your immune system.

A serving of ground nutmeg seed contains 0.41 milligram of manganese -- 23 and 18 percent of the recommended daily manganese intakes for women and men, respectively -- as well as 144 micrograms of copper, or 16 percent of the recommended daily intake.

An important health benefit of nutmeg oil is its ability to treat liver disease.

The oil is capable of removing toxins from the liver, thereby making it a good liver tonic.

Detoxification is an important factor of good health.

Diet, pollution, stress, tobacco, medication and other external substances can lead to the build-up of toxins in your organs.

The liver and kidney are two of the organs where this toxic build-up usually develops.

As a tonic, nutmeg can clean your liver and kidney and remove these toxins.

If you are suffering from a liver disease then nutmeg can also be beneficial.

Nutmeg is also effective in preventing and dissolving kidney stones.

When your liver and kidney are successfully detoxified, they can perform their function better.

Nutmeg oil is often recommended for treating kidney infections and kidney diseases.

It also helps in dissolving kidney stones and accumulations of uric acid in other parts of the body, like those which lead to gout and joint inflammation.

If skin care is one of your priorities then you might want to incorporate nutmeg into your regimen.

Nutmeg can actually help you achieve smoother and healthier skin by helping you treat several skin problems.

A scrub made from nutmeg powder and orange lentil powder can help you remove blackheads, a type of acne characterized by pores clogged with excess oil and dead skin cells.

If you suffer from acne marks, nutmeg can also help make your scars less noticeable.

What you need to do is mix some nutmeg powder with some honey to make a paste, which you will then apply to the acne marks.

For people suffering from a lack of appetite, nutmeg may help.

It can also relieve gastrointestinal distress such as bloating by removing excess gas from the body.

If you have difficulty sleeping at night, drink a cup of milk with some nutmeg powder.

This will help you achieve relaxation and will induce sleep.

*nutmeg should be used in moderationaa pinch or two is considered safe.

*however, large doses can trigger an acute psychiatric disorder.

*it contains myristicin, which in large doses can cause hallucinations.

*users may feel a sensation of blood rush to the head or a strong euphoria and dissociation.

*it can also lead to convulsions, palpitations, generalised body pain, vomiting, nausea and eventual dehydration.

*followed by long, deep almost coma-like sleep, it can even cause death.

*pregnant women and nursing mothers should avoid the use of nutmeg.

*it can cause miscarriage in pregnant women.

*it also inhibits prostaglandin production [involved in child birth process] and contains hallucinogens that may affect the foetus, if consumed in large quantities.

*it can also trigger dizziness, nausea and difficulty in urination.

*touching nutmeg can cause allergic skin reaction.

*it should be kept out of reach of children and pets.

Medicinal uses:

*ancient times, nutmeg and its oil were being used in chinese and indian traditional medicines for illnesses related to the nervous and digestive systems. The compounds in this spice such as myristicin and elemicin have been soothing as well as stimulant properties on brain.

*nutmeg oil contains eugenol, which has been used in dentistry for toothache relief.

*the oil is also used as a local massage to reduce muscular pain and rheumatic pain of joints.

*freshly prepared decoction with honeyahas been used to relief of nausea, gastritis, and indigestion ailments.