Recently, I was doing a Google search for an Analytical Chemistry article on chromatographic separation when I came across one article that was about the separation of the constituents in nutmeg. One reference led me to the other until I finally stumbled upon one material that I found the most exciting. By this time I had accidentally left the chemistry journal website and browsing through diverse materials; some were good ones and some junk, such as, get one-month prescription of this and that for free, pay only shipping, and things like that.
Let me give you a brief description of nutmeg before I uncover the strange discovery I stumbled upon.
Nutmeg is the dried kernel of the seeds of an evergreen tree with strong aroma and a (slightly) bitter taste. It was used in the preparations of various medicines in ancient times. Even today it is used widely in pharmaceutical preparations. The oil extracted from the herb is used in liniments, perfumes, hair lotions and as an antispasmodic. It has applications in managing digestive disorders, insomnia, dehydration, skin disorders and common cold.
But the strange use of nutmeg that I came across which interests my scientific curiosity the most is the use as sex-stimulating spice for women who have either lost their passion or could do with a little help. And the exciting this about this secret is that it is the women of Zanzibar, Africa who hold the patent to this life changing magic pill for women.
This material that I landed upon was about STONE TOWN in Zanzibar. According to the material even if there were women Viagra on the market, the women of Stone Town would have nothing to with it because nutmeg plays the exact role in their lives. Again, in Zanzibar, women attending funerals, weddings and other social functions have no regard for alcohol because they do not need it to let go their inhibition. Their new secret is nutmeg mixed with porridge early in the morning before leaving for the occasion.
There are certain things every woman must have in her purse: A pocket mirror, a pen, a notepad, Aspirin (ibuprofen), lip gloss/ chap-stick, cell phone and the usual feminine products. In Stone Town, a woman attending a wedding or funeral doesn’t care about any of the above-mentioned products. The one thing she must have in her purse is nutmeg.
Stone Town is predominantly an Islamic community (95% Moslems). Alcohol is strongly prohibited by Islam. Nutmeg is not. These women, by the gift of nature, use the nutmeg to fill a big gap that the prohibition of alcohol leaves in their lives.
There’s Viagra for men but women Viagra is not an everyday prescription yet. The price of nutmeg fluctuates around four dollars per pound. For the average woman, this can sustain her for a couple of days. If the women of Zanzibar can improvise with the ‘magic substance’, it shouldn’t be an Apollo IX scale project for scientist to find something for women.
The only disadvantage mentioned is strong taste of nutmeg, which may make it difficult to consume enough of it to get the desired result. Of course, if the active ingredient is extracted, then only milligrams may be needed to get the ‘high’. Even with the current crude form of the material, the sources say a woman needs no more than two nutmegs to “make her eyes soft,”
I’ve been looking for peer-reviewed scientific articles to substantiate the claims of the women of Zanzibar. I’ve hence come across an experimental study by researchers at the Aligarh Muslim University in India. The team found that nutmeg significantly increased sexual activity of rats. This was established by observing an increase in their “mounting frequency, intromission frequency, intromission latency,” as well as erections, quick flips, long flips and the aggregate of penile reflexes with penile stimulation.”
I’m afraid the women of Zanzibar may be holding the patent to a life-changing substance for women, sex enhancing spice. I am employed at the moment and work in somebody’s laboratory so I can not have the luxury to investigate this for myself experimentally to establish the scientific basics for the nutmeg’ sex boosting power. But when I retire and set up my own laboratory, needless to say, research into nutmegs and other country medicines will be a top priority for me.[ad#justluxe_125x125redtag][ad#Adsense-200by200sq]
but i’m surprised that the experiment in the journal you mentioned was done on male rats? So it means nutmeg actually works in both men and women? is that correct? I’m gonna try it anyway, at 56, I think I can do with a little help
Leticia, may I know why you will not try the nutmeg thing? I think because it’s from Africa? You see, dat’s our problem, we don’t trust our on things.
Das exciting!!!! and encouraging. We need to get into most of these spices that our old ladies use. KAM I think extraction should be made to confirm the active ingredients. I promise to work wif u in your private lab
This is really cool finding, though I must say that I’m not going to try it any time soon.
really really weird stuff under the sun. But I I don’t thikn we need we see this as just fun, for all you know there is real power in this nutmeg stuff and scientist need to give it a look.
My problem is that after publishing this here, some greedy pharmaceitucal company will just come out with some pills made of just nutmeg and start mixed togather and then make billions of dollars from it.
Interesting. But not really surprise. lot of herbs and plants and africa have medicinal properties. We just know how to get the medicine out
Thanks KAM, that is a great exploratory article. Scientists should take up the challenge. But again,that is the wonder of nature, always bringing something new to our knowledge.