Nutmeg Seed
Nutmeg is rich in medicinal properties. The understanding of these properties will help us to better utilize this herb. These also indicate the conditions in which we should avoid it. For example, it has abortifacient action, and causes miscarriage when taken in medicinal doses. It is heating, and thermogenic which increases heat in the body.
Below is given medicinal properties along with the meaning.
Aphrodisiac: Stimulates sexual desire.
Abortifacient: Induces abortion.
Allergenic: Causes allergy.
Analgesic: Relieve pain.
Antibacterial: Active against bacteria.
Anticancer: Used against or tending to arrest or prevent cancer
Anti–inflammatory: Reducing inflammation by acting on body mechanisms.
Antiseptic: Preventing the growth of disease-causing microorganisms.
Carminative: Preventing the formation or causing the expulsion of flatulence.
Digestive: Digestant.
Expectorant: Promotes the secretion of sputum by the air passages, used to treat coughs.
Emmenagogue: Stimulates or increases menstrual flow.
Hallucinogen: Causes hallucinations
Hypocholesterolemic: Lowers levels of cholesterol in the blood
Narcotic: dulls the senses, relieves pain, and induces profound sleep but in excessive doses causes stupor, coma, or convulsions.
Stimulant: Raises levels of physiological or nervous activity in the body.
Medicinal Uses of Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans), and Mace
Nutmeg, and mace are known as Jaiphal, and Javitri respectively. Nutmeg is hot in potency, and used as stimulant, aphrodisiac, astringent, carminative, and narcotic. It helps in rheumatism, sciatica, anorexia, colic, diarrhea, dyspepsia, dysentery, bronchial troubles, nausea, vomiting, indigestion, loose motions, delirium, insomnia, senile debility, and sexual weakness.
Mace is used therapeutically for indigestion, and intermittent fevers. Roasted nutmeg is used internally for leucorrhea.
Nutmeg has sedative, and CNS depressant effects. It has relaxant effect on smooth muscles of the intestine.
1. Dysentery
Nutmeg has confirmed anti-diarrheal activity.
Take a pinch of powdered nutmeg with a cup of hot milk.
2. Diarrhea
Mix a pinch of nutmeg powder in 1/4 teaspoon of ginger paste. Mix in one glass buttermilk, and drink.
3. Loose motion, colic pain
Mix nutmeg powder (1/8 teaspoon) with gur or jaggery, and 1 tsp ghee, and take for curing loose motion.
4. Dehydration due to diarrhea, loose motion, cholera
Take half nutmug. Soak in one glass water for 3 hours. Mix this water with coconut water in equal amount. Drink 23 times a day.
5. Itching, fungal infection, ringworm
Rub one nutmeg on a stone with some water, and make a fine paste. Apply on the affected parts.
6. Stomach ache
Powdered nutmeg mixed with ghee is given once a day.
7. Sleeplessness
A pinch of jaifal powder is mixed in luke warm milk, and consumed in the night.
Nutmeg is commonly used as a digestive tonic and to relieve thirst. It is effective against microbes, and used for maintaining oral hygiene. It also prevents infections1. The herb is a known anti-oxidant and relieves stress and anxiety. It can be administered in sleeplessness (Sedative) and helps lower the blood pressure. It also relaxes the muscles and relieves pain.
The oil extracted from the herb is effective in arthritis and can be given in cancerous conditions as well2.
Due to its efficacy in improving digestion, nutmeg is helpful in diarrhea, vomiting and other associated conditions3. It improves liver function and pacifies convulsions . The herb is useful in cold and fever and can be given to children and pregnant ladies. Modern researches have proved its efficacy in treating diseases of the respiratory system and heart, which is strikingly similar to what is mentioned in ancient Ayurveda scriptures4.
As a tonic, nutmeg can clean your liver and kidney and remove the toxins. It is also a known aphrodisiac herb6. It also increases the metabolism and reduces obesity7. According to new research presented at the British Pharmaceutical Conference in Manchester, It is possible to manage the serious condition of diabetes naturally using nutmeg seeds.
Chemical constituents:
d-camphene as well as quantities of d-pinene, limonene, d-borneol, l-terpineol, geraniol, safrol, and myristicin.
Home remedies:
1) A paste of nutmeg with water or milk can be applied externally to treat pimple and acne scar.
2) Powdered nutmeg with milk in appropriate doses relieves sleeplessness and anxiety.
3) The oil can be applied externally over the penis as a remedy for erectile dysfunction
Ayurveda formulations containing Nutmeg:
1) Jatiphaladiu choornam
2) Mrita sanjeevani gulika
3) Dadimavaleham
4) Naasika choornam