Nutmeg

The nutmeg tree (Myristica fragrans) is an evergreen tree species with growth heights of 5 to 18 meters. The nutmeg tree is a plant species from the nutmeg family (Myristicaceae), lanceolate dark green leaves, small white flowers in clusters, alternate flowering all year round, fruit ripening all year round. The fruit is light yellow, bursts after 9 months and contains the seeds, about 3 cm in size. After drying for 5-8 weeks, the inner seed kernel, the nutmeg, is released. This is widely used as a spice. Due to the hallogenic ingredient it contains, myristicin, a quantity limit is recommended. Due to its hallucinogenic effect, it is also used as a substitute drug; more than 10 g of nutmeg leads to a state of intoxication.

Both nutmeg and mace contain essential oils, e.g. nutmeg oil: sabinene, &-pinene, ß-pinene and myristicin, other phenylpropane derivatives: elemicin, eugenol, isoeugenol, methyl eugenol and safrole.

Originally native to the tropical Banda Islands and the northern Moluccas, nutmeg trees are now also cultivated in South America and Africa.

The fruit is 8-10 cm long. The 2-3 cm large, roundish seed (the actual nutmeg) is surrounded by a reddish, fleshy, oily seed coat. The kernel of the seed is used both as a spice (also contained in curry in varying concentrations) and as a drug. The fatty oil is also known as "nutmeg butter" due to its buttery consistency.

The essential oil is isolated by steam distillation from crushed nutmegs. It is colorless to slightly yellow. The terpenes α- and β-pinene, sabinene, limonene, borneol, terpineol, eugenol and isoeugenol are characteristic of the aroma of nutmeg. These substances are also responsible for the allergenic potency of the extracts.

The main active ingredient in nutmeg is the pungent drug myristicin. Myristicin acts as an MAO inhibitor and is hallucinogenic. Essential nutmeg oil is used as a flavoring agent in toothpastes. It is also used as a flavoring agent in medicines. The oil is often added to men's perfumes because of its pungent odor.

In naturopathy, nutmeg and nutmeg oil are used for diseases of the digestive system. In India, an ointment is made from nutmeg powder and water, which is said to have an anti-eczematous effect.

Nutmeg oil is also used as an additive in cold balms, rheumatic ointments, throat lozenges, herbal sweets, massage oils and carminatives.

The best-known medicinal products containing essential nutmeg oil include Carmol® and Klosterfrau Melissengeist®. The use of the medicinal drug is not very common.

Nutmeg allergy can occur as a food allergy, often in conjunction with celery-carrot-mugwort spice syndrome. Type IV sensitizations are also known. Dose-dependent hallucinogenic effect.

Furthermore, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, fatigue to lethargy, euphoria, dizziness, tremor, ataxia, cramps, palpitations, possibly urinary retention, dry mouth, constipation, visual disturbances, flushing, high blood pressure, hyperthermia.

The name nutmeg developed from the Latin name "nux moschata" or musk-scented nut.

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