Nutmeg Essay

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The toxicity of the ingredients is ironic due to the fact that these ingredients would result in either additional health problems or death. There is no point in looking beautiful if one is dead. Some recipes even required the ingestion of the cosmetic causing internal health problems that reflect in the outer appearance of the body. For example, arsenic poisoning can lead to the darkening, discoloration, redness, swelling, and bumps on the skin. Consequently, an endless cycle develops with a woman applying additional toxic cosmetics to improve the appearance of oneself due to the increased health problems. On the other hand, for the male physicians reading this text it would be profitable for them to have additional patients that they can …show more content…

After I did some research, I discovered that cloves are flower buds that are on Indonesian evergreen trees. Cloves are used in “toothpaste, soaps, cosmetics, perfumes, and cigarettes.” The cloves are specifically used in hair care as cloves can “refresh worn out color, prevent hair loss and thicken the hair. In the case of nutmeg, it is a fruit that contains one seed that also comes from Indonesia. Nutmeg is used to make the hair grow faster and to give it some shine. Furthermore, hair is less inclined to fall out when nutmeg is used because nutmeg “increases blood circulation in the scalp and helps hair growth. It is vital to be provided with this information in order for the woman to be able to find the exact ingredient she needs and what properties it should possess. Arab traders brought these ingredients to Europe. Socioeconomic status played a role in the accessibility of these ingredients for …show more content…

Different amounts and combinations of ingredients produce various results with different abilities. Some recipes did indicate that a spoonful was needed, but it did not indicate whether it was a table or teaspoon. However, this recipe did not indicate the amount of cloves and nutmeg needed to produce pleasant-smelling hair. As a consequence, I was unsure how many cloves and nutmeg to use, but I decided to crush one clove and one nutmeg due to the fact that it would make a thin layer of spices. This thin layer would be easily applied to my veil without making it obvious I had spices on the veil. The recipe dictates that to “take care that it is not seen by anyone”. The fact that the recipe emphasizes hiding one’s actions while doing this recipe goes back to the purpose of writing the Trotula which allowed male physicians to analyze “women’s secrets”. In addition, the recipe does not specify how the veil should be tied. However, this is probably due to the fact that there was not a standard for the veils. So, I decided to tie my veil the way I normally do on a daily

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