Nutmeg (Roudoukou)

Pharmaceutical Name : Semen Myristicae

Botanical Name : Myristica fragrans Houtt.

Common Name : Nutmeg

Source of Earliest Record : Yaoxing Lun

Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations : The seeds are removed from the ripe fruit and dried in the sun.

Properties & Taste : Pungent and warm

Meridians : Spleen, stomach and large intestine

Functions :
1. To warm the spleen and stomach and promote circulation of qi;
2. To astringe the intestines and stop diarrhea

Indications & Combinations:
1. Chronic diarrhea. Nutmeg (Roudoukou) is used with Chebula fruit (Hezi), White atractylodes (Baizhu) and Pilose asiabell root (Dangshen).

2. Qi stagnation due to deficiency and cold in the spleen and stomach manifested as epigastric and abdominal pain, vomiting and nausea. Nutmeg (Roudoukou) is used with Costus root (Muxiang), Fresh ginger (Shengjiang) and Pinellia tuber (Banxia).

Dosage: 3-10 g (1.5-3 g for pills or powder form)

Cautions & Contraindications: This herb is contraindicated in cases with damp-heat diarrhea or dysentery.