Nutmegs
Risks and toxicity
In low doses, nutmeg produces no noticeable physiological or
neurological response. Large doses of 30 g (~6 teaspoons) or more
are dangerous, potentially inducing convulsions, palpitations,
nausea, eventual dehydration, and generalized body pain BMJ. In
amounts of 520 g (~1-4 teaspoons) it is a mild to medium
hallucinogen, producing visual distortions and a mild euphoria.
Nutmeg contains myristicin, a weak monoamine oxidase
inhibitor.
A test was carried out on the substance that showed that, when
ingested in large amounts, nutmeg takes on a similar chemical
make-up to MDMA (ecstasy). However, use of nutmeg as a recreational
drug is unpopular due to its unpleasant taste and its side effects,
including dizziness, flushes, dry mouth, accelerated heartbeat,
temporary constipation, difficulty in urination, nausea, and panic.
A user will not experience a peak until approximately six hours
after ingestion, and effects can linger for up to three days
afterwards.
A risk in any large-quantity (over 25 g, ~5 teaspoons) ingestion of
nutmeg is the onset of 'nutmeg poisoning', an acute psychiatric
disorder marked by thought disorder, a sense of impending doom/
death, and agitation. Some cases have resulted in
hospitalization.
Fatal doses in children are significantly lower, with approximately
15g being sufficient to cause one of only two recorded nutmeg
toxicity deaths, in an eight year old child.BMJ.
Nutmeg is an abortifacient, and as such any significant doses
should be avoided by pregnant women.
taken from:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nutmeg
