Why nutmeg helps with flatulence, impotence

By Sade Oguntola - updated: Thursday 03-07-2008

NutmegTO many, especially women, nutmeg is associated with sweet, spicy dishes such as biscuits, spicy meats and spice cakes. It is also a component of curry powder, teas and soft drinks, or mixed in milk and alcohol. However, nutmeg has more to it than what many can imagine. In fact, nutmeg has long been lauded as possessing or imparting magical powers. A 16th century monk has been said to have advised young men to carry vials of nutmeg oil and at the appropriate time, to anoint their genitals for virility that would see them through several days. Used in small dosages, nutmeg can reduce flatulence, aid digestion, improve the appetite and treat diarrhoea, vomiting and nausea.

According to the Encyclopaedia of spices, nutmeg tree is a large evergreen, native to the Moluccas (the Spice Islands) and whose use is now world wide because of international trade. It produces two spices mace and nutmeg. Nutmeg is the seed kernel inside the fruit and mace is the lacy covering (aril) on the kernel.Researchers have proved the usefulness of nutmeg in the treatment of impotence, thereby supporting the 16th century monk that had advised men to anoint their genitals with nutmeg oil to improve their virility.

This is contained in an experimental study of “Sexual Function Improving Effect of Myristica fragrans Houtt. (nutmeg) by Tajuddin, Ahmad S, Latif A, Qasmi IA and Amin KM. from the Department of Ilmul Advia (Unani Pharmacology), Faculty of Unani Medicine, Aligarh Muslim University, published in 2005 edition of the journal, BMC Complement Altern. Med. The suspension of the extract (50 per cent ethanolic extract of nutme) was administered to different groups of male rats daily for seven days. The female rats involved in mating were made receptive by hormonal treatment. The general mating behaviour, libido and potency were studied and compared with the standard reference drug, the sildenafil citrate (Viagra). Likely adverse effects and acute toxicity of the extract were assessed.

Oral administration of the extract at the dose of 500 mg/kg produced significant increase of sexual activity in male rats. It significantly increased and sustained increase in the sexual activity of these normal male rats without any conspicuous adverse effects. This indicates that the 50 per cent ethanolic extract of nutmeg possesses aphrodisiac activity, increasing both libido and potency. While, providing a scientific rationale for the traditional use of nutmeg in the management of male sexual disorders, the researchers said that its effectiveness in male sexual disorders, might be attributed to its nervous stimulating property The practice of combining nutmeg with clove to correct sexual debility or depressed desire in males had earlier been substantiated in the same journal when the same group of researchers said the extracts of the nutmeg and clove were found to stimulate the mounting behaviour of male mice, and to significantly increase their mating performance.

To determine the effects of Nutmeg, Clove and Penegra (similar to Viagra) on mounting, four groups of six animals each were taken for the study. All these drugs were dissolved in distilled water just before their administration Though both the test drugs produced significant increase in mounting behaviour of animals, it was also observed that mounting behaviour activity (number of mounts) in Nutmeg group, at first hour and third hour, was greater than Clove. Since they found that the extracts of these drugs were devoid of any general conspicuous short-term toxicity, they thereby suggested that the short term use of these drugs for impotence is apparently safe.

However, herbalists and apothecaries of the middle Ages and the Renaissance saw in cloves the representation of an erect penis, with the testicles at its base. It was supposed to act on the male genitalia. Naturopaths claim that while increasing and maintaining sexual vigour, they have a tranquillising effect that helps to avert premature ejaculation and exert the aphrodisiac effects in small doses, while in large quantities it has hallucinogenic properties. They said it contains zinc helpful in the production of testosterone and progesterone, which have a positive effect on the libido. Zinc deficiency can cause impotence in men, so any food rich in zinc is considered an aphrodisiac in that respect, and nutmeg and cloves happen to be loaded with the mineral.

Many researches have confirmed the use of nutmeg in treating ulcer, toothache, diarrhoea, dysentery, gastro-enteritis, vomiting, abdominal distension and bloating, indigestion, colic, as well as for respiratory catarrh. It is also used to treat indigestion, urinary incontinence and premature ejaculation. Cloves have been reportedly used to: ease toothaches; relieve indigestion; control diarrhoea; heal wounds; premature ejaculation; fever; gas; gout; Hernia; herpes; hypertension; asthma; halitosis (bad breath); colic; cough expectorant; diabetes; nausea; vomiting; mental stimulant; encourage sleep; stimulate dreams; primary dysmenorrhoea; arthritis; bronchitis; acne; tuberculosis; thyroid dysfunction; headaches; and viral hepatitis.

However, there is a word of caution: clove and nutmeg abuse could be dangerous. Toxic doses of nutmeg can induce abortion in pregnant women. Side effects that may occur include; vomiting, sore throat, seizure, sedation, difficulty breathing, vomiting of blood, blood disorders, kidney failure, and liver damage or failure. Serious side effects are reported more often in young children, even with small doses and therefore clove supplements should be avoided in children and pregnant or nursing women.

Using mushrooms to boost body immunity

MushroomShiitake (Lentinula edodes) mushrooms are good for you--and shiitake by-products can be good for other crops. These mushrooms contain high-molecular-weight polysaccharides (HMWP), which some studies suggest may improve human immune function. Other research indicates that the shiitake compound eritadenine may help lower cholesterol levels.

Agricultural Research Service (ARS) agronomist David Brauer has been studying shiitake production at the agency's Dale Bumpers Small Farm Research Center, Booneville, Ark. Working in collaboration with producers at the Shiitake Mushroom Center in Shirley, Ark., Brauer evaluated whether shiitakes grown on logs have higher levels of HMWP than shiitakes grown on commercial substrates.The group inoculated logs with spores from three different shiitake varieties and compared the yield with shiitake yields grown on commercial substrates.

They found that the log-grown shiitakes had HMWP levels as much as 70 per cent higher than the substrate-grown shiitakes. The team also observed that shiitakes grown on red and white oak logs had higher levels of HMWP than shiitakes grown on sweet gum logs.Logs used in shiitake production generally provide good yields for around two to three years. Larger shiitake farms may have 3,000 or more logs on the premises, and retire around 1,000 of them every year. Not to let those used logs go to waste, Brauer’s team chipped a selection of spent logs, added urea and green grass cuttings to the chips and then composted the mixture. They found that the nitrogen levels in the resulting compost were comparable to nitrogen levels in other purchased soil amendment materials.The researchers used the log compost to amend soil in a greenhouse spinach production system and found that the seedlings exhibited greater growth rates than seedlings cultivated in soil that had not been amended. Using recycled log compost provides another way for shiitake mushroom growers to increase their profits.