Nutmeg is a spice that originates from the Myristica fragrans tree, which is native to the Spice Islands (Moluccas) of Indonesia. Nowadays, it is grown in Malaysia and Grenada. Nutmeg was used in trade by the Dutch East India Company and is still an important part of modern-day Dutch cooking. It is used to season vegetables and certain meats.
Nutmeg has two types of essential oil. The interior of the fruit contains a nut surrounded by a red waxy aril that is used to distill Mace essential oil. The nut without the aril is distilled for Nutmeg essential oil. The dried nut is used to make nutmeg powder for culinary use.
Nutmeg essential oil has several aromatherapy benefits. It can aid digestion and help reduce inflammation and pain in joints and muscles. It is also said to help reduce joint pain in conditions such as arthritis and rheumatism. However, Nutmeg should be used in moderation. Exposure to large undiluted amounts can cause disorientation in some individuals. Nutmeg is also considered a skin irritant when undiluted. Therefore, it should be used in small amounts of no more than 1% in a blend intended for skin use. To calculate dilutions, see our
dilution chart.
Because of its stimulating effects Nutmeg may be an excellent choice for fatigue (physical and metal), is a strong psycho stimulant, perhaps making it a good choice for chronic fatigue syndrome. Some sources say Nutmeg with its stimulant properties is useful with instances of frigidity and impotence and recommend combining with
Vanilla Co2 for an aphrodisiac blend.
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