Nutmeg

views updated May 23 2018

Nutmeg

Description

Nutmeg is known by many names, such Myristica fragrans, mace, magic, muscdier, muskatbaum, myristica, noz moscada, nuez moscada, and nux moschata. Nutmeg

is most commonly used as a cooking spice, comes from the fruit of a 50 ft (15 m) tall tropical evergreen tree. This tree grows in Indonesia, New Guinea, and the West Indies. The bark is smooth and grayish brown with green young branches and leaves. The oblong, fleshy fruit, called the nutmeg apple, contains a nut from which nutmeg is made. The dried nut and essential oil are both used as medicine.

Nutmeg is used in both Western and Chinese herbal medicine. It is most popular as a spice in food and drinks, and is also used in cosmetics and soaps. In ancient Greece and Rome, where nutmeg was rare and expensive, people thought it stimulated the brain. The Arabs have used nutmeg since the seventh century.

General use

Nutmeg relaxes the muscles, sedates the body, and helps remove gas from the digestive track. It is most commonly used for stomach problems such as indigestion . It is also used for chronic nervous disorders, kidney disorders, and to prevent nausea and vomiting . In Chinese medicine, nutmeg is used to treat abdominal pain, diarrhea , inflammation, impotence , liver disease, and vomiting. In the Middle East, some cultures are said to use nutmeg in love potions as an aphrodisiac. The essential oil of nutmeg is used for rheumatic pain, toothaches, and bad breath . In Germany, it is used for problems related to the stomach and intestines, but this use is controversial. In homeopathy , nutmeg is used to treat anxiety or depression . Although nutmeg has been used to treat many ailments, it hasn't been proven to be useful or effective for any and it can be harmful. Nutmeg is used in medicines such as Vicks Vaporub, Agua del Carmen, Aluminum Free Indigestion, Incontinurina, Klosterfrau Magentoniuum, Melisana, and Nervospur.

Preparation

Nutmeg is made from the nut of the nutmeg apple. It is removed from the fruit and slowly dried. As an herbal medicine, nutmeg is commonly used in capsules (200 mg), powders, and essential oil. As a cooking spice, the nut is ground and cooked in food. The skin of the nuts is ground to produce another spice, called mace. Nutmeg butter, a mixture of fatty and essential oil, is made by chopping and steaming the nuts until they form a paste.

Some of the suggested doses of nutmeg can be harmful. For nausea, other stomach problems, and chronic diarrhea, one or two capsules or nutmeg kernel as a single dose or three to five drops of essential oil on a lump of sugar or on a teaspoon of honey is suggested. For diarrhea, 4-6 tbsp of powder could be taken every day. For a toothache , one or two drops of essential oil can be applied to the gum around the toothache to relieve pain; a visit to the dentist care is still necessary.

In Chinese medicine, 250500 mg of nutmeg mixed with other herbs is recommended, once or twice a day. It can be taken in powder plain, capsules, pills, or infusion, and should be taken on an empty stomach. When used as a digestive stimulant in Chinese medicine, it is said to work best when ground and cooked in food.

Precautions

Nutmeg is not recommended for use as a medicine because it is too risky. An overdose of nutmeg is harmful and sometimes deadly. There are more effective treatments for all of the ailments that nutmeg could be used for.

Pregnant women should not use nutmeg because it can cause a miscarriage. Women who are breast-feeding should not use nutmeg either. Nutmeg should be used with caution in patients with psychiatric illnesses, as it can cause feelings of anxiety. Touching the nuts can cause an allergic skin reaction. In the home, nutmeg should be kept out of the reach of children and pets.

Side effects

There are no known side effects from using nutmeg properly. Too much nutmeg, however, can cause serious health problems and even death. Early symptoms of an overdose of nutmeg (one to three nuts) are thirst, nausea, and feelings of urgency. There may also be experiences of altered consciousness; this can range from mild to intensive hallucinations, and results in a stupor that lasts from two to three days. Sometimes shock and seizures occur. Immediate medical attention is necessary when someone has taken too much nutmeg.

