7 Magical Health Benefits of Nutmeg Essential Oil

Nutmeg comes from the tree called Myristica fragrans, which is native to Indonesia. Although indigenous to Asia, it is widely used globally since a long time ago! During the Elizabethan era, nutmeg was used to treat the wave of plagues around the region. The Arabs used it as an aphrodisiac and it is also a main ingredient in various traditional Chinese medicine to treat liver diseases. The Romans used nutmeg for incense and nutmeg symbolized loyalty, luck, health and money.

Not only does it have a myriad of medicinal uses, nutmeg is also popularly used as a form of spice in cooking! Nutmeg essential oil, however, is extracted from the seeds of the fruit of the nutmeg tree, through a process of steam distillation and it has a musky smell. Up till today, it has numerous health benefits and uses that makes it a worthwhile investment to have it in your home shelves.

1. Aids in Digestion

Nutmeg oil can drastically help when it comes to digestion problems such as indigestion, loss of appetite, flatulence, nausea, vomiting, constipation and gallstones. It helps to relieve the pain associated with such problems and removes unwanted gas from the intestines and stomach, hence regulating digestion flows. As such, using nutmeg essential oil can aid in increasing appetite too since it helps to cure various indigestion problems.

How to Use It: You can add 5-6 drops of nutmeg essential oil into warm bathing water or mix 3 drops of it with a carrier oil (such as sesame oil) and massage it over your abdominal area.

2. Prevents Bad Breath

Bad breath can be caused by a myriad of factors, ranging from improper oral hygiene to the presence of harmful substances present in our body and intestines that are not effectively removed. As nutmeg contains antibacterial properties, it helps to kill all sorts of bacteria that is residing in the mouth cavity.

Also, it prevents toothaches in the process too. As abovementioned, it also keeps the stomach healthy by removing any toxic substances from the digestive system, thus preventing bad breath from arising indirectly.

Additionally, the woody and musky aroma of nutmeg oil helps to keep mouth odour at bay as it seeks to constantly keep your mouth smelling fresh!

How to Use It: Simply mix 2 drops of nutmeg essential oil into warm water and gargle it, while being careful not to ingest any of the mixture accidentally. Alternatively, you can also inhale it through a diffuser by adding 2 drops of it into your diffuser to regulate the metabolic functions within your body.

3. Improves the Mind

Nutmeg essential oil contains the natural organic compound called myristicin, which enhances cognitive power of the brain and prevents the growth of an enzyme that is responsible for Alzheimer’s disease. As such, it strengthens brain power and improves concentration as well as memory skills drastically so that your memory becomes sharper. This enables you to concentrate better while at work or at school and it is great to have by your work desk.

Not only that, nutmeg essential oil can also help to calm and soothe the mind as it relieves stress, tension and anxiety. It provides mental clarity as fatigue dissipates from the body by breathing in the nutmeg oil, thus enhancing your performance further.

How To Use It: You can add in in 2 drops of nutmeg essential oil into your vaporizer and let it diffuse throughout your workspace for better concentration. Alternatively, you can add 4-5 drops of nutmeg essential oil into your bath to wind down and relax after a hectic day of work or school.

4. Promotes Sleeping

Because of its soothing, calming and sedative nature, nutmeg essential oil can help you get the good night’s rest you deserve after an exhausting day. Since it offers relaxation and fights off stress, anxiety, restlessness and tension, it is a good natural sleeping aid as it improves the quality of your sleep.

It promotes blood circulation and alleviates depression while soothing your strained nerves at the same time. It provides a beneficial alternative to the numerous sleeping pills out there, which can have unforeseen side effects and might not be too safe to use.

How to Use It: Create a massage blend by using 5-6 drops of nutmeg essential oil with coconut oil and massage at the back of your neck or temples. Alternatively, you can add 3 drops of nutmeg oil into your everyday evening bath or add 2 drops of it onto your pillow for better and undisturbed sleep.

5. Offers Pain Relief and Anti-Inflammation

Nutmeg essential oil has anti-inflammatory properties, hence offering pain relief to various muscular problems. It can alleviate rheumatic pain, nerve pain, gout, arthritis or even muscle pain from exercising as nutmeg essential oil helps to circulate the blood flow and provides muscular relief, thus preventing swelling.

In fact, nutmeg oil has been a key component used in traditional Chinese medicine to alleviate abdominal pain. According to Mr Fadhil Omar, a sports science consultant to athletes in Malaysia, nutmeg oil is extremely useful for muscle cramps and stiffness of joints and he uses it to treat sports injuries.

How to Use It: You can add 2-3 drops of nutmeg essential oil with coconut oil and gently massage it to the problematic areas.

6. Eases Menstrual Problems

Nutmeg essential oil, with its emmenagogue properties, can help to prevent menstrual obstruction and regulate blood flows, thereby normalizing period flows.

It also helps to ward off the associated menstrual cramps, fatigue and nausea that accompanies menstruation. As such, women experiencing the time of the month need not feel discomfort any longer as nutmeg essential oil is here to save the day!

How to Use It: You can add 4 drops of nutmeg oil to your bath or mix it with a carrier oil (such as sesame oil) and massage across your abdominal area for pain relief.

7. Prevents Respiratory Problems

Nutmeg oil can alleviate respiratory problems and relieves congestion along the respiratory tracts as well. As such, it is effective in treating the common cough, fever and cold. In fact, it can even manage asthma to prevent the adverse consequences from asthmatic attacks.

How To Use It: Simply add 2 drops of nutmeg essential oil into the diffuser or vaporizer for relief from various respiratory ailments.

Other Health Uses:

Nutmeg essential oil is also known to be a liver tonic as it promotes a healthy liver by getting rid of toxic substances that can potentially be detrimental to your liver. It also dissolves kidney stones and helps to maintain a healthy kidney, thus aiding in the detoxification process. Nutmeg essential oil is also used in cosmetics and soaps due to its antiseptic nature.

Safety Guidelines:

• Never ingest nutmeg essential oil.

• Be sure to dilute nutmeg essential oil with a carrier oil and do a skin patch test to ensure no sensitive or allergic reactions result.

• Do not use if you are pregnant.

• Do not inhale nutmeg essential oil in large doses.

• Epilepsy patients should not consume nutmeg essential oil.

• Always consult your physician or doctor before using nutmeg essential oil as a form of treatment.