In low doses nutmeg produces no noticeable physiological or neurological response, but large doses cause symptoms and harm.
Nutmeg contains
myristicin, a weak
monoamine oxidase inhibitor. Myristicin poisoning can induce
convulsions,
palpitations, nausea, eventual
dehydration, and generalized body pain
[7]. It is also reputed to be a strong
deliriant.
[8]
Fatal myristicin poisonings in humans are very rare, but two have been reported, in an 8-year-old child
[9] and a 55-year-old adult, the latter case attributed to a combination with
flunitrazepam.
[10].
Myristicin poisoning is potentially deadly to some pets and livestock, and may be caused by culinary quantities of nutmeg harmless to humans. For this reason, for example, it is recommended not to feed
eggnog to dogs
[11].
[edit] Use as a recreational drug
Use of nutmeg as a recreational drug is unpopular due to its strong taste and its possible negative side effects, including dizziness, flushes, dry mouth, accelerated heartbeat, temporary constipation, difficulty in urination, nausea, and panic. In addition, experiences usually last well over 24 hours and sometimes in excess of 48 hours, making recreational use rather impractical.[
citation needed]
In his autobiography,
Malcolm X talks of
prison inmates consuming nutmeg powder, usually diluted in a glass of water, in order to become
inebriated. The prison guards eventually caught on to this practice and cracked down on nutmeg's use as a
psychoactive in the prison system. In
William Burrough's appendix of
Naked Lunch, he mentions nutmeg producing a similar experience to
marijuana, but causing nausea instead of relieving it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nutmeg
