Nutmeg
Pronunciation:NUT-mehg
Chemical Abstracts Service Registry Number:84082-68-8
Formal Names:Mace,Myristica fragrans
Type:Hallucinogen.Seepage 25
Federal Schedule Listing:Unlisted
USA Availability:Nonprescription (food)
Pregnancy Category:None
Uses.Nutmeg is a familiar spice, but when used in larger amounts, it can
act as a drug. Nutmeg originated in the Spice Islands of Indonesia. It is a seed
coming from an evergreen tree that can reach 45 feet in height. Folk medicine
uses nutmeg for treating insomnia, mouth sores, stomach inflammation, gas,
diarrhea, and vomiting. Animal research verifies the antiinsomnia and anti-
diarrhea properties; they have been observed among humans undergoing for-
mal medical care, and recreational users mention sleep-inducing action. The
substance is also used as an aphrodisiac, and laboratory tests show that it kills
headlice. Nutmeg may be able to help improve dysentery, infections, and
rheumatism. In rabbit experiments, nutmeg lowered cholesterol levels and
aided in coughing up mucus. Nutmeg, like many other spices, has antimicro-
bial actions that appear to retard spoilage of unrefrigerated food.
Nutmeg can produce false positives formarijuanain a field test that law
enforcement officers have used to identify an unknown substance, but of
course more sophisticated laboratory examination can correct such an error.
Drawbacks.A nutmeg dose sufficient to produce hallucinations is also suf-
ficient to produce headache, thirst, nausea, constipation, rapid heartbeat, diz-
ziness, and a miserable hangover. Muscular discoordination can be severe
enough to mimic multiple sclerosis. Research on cats produced liver destruc-
tion. All these results are from dosage quantities much higher than the small
amounts used for spicing foods.
Abuse factors.Nutmeg is not considered addictive, although a case report
notes a patient hospitalized for nutmeg poisoning, who craved the substance
so much that he had a supply smuggled to him during his hospital stay. The
report said he was never able to go beyond two weeks without nutmeg.
Some researchers are skeptical that nutmeg possesses hallucinogenic qual-
ities, but for centuries numerous users have said otherwise. Betel chewers