Nutmeg helps the liver

Christiane Fux studied journalism and psychology in Hamburg. The experienced medical editor has been writing magazine articles, news and factual texts on all conceivable health topics since 2001. In addition to her work for, Christiane Fux is also active in prose. Her first crime novel was published in 2012, and she also writes, designs and publishes her own crime plays.

More posts by Christiane Fux All content is checked by medical journalists.

Nutmeg is used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) against all sorts of niggles: from a bad stomach to flatulence, cramps and diarrhea to asthma, rheumatic complaints and toothache. Now it has been shown that a battered liver could also benefit from the spice.

Nutmeg extract buffers inflammation

Xiao-Nan Yang's researchers had caused acute liver inflammation in mice with the toxin thioacetamide. Animals that received a nutmeg extract with the active ingredient Myrislignan survived the poisoning better: The inflammatory reaction was less severe in them and the initially elevated liver values ​​normalized more quickly.

Anti-inflammatory gene activity

An analysis of the gene activity showed that the so-called peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα) played a key role. These receptors are mainly found in the liver. They regulate the blood lipid balance. However, their activation also has an anti-inflammatory effect.

In genetically modified mice that did not have PPARα, the nutmeg extract had no protective effect on the liver.

Caution, risk of poisoning!

However, you should not consume nutmeg in large quantities: Then the effect of the spice is reversed. From a dose of four grams it can cause liver damage, from around five grams hallucinations can occur. The myristicin contained is converted to amphetamine in the liver and thus has a similar effect to the illegal stimulant ecstasy (also an amphetamine). Consuming three whole nuts can even be fatal for adults.

Nutmeg activates the life energy

In traditional Chinese medicine, food is assigned to the five elements wood, fire, earth, metal and water. The nutmeg belongs to the element metal, which stands for a sharp taste. These foods are supposed to heat up and activate the life energy.

Tags:  Diseases elderly care medicinal herbal home remedies