Short Note
Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans) made their first appearance in scientific literature when Linnaeus first described its genus Myristica in 1742.
Myristica is a name derived from the Greek word ‘Myron’, which means a sweet fluid purified from the plant.
In Indonesia, the mace part of nutmeg is reported to have been used for reducing pain and to treat rheumatism.
Nonetheless, abusing or using nutmeg in excess could be detrimental to your health.
It is used to supplement many consumables:
Nutmeg is used to constitute curry powder, chewing gum, syrups, candies, soft drinks and tea, or it can be supplemented to alcohol and milk.
Health Benefits
1. Reduces Joint Swellings
To begin with, the anti-inflammatory properties of nutmeg oil can help lessen joint swellings and it is also serving in treating rheumatic fever.
2. Help Treat Diseases
Nutmeg oil is useful in fading out or breaking up kidney stones and provides relief from infections of the kidney.
3. Serves As A Pain Reliever
In professional practice, nutmeg oil is used in dentistry for toothache relief because it contains eugenol.
4. Cures Skin Diseases
When it comes to skin care, nutmeg helps diminish skin diseases such as eczema and scabies.
5. Has Aphrodisiac Properties
It has been confirmed that nutmeg is an excellent aphrodisiac. It was used to treat sexual dysfunction in men around the 18th century, and it also increases blood circulation, making it very useful in treating or controlling paralysis.
6. Increases Mental Alertness
Nutmeg boosts concentration and rate of assimilation, by means of myristicin and elemicin compounds found in nutmeg that have soothing as well as stimulant properties on brain.
7. Cures Diarrhoea
Even though nutmeg aids digestion, it may also be used to cure and relieve diarrhoea.
Nutmeg contains compounds that have carminative effects.
Note that nutmeg is best taken with cold water to cure diarrhoea.
Side Effects
Nutmeg has a toxicological effect in human body, such as delirium, vertigo, weak pulse, hypothermia and nausea following ingestion.
In human beings, 5-30 g of the ground nutmeg is enough to cause psycho pharmacological effects.
This may trigger hallucination, and also the neurotoxicity induced in humans by myristicin may lead to traumatic brain damage and other neurological diseases.
Symptoms usually begin about 3 to 6 hours after ingestion.
Dosage
It is recommended that you should not exceed 1 to 2mg a day!
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