NUTMEG.
Introduction
(Nux moschata-nutmeg, literally musked (scented) nut.)Why the use of this aromatic nut, in the kitchen, should be confined to the flavoring of milky and farinaceous preparations, I do not know. Ask your wife.
Nux moschata was first proved by Dr. Helbig, of Germany.
Symptoms
It is a soporific, characterized by marked tendency to attacks of syncope, with cardiac failure, cold extremities (71) and extreme dryness of the skin and mucous membranes.
In general the skin is cold and dry, the patient never perspires (186) and this dryness often extends to the mucous membranes, without thirst, and there is sensitiveness to cold (5), moist air (9).
They faint readily in Nux moschata (80) either from any mental excitement or pain, or when the menses are suppressed from any cause (135), including pregnancy.
They laugh readily from all slight causes, get hysterical, the abdomen becomes enormously distended with gas (13), they get short of breath (25) and then faint.
There is a nervous aphonia (117), with apparent constriction of the vocal cords, also aphonia from walking against the wind.
Nux moschata has a headache, with a feeling of looseness of the brain (91) on moving the head or on walking and a congestive headache associated with menstruation (95) or due to a disordered stomach (97).
It is frequently indicated during pregnancy, not only for hysterical conditions with recurrent attacks of fainting, but also for the toothache (188) and the nausea and vomiting (153).
We find indigestion, with sensation as if the food lay in hard lumps (179) in the stomach, with great distention of the stomach and abdomen, appearing even while eating (177) and due especially to anger (177) or unpleasant emotion, everything she eats seems to be converted into gas (177) This is apt to be followed by profuse, yellow, and undigested stools (60) of putrid odor (59). The movements are followed by faintness (58) or drowsiness.
Nux moschata retards and suppresses menstruation, rendering the flow thick and dark.
It is useful in suppression of the menses (135) from mental excitement or “getting wet” (Minton), with drowsiness, faintness and cold extremities. It is of value for obstinate uterine haemorrhage, especially when associated with delayed menstruation, the flow thick and dark (136), with repeated fainting.
Nux moschata is one of the remedies to be thought of for vaginal flatulence (205). I use Nux moschata 1st.
