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These plants, funghi and insect illustrations
are part of my botanical oracle deck

Myristica fragrans | Nutmeg

Botanical Overview:

  • Family: Myristicaceae

  • Common Names: Nutmeg, Mace Tree

  • Plant Type: Evergreen tree

  • Native Range: Moluccas (Spice Islands) of Indonesia

  • Key Identifiers:

    • Medium-sized tree that grows up to 20 meters tall

    • Oval, dark green leaves and small, pale yellow flowers

    • Produces yellow fruit that splits open when ripe to reveal a hard seed (nutmeg) surrounded by a bright red aril (mace)


Properties:

  • Active Compounds: Myristicin, safrole, elemicin, eugenol, and essential oils

  • Pharmacological Actions: Carminative, stimulant, sedative, antispasmodic, and psychoactive in high doses


Distribution and Habitat:

  • Grows in tropical climates with warm temperatures and high humidity

  • Thrives in well-drained, fertile soils and is often cultivated in Indonesia, Grenada, India, and Sri Lanka

  • Found in coastal and lowland forests


Medicinal Uses:

  • Digestive Aid: Relieves indigestion, nausea, and flatulence; stimulates appetite

  • Pain Relief: Used topically in oils and balms for muscle aches and joint pain

  • Sedative Effects: Promotes relaxation and can help with insomnia in small doses

  • Antimicrobial Properties: Helps fight infections and bad breath

  • Other Uses: Sometimes used in traditional medicine for menstrual discomfort and as a general tonic


Psychoactive Properties and Effects:

  • Psychoactive Nature:

    • Myristicin and elemicin act as mild psychoactive substances at low doses and hallucinogenic at high doses

    • Effects of high doses include euphoria, visual distortions, altered perception, and lethargy, but can also cause nausea, confusion, and paranoia

    • Onset of effects is slow (2–6 hours), and the experience can last up to 24–48 hours, often accompanied by unpleasant aftereffects

  • Not Psychedelic: While it alters perception in high doses, the effects are typically disorienting and not conducive to profound or insightful experiences


Magical Correspondences and Uses:

  • Element: Fire

  • Planetary Association: Jupiter

  • Magical Uses:

    • Associated with prosperity, abundance, and luck

    • Used in sachets, spells, and incense to attract wealth and success

    • Promotes protection and wards off negative energies when carried or burned

    • Added to rituals to enhance clairvoyance, divination, and psychic abilities

    • Used in culinary magic for its warming, uplifting energy


Folklore and Mythology:

  • Revered as a highly prized spice during the Middle Ages and early modern period, often valued as highly as gold.

  • In Grenadian folklore, nutmeg is seen as a symbol of the island's resilience and prosperity.

  • Believed to have aphrodisiac properties in various cultures, often used in love potions or charms.

  • Associated with protection and luck in traditional European herbalism, with nutmeg amulets carried for safety on journeys.

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