jatiphala

Jatiphala or Jaiphal (Myristica fragrans) is a small aromatic evergreen tree growing up to a height of 5-13m. Jatiphala is an egg-shaped seed from Myristica fragrans fruit.

The leaves of Jaiphal Plant are smooth dark green whose upper surface is shiny. They are about 7.5-8.8 cm long and alternately arranged.

Jaiphal flowers are small pale yellow in color and are usually single sexed.

Jaiphal fruit are small scented smooth and oval, shaped. They are brownish lustrous in color. It is having hard covering which encloses mace, the outer covering on the nutmeg seed (Jaiphal). When the fruit get ripened, it get bifurcated and reddish dried lacy covering of nutmeg is exposed. The orange-yellow papery material the one that separates from the seed on drying is called Mace (Javitri in Hindi).

Classification

Habitat

Jaiphal plant is actually native to the Banda Islands of Indonesia. It is also cultivated in Grenada, India, Malaysia, West Indies and Sri Lanka. More than 72 species of the tree grows in India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and North Eastern Australia. It is found distributed in India, in Madras State (Nilgiris, Coimbatore, and Salem, Ramanathapuram, Tirunelveli, Kanyakumari and Madurai districts). Some Jaiphal trees are also found in various localities like in Kerala, Assam and other States.

Vernacular Names

• Hindi– Jaiphal
• Sanskrit– Jatiphala, Jatiphalam, Jatikosha, Jatipatri, Jatipatra, Jaiphal, Jayapatri, Javitri
• English– Nutmeg
• Punjabi– Jaiphal
• Urdu– Jauzbuwa, Jaiphal
• Assamese– Jaiphal, Kanivish
• Telugu– Jaji Kaya
• Tamil– Jatikkai, Sathiccupi, Jadhikai, Jadhiccupi.
• Bengali  – Jaiphal & Javitri
• Kannada– Jaikai
• Malayalam– Jathikai
• Marathi and Gujarati– Jaipal
• Arabic– Jeeyansibe

Jatiphala Ayurvedic Properties

Effects on Doshas

Jaitphala balances Kapha and Vata Dosha.

Practical Uses of Myristica fragrans

Jatiphala is richly filled with medicinal properties that makes it to be useful herb and some of its properties are aphrodisiac, abortifacient, analgesic, expectorant, antibacterial, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, aarminative, digestive, emmenagogue, hypocholesterolemic, hallucinogen, narcotic and stimulant.

• Jaiphal is useful in Stimulating sexual desire.
• It can induce abortion.
• It has quality to Relieve pain.
• Also an active agent against bacteria.
• Jatiphala is also used against to arrest or prevent cancer
• It has anti-inflammatory action and can reduce inflammation on body
• It has Preventing action in the formation or causing the expulsion of flatulence and thus acts as a good digestive.
• This herb encourages the secretion of sputum by the air passages which helps in the treatment of cough.
• Also a good herbal agent that can stimulate or increase menstrual flow.
• A useful herb that can lower levels of cholesterol in the blood
• It can relieve pain within medicinal dose by reducing the senses, and induces profound sleep
• The essential oil derived from Mace is considered to be a potent brain booster. It enhances the concentration and relieves stress.
• Mace is an outstanding liver tonic.
• It has property to dissolve kidney stones and prevents infection.
• Jaiphal herb is also advantageous for the heart as it stimulates blood circulation.
• Mace’s anti-inflammatory properties are useful in treating joint and muscle aches.

Parts Used

Dosage

• Dose of Nutmeg powder (Jatiphala) is 500 mg to 1 gram.
• Dose of Mace (Javitri) is 250 mg to 1 gram.