Why nutmeg can get you high

This effect on the CNS is what eventually leads to side effects such as hallucinations, dizziness, nausea, and more. Research on nutmeg intoxication is sparse.

But there are a handful of studies and case reports on some of the dangerous side effects of consuming too much myristicin. In one case report , an year-old female complained of nausea, dizziness, heart palpitations, and dry mouth, among other symptoms. It was later revealed that she had consumed almost 50 grams g of nutmeg in the form of a milkshake roughly 30 minutes before her symptoms began. In a much more recent case study , a year-old female found herself experiencing the symptoms of myristicin intoxication after consuming only two teaspoons roughly 10 grams of nutmeg.

Her symptoms also included dizziness, confusion, grogginess, and an extremely dry mouth. In both case studies, the symptoms occurred within hours and lingered for roughly 10 hours. Both individuals were released after observation and made a full recovery. Although these cases seem rare, a review of the literature from the Illinois Poison Center over a year period revealed over 30 documented cases of nutmeg poisoning. An analysis of the data investigated both intentional and unintentional exposures, as well as drug interactions leading to toxicity.

The investigation revealed that almost 50 percent of the cases were intentional, with only 17 being unintentional exposures. The largest group of people who were unintentionally exposed to nutmeg intoxication were minors under the age of While nutmeg may seem like an easy way to experiment with getting high, myristicin is an incredibly potent and dangerous compound when taken in large amounts.

In addition to the short-term effects of nutmeg intoxication, there are much more dangerous risks of consuming too much of this spice. In some cases, toxic doses of myristicin have caused organ failure.

In other cases, nutmeg overdose has been linked to death when used in combination with other drugs. Small amounts of nutmeg can be used safely in cooking. These recipes are often split into multiple portions, leaving the actual exposure to nutmeg very insignificant.

According to the case studies from the Illinois Poison Center, even 10 grams approximately 2 teaspoons of nutmeg is enough to cause symptoms of toxicity. At doses of 50 grams or more, those symptoms become more severe.

Like any other drugs, the dangers of nutmeg overdose can occur no matter the method of delivery. Inhalation, or smoking, is one of the fastest methods of delivery. Despite the horrible hangover, some people were still willing to take it; the alleged French seer Nostradamus, for one, is said to have induced his prophetic visions by ingesting large amounts of nutmeg. Its hallucinogenic potency comes down to the effects of a volatile compound contained within its flesh.

Both nutmeg and mace contain myristicin, which can in turn be isolated to help produce stronger psychotropic drugs, like MMDA and its more popular, potentially therapeutic analog MDMA. They also contain the compound safrole, which is a known precursor to MDMA. About 30 minutes to an hour after taking large doses of nutmeg, people usually have severe gastrointestinal reactions, including nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

But that's just the beginning. Hours into the high, people can suffer from heart and nerve problems as well. One plus one can add up to nine really quickly. Visual, auditory or sensory hallucinations do not set in until hours after ingesting the spice, so there is also the worry that someone could overdose, thinking they haven't taken enough to feel anything.

Marcel Casavant, medical director of the Central Ohio Poison Center at Nationwide Children's Hospital, said that it is fairly common for teenagers to experiment with household products to get high. And the results can be devastating. Household goods, including nutmeg, magic markers and whipped cream cans can cause seizures, cardiac damage and even something called sudden sniffing death syndrome.

Casavant described the syndrome: "One minute, they're alive and abusing the product and in the next, they've dropped dead. According to the American Association of Poison Control Centers , so far there have been 67 cases of nutmeg exposure in To put the numbers in perspective, there have been nearly 5, marijuana phone calls counted by the AAPCC this year.

The AAPCC said the most common drugs treated by poison center are legal and illegal pharmaceuticals, including opioids and analgesic drugs.