Did you know that Javitri or Mace & Jaiphal or Nutmeg derived from the same oval-shaped hard seed of Myristica fragrans plant is known to cure insomnia?
Jaiphal-Javitri, Nutmeg-Mace are twin spices derived from the same Myristica fragrans (other Latin name - Myristicaceae) plant. As a spice they have been used in India since centuries not only as a spice but as a medicinal spice that is said to allay many diseases. It was originally, as Nutmeg, a native, in the form of 3,500 year old potsherd residues from the island of Pulau Ai, one of the Banda Islands in eastern Indonesia. However, from the 6th century it was widely cultivated in tropical countries such as India, China, Sri Lanka, the Caribbean and Malaysia. It is extensively grown on the Konkan coastal belt in the Western Ghats in the state of Kerala in southwest India. It is now threatened by habitat loss according to the IUCN Red List.
Jaiphal-Javitri or Mace and Nutmeg are two (2) distinctly different spices produced from a fruit of a dark-leaved evergreen tree, known as aromatic nutmug tree, which is usually 9-12 m high, but some times reaches a height of 20 m or more. Male and female trees are separate but they are not distinguishable till the time of maturity or flowering which takes place between 6 and 8 years. The trees yield fruits for about 70 years, with about 3 harvests per season. Its blooms or flowers exhibit light yellow colour in bell-shape. Fruits are round to oblong in shape. The seeds are the nutmeg that are associated with the spice. The nutmeg is enclosed within a thick husky covering that splits when the fruit matures.
Mace is the spice made from the red or crimson-colored 'aril', dried reticulated from the fruits, and nutmeg is the dried seed kernel (the oval-shaped hard seed of the fruit). In the processing of mace, the covering that hugs the seed tightly is removed from the nutmeg seed that it envelops and is flattened out and dried for 10 to 14 days. Its color changes to pale yellow, orange, or tan. Whole dry mace consists of flat pieces—smooth, horn-like, and brittle—about 40 mm (1.6 in) long. Both Nutmeg and Mace are two excellent aromatic folk medicines as well which have almost like benefits except that mace has stronger detoxifying properties. The nutmeg seed is similar to a bettlenut or walnut with light and dark network of veins. The darker veins are the ones laden with essential oil. Another species grown in Kerala known as Myristica malabarica, is used to adulterate true nutmeg, which comes from Myristica fragrans. Nutmegs from China are considered the best. In the 17th-century work Hortus Botanicus Malabaricus, Hendrik van Rheede has recorded that Indians learned the usage of nutmeg from the Indonesians through ancient trade routes.
In India, Nutmeg is known in many regional languages such as: In Bengali-Jaiphal; Gujarati-Jaiphal; Hindi-Jaiphal or Rampatri, Kannada - Doddajajikai or Jaikai; Kashmiri-Zaaphal; Marathi-Jaiphal; Malayalam - Kattujathikka; Oriya -Jaiphala; Punjabi -Jaiphal; Sanskrit -Jatiphala; Tamil- Jathikai. It is widely used in Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia to treat many ailments.
Nutmeg and mace show their presence in many Indian desserts along with Indian Garam Masala and some gravies too. Jaiphal & Javitri and its pulpy fruit of the nutmeg are used to make essential oils; as the major volatile oil it has myristicin, elemicin, eugenol and safrole in its chemical composition. Internationally, nutmeg is usually associated with sweet, spicy dishes like pies, puddings, custards, cookies and spice cakes.
Nutmeg, warm by nature, has many health benefits, claimed as : To treat insomnia by using a powder made with nutmeg, almond and saffron which is mixed with milk; as a great exfoliator for skin treatment of dark spots, pigmentation and freckles; as cold- cough cure for babies during winters; to remove stress, fatigue and depression and to protect the brain from diseases such as Alzheimer’s; as nutmeg oil to treat inflamed areas to get relief from muscular and joint pain; keep the immune system strong as it has Potassium, calcium, iron, manganese and other important minerals; used in soups and sweets; benefits the voice, increases digestive fire and aids in digestion, kills worms, and allays Kapha (phlegm) & Vayu (gas) - the 2 doshas (defects or ailments in human body), as per Ayurveda; treat dental pain; regulate blood sugar and blood clotting; and also to repair cells and to help in the formation of tissues. The essential oil obtained by steam distillation of ground nutmeg[13] is used in the perfumery and pharmaceutical industries.
An often used phrase "Rubbing Nutmeg" means rub nutmeg on an an abrasive stone surface to make a paste with a particular ingredient, like water, milk or any other; in olden days "Sil " a rectangular pitted and dotted stone slab which used to grind masalas was used to prepare this paste of nutmeg. This paste is still used in rural areas in India, as a folk medicine to treat many ailments.
However, a note of caution in its excessive use as it could intoxicate, spin the head and can even cause loss of consciousness. It may also produce allergic reactions.
Some interesting facts about Nutmeg around the world are: Grenada which grows nutmeg and mace extensively gives it a place of pride in its national flag since 1974 (shown as a stylised split-open nutmeg fruit) ; Connecticut in USA got the moniker as "the Nutmeg State", "Nutmegger" as there was rampant creation of fake nutmeg from wood which became a popular term for fraudsters to be called the wooden nutmeg; in the 19th century, nutmeg was thought to be an abortifacient, which led to numerous recorded cases of nutmeg poisoning.
- Narasipur Char
