The last day of the 25 Days of Essential Oils, ends with nutmeg.
Nutmeg essential oil has a spicy scent. I wanted to write about nutmeg essential oil because some may not know what to do with this essential oil. I have only used nutmeg in cleaning and diffusion blends. I have created holiday scents for Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas using nutmeg with a mix of other essential oils for cleaning and diffusion. I never felt the need to use this essential oil topically due to the low topical max. There are other essential oils that can also help with queasiness, sore muscles/joints, and spasms with a higher and safer topical max. But as always, this is just another essential oil you can use, especially if you like the scent of this one over others that are just as therapeutic. I put a link in my references by the Tisserand Institute on nutmeg if you want to learn more. Interesting fun fact about nutmeg. It was said the Romans used nutmeg as money.
Essential Oil Common Name: Nutmeg
Latin Name: Myristica fragrans
Family: Myristicaceae
Part of Plant Used: Seeds/Kernels
Extraction Method: Steam Distilled
Notes (Scent and Staying Power): Middle
Safe for Ages: Safe for ages 6+, but with the low topical max, I would use the suggestion 15+. There is a chart in the Tisserand Institute link in the references below that has the percentages to use for different age groups. Avoid internally for all ages. Avoid under age 6 all routes (internally, topically, inhalation). Read here on how to do skin patch testing.
Safe for Pregnancy: No
Safe for Breastfeeding: No
Topical Max: The topical max for nutmeg essential oil is 0.8% (East Indian) and 5% (West Indian). The company you purchase from should have this information so you know how much to dilute. Always dilute before applying it to the skin.
Shelf Life: 3 Years
Key Therapeutic Properties/Actions: Analgesic, Antifungal, Anti-inflammatory, Antimicrobial, Antirheumatic, Antispasmodic, Gas relief.
Where to purchase: Nutmeg here.
Final thoughts from the 25 Days of essential oils: First, I want to thank you for reading these last 25 days. Secondly, I want to add, when you do choose an essential oil, pick them with intention. No need to be afraid of your essential oils, even though there are some safety concerns. All you need to do is think about the purpose of your use and follow the safety guidelines. Have a sore muscle or tummy ache? Find something to use topically. For a sore muscle, you wouldn’t diffuse the oil, right? Have congestion or a runny nose? Make a personal inhaler or use a diffuser. You can check out my blog post on diffusing safely here. Just make sure you follow the safety of each oil so you can use them for many years to come without issues. Misusing, or using extremely high levels of essential oils for longer than needed periods could lead to possible sensitives that your body may reject. Remember, use them with intention, follow safety limits and you will be fine.
Thank you for reading!
Love and Nature,
Nicole
Remember: The contents of this blog post are intended for educational and informational purposes only and may not be the best fit for you and your personal situation. It shall not be construed as medical advice. The information and education provided here is not intended or implied to supplement or replace professional medical treatment, advice, and/or diagnosis. Always check with your own physician or medical professional before trying or implementing any information read here. Click here to read more about my medical/FDA disclaimers.
References:
Tisserand, R., & Young, R. (2014). Essential Oil Safety. (2nd ed.). Churchill Livingstone.
Tisserand, R. (2019) Assessing the Safety of Essential Oils – the Nutmeg Case. Tisserand Institute. https://tisserandinstitute.org/assessing-safety-nutmeg/
Petersen, D. (2016). Aromatherapy Materia Medica. American College of Healthcare Sciences.
Aromahead Institute. (n.d.). Aromatherapy Certification Program. [Courses]. Aromahead Institute. https://courses.aromahead.com/aromatherapy-certification-program