Rich flavor of this spice helps to make your food delicious. Uses and benefits of nutmeg aren’t just confined for culinary purposes.
Topical application and internal consumption of this home available spice can enhance your beauty. Also known as jathikai in Tamil, jaiphal in Hindi and jajikaya in Telugu, grounded nutmeg can be mixed with honey for a face mask.
My personal experience: A few months back when I had severed a cough, my mom suggested me to take nutmeg, and though its distinct taste made my mouth tasteless I got relief from a continuous cough.
Anyhow, after research I found that uses of nutmeg are not just confined to a cough, you can use jaiphal for skin and to improve overall health.
Uses of Jaiphal for Skin
Let’s start with its beauty benefits.
- Astringent, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory abilities residing in nutmeg help to treat oily and acne-prone skin.
- Assorted nutrients in this natural ingredient help to combat chronic skin ailments like eczema.
- Exfoliating ability of nutmeg face mask can cleanse your face and improve its texture.
- Hydrating property of this natural remedy help to get rid of dry skin.
- A study states that nutmeg contains anti-fungal and antibacterial properties that can heal acne scars.
- Anti-inflammatory ability effectively reduces acne inflammation and soothes your skin.
- Analgesic property of this innate ingredient can reduce the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines and other signs of aging.
- Cleansing, healing and hydrating abilities exhibited by jathikai help to obtain radiant skin.
Also read: Banana peel for wrinkles
Now let me spell down amazing benefits of nutmeg for health and skin.
Amazing Benefits of Nutmeg (Jaiphal)
#1 Treat Arthritis
Anti-inflammatory properties residing in nutmeg oil can be an excellent sedative for joint pains. If you’ve arthritis, lumbago or rheumatism, massaging with nutmeg oil will relieve you from pain.
It’s an important part of Chinese medical treatment for abdominal pain and inflammation.
#2 Improve Blood Circulation
Internally using nutmeg oil or powder can improve blood circulation and comfort the body parts with its aromatic properties.
#3 Nausea
Nausea or vomiting can be cured by tasting nutmeg powder mixed with raw honey.
A pinch of nutmeg powder mixed in a glass of milk makes you sleep better. It’s an old home remedy practiced by grannies.
#4 Treat Respiratory Issues
As mentioned above, nutmeg can be used to treat a cough, cold and other respiratory problems like asthma.
#5 Avoids Bad Breathe
Antiseptic agents packed in nutmeg will relieve you from bad breath and makes your teeth, gums strong.
#6 Optimum Health
Nutrients and vitamins packed in nutmeg will enhance smooth functioning of the nutritional cycle in the body and aids to maintain optimum health.
#7 Reduce Menstrual Cramps
Women facing menstrual cramps can find this as an excellent soothing remedy.
#8 Treats Liver Disease
Exceptional properties in nutmeg oil are capable of thwarting toxins from the liver and thus it’s able to treat liver diseases.
#9 Avoids Mental Distress
When you consume it internally along with your favorite dish it stimulates the brain and discards mental stress. Students will find it very useful, as it increases efficiency and concentration at the study.
#10 Improves Digestion
Internally use nutmeg oil to treat digestive problems like gas, indigestion, flatulence, vomiting, and diarrhea. But avoid consuming excess.
#11 Reduce Blood Pressure
Iron content in this spice will improve RBC and copper helps to regulate blood pressure. Consequently, it helps to prevent cardiovascular problems to some extent.
#12 Nervous System
Apart from improving respiratory and digestive systems, nutmeg oil can help in proper functioning of nervous system.
#13 Aphrodisiac
From ancient times this spice has been used to stimulate hormones.
#14 Reduce Hair Fall
Massaging with nutmeg oil will improve blood circulation and thus reduce hair fall.
#15 Healthy and Shiny Hair
Nutrients packed in nutmeg oil enhance hair growth and add a lustrous shine. You can mix this essential oil with other ingredients and apply it on the scalp.
DIY Nutmeg Face Mask Recipes
To reap benefits of nutmeg for skin, you must topically apply the ingredient.
Excellent nutrients in this spice help to enhance your overall beauty.
1. Honey & Nutmeg to Heal Acne
Acne is caused due to inflammation and hormonal imbalance. Anti-inflammatory properties residing in nutmeg can soothe acne inflammation and its antiseptic property restrain infectious bacteria.
Make a homemade facial scrub with little nutmeg powder, honey or water to treat acne and acne scars.
- Mix 1 teaspoon of nutmeg powder with 1 teaspoon of honey.
- Cleanse your face and pat dry with a clean cloth.
- Apply this mixed mask evenly and leave it to dry naturally for 15-20 minutes.
2. Rosewater and Nutmeg
Homemade face mask: Rub nutmeg on a smooth stone with little rose water to obtain a paste. Likewise, rub sandalwood with rose water and mix both ingredients in a small bowl. Apply it over prewashed acne lesions.
3. Cinnamon, Honey, and Nutmeg
Take required amount of cinnamon powder and mix it with nutmeg powder.
Now to obtain thick paste add raw honey to it and mix thoroughly.
Wash your face and apply the mask evenly all over the face. Leave for 15-20 minutes and then rinse it off with water.
4. Nutmeg and Baking Soda
Bleaching property of baking soda can help to lighten the appearance of dark spots and its antibacterial ability help to treat acne blemishes.
Mix these two ingredients and add water to form a paste. Apply evenly and leave it to dry naturally for 15-20 minutes.
5. Nutmeg Face Scrub
Known for its exfoliating property, nutmeg paste can be used for scrubbing.
Impurities and dead cells accumulated over the face can be cleansed by its application.
- Mix masoor dal powder with nutmeg powder.
- Add distilled water to make a paste like consistency.
- Its application will help to get rid of blackheads, unclog skin pores and treat skin ailments.
- You can add a pinch of turmeric powder to make it more effective.
Tips
This home available spice can be used in baked foods, various dishes, and black coffee.
However, excess use of this spice isn’t recommended.
Its powder is extensively used in vegetarian dishes.
While using it as a face mask, make sure you’re not allergic to any of its ingredients.
Redness, itching, and inflammation can be experienced for sensitive skinned people. Taste depends on the quality of nutmeg.
Did you ever taste or used jaiphal for Skin? Share your recipe in comments.