# Nutmeg: Powerful Hallucenogen or Sickly Spice? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 8, 2002, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nutmeg-powerful-hallucenogen-or-sickly-spice/107947 "2002-05-08T19:07:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![PolskiKing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a5b964/32.png) [@PolskiKing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PolskiKing)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2002, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nutmeg-powerful-hallucenogen-or-sickly-spice/107947/1 "2002-05-08T19:07:55Z")
A few days ago, my cinnamon post got tottally hijacked by a buncha nutmeg junkies. But I think the nutmeg subject warrents its own post. Apparently, nutmeg has a very powerful effect on the body and mind. Reeder stated: > [@](#): > > Reeder — I experienced the most vivid hallucinations from nutmeg. Others said they just felt very sick. So my question is whats up with nutmeg? Is it really cause hallucenations or just somthing you get suckered into to feel sick. And to those adventuresome enough to try it, how much did you have to consume before seeing effects? -PK ---
**Author:** ![Undead\_Dude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e19adc/32.png) [@Undead\_Dude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Undead_Dude)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2002, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nutmeg-powerful-hallucenogen-or-sickly-spice/107947/2 "2002-05-08T19:17:23Z")
Yes, nutmeg contains a hallucinogenic drug called myristicin. I’ve known a few overly-adventurous types that tried it _once_. Doesn’t sound like much fun. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2002, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nutmeg-powerful-hallucenogen-or-sickly-spice/107947/3 "2002-05-08T19:28:06Z")
A quick Google search would have turned up plenty of information. Here’s [Erowid’s Nutmeg Vault](http://www.erowid.org/plants/nutmeg/nutmeg.shtml), which includes a [Nutmeg Factfile](http://www.erowid.org/plants/nutmeg/nutmeg_faq.shtml) and a [Nutmeg FAQ](http://www.erowid.org/psychoactives/faqs/natural_highs_faq.shtml#nutmeg). To make a long story short: yes, it has hallucinogenic properties, but with a _lot_ of unpleasant side-effects. Definitely not recommended. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2002, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nutmeg-powerful-hallucenogen-or-sickly-spice/107947/4 "2002-05-08T20:42:04Z")
I regret to say that I tried to obtain a nutmeg buzz when I was a callow teenager. Nausea, coupled with the sort of mild delerium you’d expect from a nasty flu. The next day I could barely move – my bones hurt, light hurt, everything hurt. Didn’t feel 100% for a few days. This was from two tablespoons (rounded) of commercially prepared ground nutmeg. Former B.C. Premiere Bill Vanderzalm has said (in the food section of the _Weekend Sun_) that his favourite breakfast was pancakes with whipped cream and lots of nutmeg, and that he usually ate the nutmeg off the top first, adding a little more, eating that, etc, several times before finally getting around to eating the pancakes. If you were around for B.C. politics in the eighties, you might be inclined to think there was _something_ to the idea that nutmeg could get you high. I don’t know if my nasty experience was from adulterants, or what-- I’ve heard people say “No, man, you gotta use _fresh_ nutmeg!” Whatever-- I’m just about as likely to soak my head in lye as try _that_ again. Ick. ---
**Author:** ![Encinitas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@Encinitas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Encinitas)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2002, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nutmeg-powerful-hallucenogen-or-sickly-spice/107947/5 "2002-05-08T21:02:51Z")
No no no…it’s the **Brandy** (you put in the egg nog with fresh ground nutmeg on top) that causes hallucenations. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2002, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nutmeg-powerful-hallucenogen-or-sickly-spice/107947/6 "2002-05-08T21:23:06Z")
I’ve heard that it’s better to use mace instead of nutmeg. Mace is the outer shell of nutmeg, and reportedly contains a different drug – elemicin instead of myristicin. Supposedly the side-effects are milder. The taste is just as nasty, though. A word of caution to those who feel they must experiment: the lethal dose of nutmeg is not much higher than the “recreational” dose. We’re talking about a few spoonfuls’ difference here. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2002, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nutmeg-powerful-hallucenogen-or-sickly-spice/107947/7 "2002-05-08T21:55:01Z")
Egg flan with goat cheese, spinach and nutmeg is better than any drug.