Nutmeg has a warm, spicy sweet flavor. This hard brown seed has lots of Health Benefits.It has been said that in England, several hundred years ago, a few nutmeg nuts could be sold for enough money to enable financial independence for life. The first harvest of nutmeg trees takes place 7-9 years after planting, and the trees reach their full potential after 20 years. The History of Nutmeg can be found at Wikipedia and AsianHistory .
Nutmeg is considered as Sedative, stimulant, relaxant, anti inflammatory, antiseptic. Nutmeg contains trimyristin, myristicin, elemicin, eugenol and safrole as the major volatile oils. Nutmeg is very rich in copper, manganese and also contains good amounts of folates, thiamine, pyridoxine, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus and zinc.It is rich in potassium and low in sodium.
Safety Rules - Nutmeg should be used in moderation-a pinch or two is considered safe.However, large doses can trigger an acute psychiatric disorder.Pregnant women and nursing mothers should avoid the use of nutmeg.
Nutmeg Health Benefits
If you suffer from acne or have acne scars, try mixing a little with water or honey into a paste. Apply it to the skin like a mask or use like a scrub and your skin will benefit.
Nutmeg has ant-inflammatory components that will help reduce the redness and puffiness associated with pimples. It will help remove blackheads, make scars less noticeable and make your skin smoother.
Detoxification is an important factor of good health.Pollution, Diet,stress, tobacco, medication and other external substances can lead to the build-up of toxins in your organs.
As a tonic, nutmeg can clean your liver and kidney and remove toxins. If you are suffering from a liver disease then nutmeg can be beneficial. The liver and kidney are two of the organs where this toxic build-up usually develops.
Nutmeg can effectively stimulate your brain, Roman and Greek civilizations used nutmeg as a type of brain tonic. If you are suffering from anxiety or depression, fatigue and stress , 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.
Digestion-related problems like diarrhea, constipation, bloating, flatulence and so on, nutmeg can effectively provides relief. Nutmeg oil relieves stomachaches by removing the excess gas from your intestines. Nutmeg can also boost your appetite.
This spice is also a mild sedative, anti-anxiety and pain-relieving benefits by virtue of its constituent compounds myristicin and elemicin.The Ancient 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.
How to Use Nutmeg for simple cures
1.To relieve diarrhea, drink a filtered mix of 1/4th teaspoon of ground nutmeg, 1 teaspoon of ground coffee in one cup of water.
2.To promote sleep, drink one cup of milk boiled with 1/4th teaspoon of ground nutmeg.
3.Nutmeg can help clear up congestion due to colds, this is the reason why it is used in many cough syrups.
4.Nutmeg oil helps in removing bad breath. It is also antiseptic in nature and is effective for toothaches and aching gums.
5.To soothe eczema , make a nutmeg paste by grinding nutmeg seeds with water and smear the paste over the scaly patches.
Personally, I always prefer Whole Nutmeg instead Ground Nutmeg.But sometimes, Ground nutmeg is very handy in urgent times.If we have Ground Nutmeg for large amount , it will lose its oil and flavor.So, I always use Nutmeg Grinder.It is very handy and we can grate nutmeg fresh to have its flavor and freshness.