ARP 358 - Be Careful Using Nutmeg

Nutmeg has been around for centuries being used for good and for evil. The evil part comes in when traders who couldn't get their hands on the actual spice would make wooden balls out of anything and sell it . 

The TLDR is that you have to be careful with nutmeg. You can have it in small amounts. And I do mean small. A pinch, a dash or maybe just a quarter of a teaspoon. 

Anyway flimflam goes way back. And it does move forward. 

My email got flooded with news about nutmeg for anxiety symptoms and treatment. The truth is out there but with AI writing blog posts and SEO spamification it is getting harder to know if you reading accurate information.

So in this episode I want to present to you some information you can use if you come across an ad for a website stating this spice is a viable for anxiety symptoms. There is no medical proof that it does but that won't stop a lot of people from trying it.


If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 741-741.

Resources Mentioned: 

Mosby's Book on Herbs and Natural Supplements by Linda Skidmore-Roth. Check your local library or if you want to purchase, visit your online book vendor.  There is an e-book version available.

There is a page on Drugs.com about Nutmeg.

Abstract from Encyclopedia of Toxicology (Third Edition) 2014, Pages 630-631

National Capital Poison Control Center Kitchen Surprises and Cautions

A 2020 Toxicology Question of the Week Nutmeg, a Potentially Uninvited Holiday Guest?

Disclaimer: 

Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements. 

Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder.

This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

ARP 357 - Mindfulness vs Meditation

There are times when you just have to keep putting one foot in front of the other. You will get to a destination. Hopefully the one that you intended to get to. 

In this episode I wanted to help make clear the difference between mindfulness and the practice/tool/application of meditation.

I have to be honest, it isn't for everybody. There are people that have weaponized the terms. Or feel that it isn't strong enough for what they are going through. 

Or they don't have time to sit and breathe. They have real life problems and asking them to take an hour to take care of themselves it a bit much.

I understand. 

I would submit that you have to be ready to do this. I think there can be great benefits in reducing symptoms. I do think it should be in your anxiety tool kit.

But only if you are ready to take it on. 


If you need support contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 741-741.

Resources Mentioned: 

Image Comics page on the trade paperback on A Haunted Girl, you can get a sense of the graphic novel and if you want to dip your toes into both horror and depression. 

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention has an interview with the creators of the book and how it relates to the organization. 

From Mindful.org a 25-page Guide to Mindfulness pdf with suggestions on how to get started. 

App

Insight Timer contains a lot of different meditation content from a variety of creators. It also has sleep modules and breathing practices. It is available on Android and iOS.

Audio/Podcast

Steven Webb's Inner Peace Meditations podcast with episodes specific to anxiety relief. 

Books

Detox Your Thoughts by Andrea Bonior, PhD on how you can handle mind chatter and stay in the present moment. 

ADAA self help book on Anxiety and Depression Association of America Patient Guide to Mood and Anxiety Disorders 

Video

There are multiple mediations on YouTube. I'm focusing on those that specific have anxiety or related conditions as their focus.

Dr. Andrew Huberman talking about Physiological Sigh type of breathing. This is a segment of a video from the Tim Ferris podcast. 

Then from Stanford University, there is Cyclic sighing where in 90 seconds you can get a bit of relief. This video discusses the reasons and the technique at 1:21 minutes into the video. 

Disclaimer: 

Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements. 

Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder.

This blog and podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing in this program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.