Jatiphala (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 this plant are smooth dark green whose upper surface is shiny. They are about 7.5-8.8 cm long and alternately arranged.
The flowers are small pale yellow in color and are usually single sexed.
The fruit of this plant 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).
Jatiphala or Jaiphal is commonly called Nutmeg and is found to have various health benefits and it is a significant herb in Ayurveda. It is aromatic spreading plant and is a source of many oils, proteins, starch, minerals and resins. It is digestive, appetizer, aromatic and astringent. Ayurveda attributes various other efficacies to it like anti-inflammatory, anti-diarrheal, analgesic and kamottejak and shukrastambhak (sex-stimulant and averting premature ejaculation).
The principal constituents of jatiphala are a fixed oil, volatile oil 3% containing d- pinene, myristin, myristic acid and its ester, myristicin, fatty acids etc. Jatiphala has as element called mesin. It also comprises volatile oil, dehydrodisoeugenol, licarin – B and 3 more neolignans in the aril.
Camphene, engenol, isoeugenol, elemicin, limonene, myristicin, and pinenes, safrole, terpineol and terpine – obtained from oil.
This herb 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, Salem, Ramanathapuram, Tirunelveli, Kanyakumari and Madurai districts). Some trees are also found in various localities like in Kerala, Assam and other States.
Hindi / Sanskrit |
English |
|||
Rasa |
Tikta, Katu |
Taste |
Bitter, Pungent |
|
Guna |
Laghu, Teekshna |
Physical Property |
Light, Strong |
|
Virya |
Ushna |
Potency |
Hot |
|
Vipaka |
Katu |
Metabolic Property (After Digestion) |
Pungent |
It balances Kapha and Vata Dosha.
The Bhavprakash nighantu Twenty Eighth edition of 2010: verse 54-55, page no. 216-218.
The name and properties of Jaiphal are Jatiphala, Jatikosh and Malatiphala are its Sanskrit name. It is bitter in taste, piercing, and light and hot in potency. It promotes digestive fire. It treats Anorexia and is also a voice promoter. It manages Kapha and Vata Diseases, tastelessness of tongue, smelling feces, worm infestations, cough, vomiting, sinusitis and Heart Diseases.
The Bhavprakash nighantu with elaborated Hindi commentary by Padmashri prof. K.C.Chunekar, edited by Dr. G.S.Pandey: Twenty Eighth edition of 1998; verse 54-55, page no. 216-218.
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.