Interactions

Recent studies of the anxiogenic, or anxiety-causing, effects of nutmeg indicate that it counteracts such tranquilizers as diazepam (Valium), ondansetron (Zofran), and buspirone (BuSpar). The specific substance in nutmeg that is responsible for this effect is a compound called trimyristin. There are, however, no known medical conditions that contraindicate the use of nutmeg in small quantities.

Resources

BOOKS

Fetrow, Charles W., and Jaun R. Avila. Professional's Handbook of Complementary & Alternative Medicines. Spring-house, 1999.

The PDR Family Guide to Natural Medicines & Healing Therapies. Three Rivers Press, 1999.

The PDR for Herbal Medicines. Medical Economics Company, 1998.

Reid, D. A Handbook of Chinese Healing Herbs. Shambhala, 1995.

PERIODICALS

Sonavane, G. S., et al. "Anxiogenic Activity of Myristica fragrans Seeds." Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior 71 (January-February 2002): 239-244.

OTHER

"Semen Myristicae." China-med.net. http://www.china-med.net/research_center.html.

Lori De Milto

Rebecca J. Frey, PhD

Nutmeg

views updated May 11 2018

Nutmeg

The nutmeg family, Myristicaceae, order Magnoliales, consists of evergreen trees of the tropical rain forests. The genus Myristica includes about 120 species, the best known of which is the nutmeg tree (Myristica fragrans ).

The nutmeg tree is native to the Moluccas, a group of islands in eastern Indonesia, also known as the Spice Islands. However, nutmeg is now cultivated in much of southern Asia, the West Indies, and Brazil. The nutmeg tree is the source of nutmeg and mace, two valuable spices that have been the objects of secret trading, theft, monopolies, and violent battles. Other Myristica species, such as M. argentea, M. malabarica, and M. fatua, are rather similar to M. fragrans. However, their fruit does not have the characteristic, intense aroma or flavor, and these species are only used for local medicinal purposes, as food additives, or for adulteration of more-valuable nutmeg or mace.

Myristica fragrans can reach a height of 60 ft (20 m) and has leathery, somewhat aromatic leaves that grow to about 6 in (15 cm) long. This dioecious (male and female flowers occur on separate plants) tree has small, unscented, yellow flowers that superficially resemble those of lily-of-the-valley. Plantations cultivate mostly female trees, but intersperse them with male trees. When the tree is about eight years old, it bears its first crop of fruit, and it can continue to bear fruit up to the age of 80-100 years.

The tough, yellowish, one-seeded fruit (known as a drupe) is about 2 in (5 cm) in diameter and has a peach-like shape. When ripe, the fleshy outer covering of the fruit splits open, revealing its oval seed (the nutmeg), which is wrapped in a bright, red-orange, lacy covering called an aril (the mace).

After the fruit is picked, the outer covering is removed. The aril is taken off the seed, flattened into strips, dried, and sold either as whole strips or finely ground. The seeds are air-dried for several weeks, or sometimes, more rapidly over a fire. The nutmeg kernel is removed from the seed coat or husk, and is then dipped in lime to prevent insect infestation and seed germination. Nutmeg is sold either whole or ground up.

The nutmeg tree flowers and bears fruit year-round. The trees are harvested two to three times per year, with an annual average of 500 fruits (nutmegs) per tree. About 400 lb (180 kg) are needed to produce 1 lb (0.5 kg) of mace.

The inferior, or damaged fruits are made into oil of mace or nutmeg butter, and sold to industries for the manufacturing of soap, perfume, flavoring for candy, gum, soft drinks, and condiments. Nutmeg is often used in rich foods and sauces (for example, in eggnog and custard), and baked goods. Mace has a similar flavor to nutmeg, but is much more subtle, and is used in baked goods, sauces, soups, and meat dishes.

Nutmeg has been used medicinally for its sedative properties. An alkaloid-like substance called myristicin is a psychotropic, which in excessive doses can cause hallucinations, disorientation, and convulsions.

Christine Miner Minderovic

Nutmeg

views updated May 23 2018

Nutmeg

The nutmeg family, Myristicaceae, order Magnoliales, consists of evergreen trees of the tropical rain forests . The genus Myristica includes about 120 species , the best known of which is the nutmeg tree (Myristica fragrans).

