This is Frontier’s double wall silverfoil pack. Some Frontier packs are double wall wax-lined paper.

Fragrant and tasty nutmeg is essential in any number of recipes. What would eggnog be without the nutmeg? It is mildly hallucinogenic, which may also contribute to the Christmas cheer.

Nutmeg is also used in perfumes and ointments.

The brown, wrinkled, apricot-like fruit contains a kernel which is covered by a bright red membrane. The membrane (arillus) provides the spice mace, and the kernel the spice nutmeg.

Traditional Middle Eastern, Indian and North African spice mixtures, used for everything from meats to pastries, such as baharat, garam masala and ras el hanout, often contain nutmeg.

In Holland, nutmeg is used for just about everything, literally from soup to nuts, and everything in between. French quatre épices ('four spices') contains nutmeg, ginger, white pepper and cloves. Allspice and cinnamon are sometimes added. Four spice mix finds its way into stews, ragouts, sausages and pastries. Jamaica's great jerk grilled meat seasoning often contains nutmeg.

In small quantities, nutmeg acts on the stomach to improve appetite and digestion. Nutmeg oil is sometimes used to dispel flatulence. It helps prevent gas and fermentation in the intestinal tract.

Grieve's classic 'A Modern Herbal': 'Both nutmeg and mace are used for flatulence and to correct the nausea arising from other drugs, also to allay nausea and vomiting. Nutmeg is an agreeable addition to drinks for convalescents.'

King's 1898 Dispensatory: 'Both nutmeg and mace possess aromatic stimulating properties, and are occasionally used to remove flatulency, correct the nausea arising from other drugs, and to allay nausea and vomiting. It may be used in gastrodynia and atonic diarrhoea. The nutmeg forms a very agreeable addition to various drinks for convalescents, as well as to some articles of diet; it is generally grated over them, or mixed with them.'

'Dose of nutmeg or mace, from 5 to 20 grains. Larger doses possess decided narcotic qualities, and in doses of 2 or 3 drachms, dangerous symptoms have been produced.'

Eclectic Materia Medica, 1922 (Felter): 'An aromatic stimulant and carminative in small doses; larger doses produce nervous sedation and are soporific...

Therapy: External. An ointment containing the finely powdered nut, or the volatile oil sometimes proves obtundant to painful piles. Grated upon a larded cloth and applied warm we have found it to give prompt and grateful relief in soreness of the chest attending an acute cold or the beginning of acute respiratory inflammation. It may also be used as a spice poultice to the abdomen in painful bowel affections from cold. A liniment of oil of nutmeg (1) and olive oil (3) is regarded by some as an efficient parasiticide for mild types of ringworm.

Internal: Both the powdered nut and the oil are good carminatives and may be used to allay nausea, vomiting, and gastric pain, and to check flatulent colic and serous diarrhea. The grated nut is in frequent domestic use to flavor foods for the sick, and it and the oil in prescription pharmacy to aromatize sleeping mixtures.'