HERB OF THE WEEK: NUTMEG (Mystica fragrans)

Nutmeg, native to Indonesia, was considered so valuable by European traders in the 16th century that even the location of its growing areas was kept a closely guarded secret for some time. After its discovery, it was considered as valuable as gold, and the Netherlands even traded its colony in the New World, New Amsterdam, for the nutmeg trade. Today, we know this city as New York.

The extent of the enthusiasm is understandable, as even ancient Indian medicine, Ayurveda, used it in powdered form to curb diarrhea. As a spice, it has a warming effect and is an essential ingredient in the popular chai lattes of today.

When cooking with it, add it to the dish at the end, as the essential oils it contains evaporate very quickly. This also applies to storage: it is better to store it whole, in nut form, as its aroma quickly dissipates when powdered.

Its warming effect can be used in several ways when used for home remedies. Its oil, when vaporized, helps with nervous exhaustion, and when mixed with neutral oil, it relieves rheumatic pain and muscle soreness. It is even more effective when mixed with clove and rosemary oil.

However, be careful! It enhances the effects of alcohol consumption. For medicinal use, never exceed 5-10 grams per day, as larger amounts can cause hallucinations, convulsions, and nausea.

It is therefore worth keeping a few nutmegs at home, but use them with caution!

For individual herbal advice - feel free to contact me for holistic therapy recommendations!

Important! Based on symptoms indicating illness, diagnosis is a medical task. Even in the case of an existing medical diagnosis, the information on this website does not constitute treatment recommendations. Always seek the opinion of your treating physician!