The nutmeg tree is native to the Moluccas, a group of islands in eastern Indonesia, also known as the Spice Islands. However, nutmeg is now cultivated in much of southern Asia , the West Indies, and Brazil. The nutmeg tree is the source of nutmeg and mace, two valuable spices that have been the objects of secret trading, theft, monopolies, and violent battles. Other Myristica species, such as M. argentea, M. malabarica, and M. fatua, are rather similar to M. fragrans. However, their fruit does not have the characteristic, intense aroma or flavor, and these species are only used for local medicinal purposes, as food additives, or for adulteration of more-valuable nutmeg or mace.

Myristica fragrans can reach a height of 60 ft (20 m) and has leathery, somewhat aromatic leaves that grow to about 6 in (15 cm) long. This dioecious (male and female flowers occur on separate plants) tree has small, unscented, yellow flowers that superficially resemble those of lily-of-the-valley. Plantations cultivate mostly female trees, but intersperse them with male trees. When the tree is about eight years old, it bears its first crop of fruit, and it can continue to bear fruit up to the age of 80-100 years.

The tough, yellowish, one-seeded fruit (known as a drupe) is about 2 in (5 cm) in diameter and has a peach-like shape. When ripe, the fleshy outer covering of the fruit splits open, revealing its oval seed (the nutmeg), which is wrapped in a bright, red-orange, lacy covering called an aril (the mace).

After the fruit is picked, the outer covering is removed. The aril is taken off the seed, flattened into strips, dried, and sold either as whole strips or finely ground. The seeds are air-dried for several weeks, or sometimes, more rapidly over a fire. The nutmeg kernel is removed from the seed coat or husk, and is then dipped in lime to prevent insect infestation and seed germination . Nutmeg is sold either whole or ground up.

The nutmeg tree flowers and bears fruit year-round. The trees are harvested two to three times per year, with an annual average of 500 fruits (nutmegs) per tree. About 400 lb (180 kg) are needed to produce 1 lb (0.5 kg) of mace.

The inferior, or damaged fruits are made into oil of mace or nutmeg butter, and sold to industries for the manufacturing of soap , perfume, flavoring for candy, gum, soft drinks, and condiments. Nutmeg is often used in rich foods and sauces (for example, in eggnog and custard), and baked goods. Mace has a similar flavor to nutmeg, but is much more subtle, and is used in baked goods, sauces, soups, and meat dishes.

Nutmeg has been used medicinally for its sedative properties. An alkaloid-like substance called myristicin is a psychotropic, which in excessive doses can cause hallucinations, disorientation, and convulsions.

Christine Miner Minderovic

nutmeg

views updated Jun 27 2018

nut·meg / ˈnətˌmeg/ • n. 1. the hard, aromatic, almost spherical seed of a tropical tree. ∎  this seed grated and used as a spice. 2. the evergreen tree (Myristica fragrans, family Myristicaceae) that bears these seeds, native to the Moluccas.

nutmeg

views updated May 29 2018

nutmeg XIV. ME. nute-, notemug(g)e, later notmyg (XV), note-, nutmeg (XVI), partial tr. of AN. *nois mugue, for OF. nois mug(u)ede (also musguete; now noix muscade) :- Rom *nuce muscāta ‘musk-smelling nut’ (L. nux NUT, muscus MUSK).

nutmeg

views updated May 29 2018

nutmeg. First Pointed Northern-English ornament consisting of a series of projections, with a gap between each pair, resembling half-nutmegs, of which good examples occur at St Mary's Church, Nun Monkton, Yorkshire.

nutmeg

views updated Jun 11 2018

nutmeg Dried ripe seed of Myristica fragrans; mace is the seed coat (arillus) of the same species. Both mace and nutmeg are used as flavourings in meat products and bakery goods. Nutmeg contains myristicin, which is toxic in large amounts, and may cause vomiting and hallucinations in excess.

nutmeg

views updated May 21 2018

nutmeg Evergreen tree native to tropical Asia, Africa and America. Its seeds yield the spice nutmeg. Height: up to 18m (60ft). Family Myristicaceae.

nutmeg

views updated May 29 2018

nutmeg The seed of Myristica fragrans. See MYRISTICA.

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