What are the benefits and medicinal uses of Nutmeg (Jaiphal) ?

Nutmeg has following names :- 

Botanical name - Myristica fragrans

Indian name - Jaiphal

Nutmeg or Jaiphal

Origin, distribution and composition

Nutmeg is the dried kernel of the seeds of an evergreen tree. It has a strong aroma with a slightly bitter taste. The nutmeg tree is usually 9 to 12 metres high but sometimes attains a height of up to 20 metres or more. 

Nutmeg tree grows in Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and the West Indies. It appears from ancient records that nutmeg tree flourished in India at one time, but is a scarce plant species now. 

Nutmeg contains an essential oil and saponin. The dry ripe seeds of the fruit contains a volatile oil and a fixed oil. The dry leaves of the tree yield an essential oil consisting of myristicin.

Healing power and curative properties

Nutmeg was used in the preparation of various medicines in ancient times. Even today, it is used in several important and widely used pharmaceutical preparations. The oil extracted from the herb is used in liniments, perfumery, hair lotions and as an antispasmodic carminative. Nutmeg has following healing power and curative properties:-

Digestive disorders - 

The powder of the nutmeg, about 5 to 15 grams, mixed with apple juice or banana is used as a specific remedy for diarrhoea caused by indigestion of food. 

The same quantity of nutmeg powder taken with a tablespoon of fresh amla juice thrice daily, is effective for indigestion, hiccups and morning sickness.

Common cold - 

In case of a running nose, a paste made from nutmeg, cow milk and 75 grams of opium should be applied on the forehead and the nose, it provides quick relief. 

Rheumatism -

A nutmeg coarsely powdered and fried in sesame oil (til oil), until all the particles become brown, is very useful as an external application to relieve any rheumatic pain, neuralgia and sciatica. The oil should be cooled and strained before application. 

Skin disorders - 

Nutmeg is used in the treatment of skin diseases like ringworm and eczema. The paste of the herb prepared by rubbing it on a stone slab in one's own early morning saliva, before cleansing the teeth, is applied once daily as a specific remedy in the treatment of these conditions. 

Dehydration -

The herb is useful in treating dehydration caused by vomiting and diarrhoea, particularly cholera. An infusion prepared from half a nutmeg in half a litre of water, given with tender coconut water in doses of 15 grams at a time, is an effective treatment. 

Insomnia - 

The powder of nutmeg, mixed with fresh amla juice, is also an effective medicine for insomnia, irritability and depression. 

Nutmeg paste mixed with honeys given to infants, who cry at night for no apparent reasons, to induce sleep. 

It should, however, not be given regularly, without medical advice, as it may cause serious complications and addiction in the infants.

Other Uses:-

Sex stimulant -

Nutmeg mixed with honey and a half boiled egg, makes an excellent sex tonic. It prolongs the duration of the sexual act if taken an hour before intercourse.

Precautions:-

Nutmeg should be taken in very small doses; in appreciable doses, it excites the motor cortex and produces epileptic convulsions and lesions in the liver. 

Even a teaspoon of nutmeg can produce toxic symptoms such as burning in the stomach, nausea, vomiting, restlessness and giddiness with hallucinations.

What are the benefits, uses , healing power and curative properties of Sandalwood (Chandan) ?

 

Sandalwood (Chandan)

The Sandalwood has following names -

Botanical name - Santalum album

Indian name - Chandan

Origin, distribution and composition

Sandalwood is a medium-sized evergreen tree with almost drooping branches, dark rough bark and scented mature wood. It has opposite leaves, shining on the upper surface, with small dull purplish flowers in small bunches and roundish, purple black succulent fruits. Its trade name sandalwood is based on its Indian name. 

Sandalwood is believed to be indigenous to India. It is cultivated in Karnataka, Coorg, Coimbatore and the southern parts of Tamil Nadu. It also grows wild.

It occupies a very important place in Hindu religious rituals. The Parsis use it for the fire in their temples. Its wood was highly prized during ancient India and China owing to its sweet odour. This tree finds a mention in the earliest Sanskrit and Chinese literature. 

Sandalwood  yield an essential oil which contains santaloe. 

Healing power and curative properties

Both the sandalwood  and the essential oil obtained after fractional distillation, have been used in Ayurveda for many centuries. 

The wood is bitter, sedative, cooling and a cardiac tonic. It is useful in arresting secretion or bleeding and in promoting the flow of urine. 

Moreover, sandalwood oil is a stimulant and an antiseptic. It has a soothing effect on the skin and mucous membranes.

Genito-Urinary disorders - 

Sandalwood powder mixed with mixed with milk or made into pills, as also sandalwood oil, is considered beneficial in the treatment of gonorrhea. Sandalwood oil is used in treating dysuria (painful and difficult urination) and cystitis (inflammation of the bladder). 

It is taken in the doses of five drops in the beginning and gradually increased to 10 to 30 drops. Its efficacy can be increased by the addition of ajwain water or infusion of ginger.

Gastric irritability - 

Sandalwood is valuable in gastric irritability. About 25 grams of watery emulsion of the wood mixed with sugar, honey and rice water should be taken for gastric irritability.

Dysentery - 

Sandalwood is also beneficial in the treatment of dysentery. It should be taken as above in gastric irritability. 

Prickly heat -

Sandalwood paste is a popular household remedy for prickly heat. It prevents excessive sweating and heals inflamed skin. Dry sandalwood powder can be mixed in rose water and applied over parts where there is profuse sweating.

Skin diseases- 

An emulsion or a paste of the wood is a cooling dressing in inflammatory and eruptive skin diseases such as erysipelas, an inflammatory disease of the face, and prurigo, an itchy eruption. 

The oil is useful for scabies too. This oil mixed with twice its quantity of mustard oil is used for removing pimples.

In summer, regular application of sandalwood paste on the body, especially for children, has a refreshing effect, which heals any tiny infected spots.

Fever - 

Sandalwood paste applied on the temple relieves headache and brings down the temperature in fevers.