Family: Myristicaceae

Synonyms: M. aromatica, Nux moschata, M. officinalis, M. amboinensis.

Aroma: Spicy, sweet, warm.

Colour: Clear pale yellow.

Plant: An evergreen tree that produces fleshy fruit with a hard seed that contains the essential oil and a fatty oil. The red husk is dried and sold as mace. The seed is sold as a spice.

Main Growing Areas: Moluccas, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, West Indies.

Major Constituents: Alpha-pinene, terpinene-4-ol, mycristicin, sabinene, beta-pinene.

Interesting snippets: Used as a flavouring for milk puddings and custards in Victorian England because of its gentle tonic and stimulating effects.
In Malaysia nutmeg spice is used during the final weeks of pregnancy to strengthen and tone the uterine muscles.
In Indonesia nutmeg is used in a body oil to warm and invigorate the body and alleviate the symptoms of the flu.

Part of Plant used/Extraction: Steam and water distilled from the dried seed.

Therapeutic actions: Muscular aches and pains, tiredness, stomach and menstrual cramps, digestive stimulant, eases vomiting and diarrhoea.

Emotional and Spiritual: Stress, depression, invigorates and stimulates the mind, chronic fatigue, anxiety.

Robbi Zeck writes “when there is heaviness, sluggishness, a feeling of being conquered and unable to face the tasks ahead, nutmeg stokes the fire, intensifies the energy and provides hearty warmth with its glowing heat. Nutmeg rekindles the flame of your life force leaving you spiritually cleansed and physically rejuvenated.”

Aromatherapy Insight Card:
INCREASES EMOTIONAL ENERGY
Nutmeg re-kindles your fire within, igniting that lost passion for life and revitalizing your subtle body. Lift the weight off your shoulders, conquer challenges and soar through encounters that may have stopped you in the past. Warm that life back into you when you find it all “too hard”.

Contemplations for the Soul:

Have you lost your passion for life, been ill recently or under constant stress?
Do you feel you have nothing more to give?
Do you feel it’s all too much and you can’t face the day ahead?
Are you feeling exhausted both mentally and physically?
It’s time to restore that inner fire.
Nurture yourself while you rebuild your strength. Reduce the stress in your life.
Take time to relax and chill.
What lights you up?
If you’re not sure remember what you loved to do when you were a child and bring that back into your life if you left it behind.
The passion is there you just have to light the embers.

Safety: Non-toxic, non- irritant, non-sensitising in low concentrations but not recommended to use on sensitive skin undiluted. Best avoided during pregnancy. May be toxic if used in high concentrations.

Sources:
Atterby, D, Nutmeg Essential Oil Profile. Aromatherapy Today, Vol.43 (2008)
Battaglia S, The Complete Guide To Aromatherapy. The Perfect Potion, Australia (1995)
Bowles E.J, The A to Z of Essential Oils. New Burlington Books (2003)
Fischer-Rizzi, S, Complete Aromatherapy Handbook. Essential Oils for Radiant Health Sterling Publishing Company (1990)
Hodges C. Contemplations for the Soul (2016)
Jefferies J, Osborn. K, Aromatherapy Insight Cards. Living Energy, Aust. (2nd Ed. 2005)
Zeck R, The Blossoming Heart. Aroma Tours (2004)