Nutmeg and Cinnamon Biscuits (Energy or Nerve Biscuits)

Trochisci Myristicae cp.

Historical tradition – not medical advice, and no health or healing claims. more

Historical botanical drawing: Nutmeg — Nutmeg

Tradition (Hildegard's writings)

Known in Hildegard's cuisine as “nerve biscuits” and traditionally associated with the nerves and mental freshness.

Ingredients

Nutmeg powder, cinnamon, cloves, spelt flour, coconut butter, cane sugar, ground almonds, eggs and spice-biscuit powder.

Note

Ceylon cinnamon, with its low coumarin content, is preferred. According to Hildegard, the biscuits take “the bitterness from the heart” and settle the nerves.

Botanical background

Cinnamon, with its cinnamaldehyde, is credited with stimulating the brain; nutmeg is said to have calming properties that benefit the nervous system, and cloves antimicrobial ones. All three spices are traditionally held to lift the mood.

Sources & references

Strehlow, Wighard: Die Hildegard-Naturapotheke. Heilmittel und Rezepte von A bis Z. Knaur Verlag 2014. S. 195.
Strehlow, Wighard: Der Hildegard-Kompass. Die wichtigsten Heilmittel und Anwendungen. Knaur Verlag 2014. S. 88.
Hildegard von Bingen: Heilsame Schöpfung. Die natürliche Wirkkraft der Dinge (Physica). Hrsg. von der Abtei St. Hildegard, Eibingen. Beuroner Kunstverlag 2012 (4. Auflage 2024). Cap. 1-21 (Muskatnuß).
Heepen, Günther H.: Das Heilwissen der Hildegard von Bingen. Gräfe und Unzer Verlag 2015. S. 90.

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Historical tradition. The above describes how this preparation was recorded and used in the tradition of Hildegard of Bingen. This is cultural-historical information, not medical advice and not a health or healing claim, and it is no substitute for advice from a doctor or pharmacist. If you have health complaints, please consult your doctor or pharmacy.

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