Guest guest Posted October 11, 2000 Report Share Posted October 11, 2000 Nutmeg, aka Semen (seed of) Myristicae Fragrantis, aka Rou Dou Kou, primarily is classified as an Astringent herb. Astringent herbs stop leaks - sweating, Kidney Essence, diarrhea, etc. Nutmeg is warming, has a spicy taste, and targets the Spleen, Stomach, and Large Intestine. Warner J.W. Fan, MD, says that S. Myristica fragrantis warms the interior, lowers Qi, aids digestion, and strengthens the intestines. (p. 210) Even though it helps cases of diarrhea due to Cold Damp, it can aggravate Heat-based diarrhea. It's contraindicated in Heat disorders. Roger Wicke, PhD, goes into more detail in vol.2, p.139: " Astringes Intstines and stops diarrhea due to Deficiency of Yang. WArms Middle Burner, regulates and moves Qi, and allerviates abdominal pain. " He cautions that myristicin, one of the ingredients, is toxic and " may cause hallucinations and liver damage in doses greater than the recommended maximum. " The recommended dose taken over a 2 day period is .5 to 2 qian. That's 1.5 to 6 grams. Doses of as low as 7.5 grams can cause dizziness and stupor so this is an herb you definitely want to pay careful attention to the dose amount. Myristicin also is a MAO inhibitor so you may want to pay attention to the cautions concerning the use of MAO inhibitors. Wicke reports that " small doses have a stimulating effect on the GI tract. " Victoria _______________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com. Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at http://profiles.msn.com. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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