Great Autumn Spice: Nutmeg
Nutmeg is not only delicious when making pies or soups, but also has several benefits to use in our daily lives.
Nutmeg can help with insomnia, premature ejaculation, helps with digestion, warms the body on cool days and can also lower blood pressure.
It is astringent, so will also help to dry up phlegm or other secretions.
If taken with a banana, the banana will help digest and assimilate the nutmeg better.
Nutmeg is best when ground fresh and can maintain it’s taste and flavour for two weeks after grinding.
Nutmeg is also carminative and can also be used to treat diarrhea and helps to ground an individual that is full of restlessness, anxiety or worry.
In Sanskrit it is call jaiphal and is bitter, pungent, light, sharp and hot for rasa and gunas.
For insomnia: start w/ taking 1/8 tsp and work up to 1 gram, or as needed. There is a four hour delay, so if you go to bed at 10pm, take the nutmeg with some warm nut milk, or other milk, at 6pm.
Nutmeg in higher doses is not safe, doses over 7-8 grams should not be consumed, please check with your Ayurvedic practitioner or doctor prior to using. Too much nutmeg can cause light-headedness, hallucination, fatigue, drowsiness. Always start with a low dose and work up.
When combined with poppy seed for sleep, poppy seed will have sedative effect in 15 minutes and last for about 4 hours. If taking both these at 9:30pm, sleep will come at 9:45 and last well until the morning for a good night rest.
