According to Ainslie [ 7 ] , Vol. I, though, the Arabs were using nutmeg almost solely as a hepatic and tonic by the 19th century. Oddly enough, physicians of the Near East took little notice of mace until the early s when they began to prescribe it as an aphrodisiac and carminative [ 1 ].
At the present time, nutmeg is still important in this part of the world. A pharmacologist at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem writes [ 8 ] :. It is used against vomiting and to regulate the movements of the bowels; it is good for the liver and for the spleen. It is used in the treatment of tuberculosis, against colds, fever, and, in general, respiratory ailments.
It is said to be an antihelminthic and is used for that purpose. It is used against skin diseases like eczema and scabies. It is said to be effective for removing blotches from the face. To increase potentia virilis it is pounded well and added to various foods. Frequent references in the Vedas to nutmeg indicate that the ancient Hindus knew of the spice from early times. They described it as warmth-producing, stimulating, and good for digestion and also used it in their medicinal preparations.
Martius [ 9 ] said that Hindu physicians prescribed it for headache, nerve fevers, cold fevers, foul breath, and intestinal weakness. In his Materia Indica of , Ainslie [ 7, Vol. I ] wrote that nutmeg "is considered by the natives of India as one of their most valuable medicines Burkill, in , stressed [ 11, Vol. II ] nutmeg's importance in Indian tonics for dysentery.
According to an adviser in the Indian Ministry of Health, nutmeg is still used medicinally in India [ 12 ] :. In view of its reaction resembling opium, it is used to give relief in the cough and hemoptysis of tuberculosis. In traditional Indian folk and domestic medicine, nutmeg is used in small quantities to induce hypnotic effect in irritable children.
It is also administered as an hypnotic and sedative in epileptic convulsions. Medieval European physicians followed exactly the precepts of Arabian medicine. Consequently, they called nutmeg a warm, dry drug and recommended it for all the maladies listed earlier.
Warburg wrote [ 1 ] :. Nutmeg gradually became a genuine folk remedy, although it was most important as a major ingredient in medicines prepared according to guild rules. During the 16th and 17th centuries, Western physicians compiled the writings of earlier authorities on nutmeg. This was the great period of the herbalists, and nearly every herbal contained a summary of nutmeg's virtues [ 13 ].
Doctors continued for some time to prescribe Myristica for intestinal illnesses, but by they realized that any of its effects were the same as those of other aromatics. Then, as modern pharmacy developed, older remedies, nutmeg among them, were relegated to positions of lower and lower priority. In summarizing the medicinal uses of the spice in , Warburg wrote [ 1 ] :. Nutmeg is now used as a stomachic, stimulant, and carminative, especially in.
There is an important omission in the above catalogue of nutmeg uses: sometime later in its history-perhaps as late as the 19th century - - nutmeg became known as an emmenagogue and abortifacient. This use has persisted among women into the present century; in fact, Green 14 in reported the case of year-old Virginia woman who ate " Some of the older uses of the drug may also be alive in contemporary European and American folk beliefs: McCord [ 15 ] , for example, cited a incident in which a year-old South Carolina man, on the advice of a friend, took two whole nutmegs to relieve a skin infection.
Myristica remained official in the United States Pharmacopeia through U. XIII Myristica oil was kept on for several more editions, principally as a flavouring agent, but was finally dropped from U. XVII The relevance of medicinal uses of nutmeg to the present discussion of nutmeg as a narcotic is that the toxic properties of Myristica must first have been noticed when patients accidentally took overdoses.
Several European physicians of the 16th and 17th centuries described the symptoms of nutmeg poisoning, and many later references to the toxicity of Myristica are traceable to these early observations. In modern writings, the evidence of early commentators is often reduced to the sort of statement that appears in The Wealth of India with no amplification [ 16 ] "Excessive doses of nutmeg have a narcotic effect; symptoms of delirium and epileptic convulsions appear after hours.
There is so much anecdotal material that, considered in its entirety, it makes an impressive case. With one notable exception, poisoning by mace is not reported in the literature. Watson, in , published a dramatic account of mace intoxication, characterized chiefly by bizarre alterations of consciousness and hallucinations. Symptoms persisted for three days and, again, resembled those caused by Cannabis [ 17 ]. Wide use of Myristica as a remedy in the Far East would lead one to expect numerous cases of poisoning in that part of the world, but, oddly, no reports on any such mishaps are to be found, and it is not possible to trace to its source the inadequate statement in the.
In the quantity of two or three drams 7. Intoxication following the use of nutmeg as an emmenagogue or abortifacient. By far the greatest numbers of people poisoned by nutmeg have been women - mostly English and American women of the late 19th and early 20th centuries - who took the spice to bring on menstruation or induce abortion.
A great many of these cases appeared in the scientific literature of the period, particularly in British medical journals. Commenting on them in , McCord observed [ 15 ] :.
Even in this instance, the role of nutmeg was open to question since the abortion followed the ingestion by a period of a month. There are many other reports [ 19 ] , and summarizing all these data, McCord [ 15 ] attributed the poisoning symptoms to " a central nervous system depressive effect with periods of stimulation and associated respiratory and cardiovascular difficulties.
Occasional case reports have suggested a possible hypersensitivity reaction as illustrated by the presence of facial and periorbital edema with flushing. When children accidentally eat large amounts of nutmeg, serious intoxications occur.
The only fatality ever attributed to the spice occurred when an eight-yearold boy ate two whole nutmegs, became comatose, and died less than 24 hours later [ 20 ].
The apparent "epidemic" of nutmeg poisoning around the turn of the century subsided after the First World War. Cases since then have been rare. Green's report [ 14 ] on a year-old woman, who attempted to bring on menstruation with Ample evidence is available on the toxic effects of nutmeg and mace. A puzzling feature of this evidence is its inconsistency; there seems to be no agreement on what symptoms characterize the intoxication or on what doses produce it.
The first pharmacological experiments on nutmeg were performed by van Leeuwenhoek, the Dutch microscopist, around If a child suddenly becomes withdrawn or segregates himself from the group, Lopez said these behavioral problems deserve attention. If you or someone you know has poison or drug concerns, call the Poison Control Center telephone number at to connect to your local poison center. People can remain anonymous when walking into the center, calling or doing a live chat.
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Myristica fragrans is an evergreen tree that can grow up to 20 meters high. Manufacturers harvest the seed of the Myristica fragrans and then dry it before using it to create the spice nutmeg. Nutmeg smells pungent and has a warm and slightly sweet taste. Keep reading to learn more about the nutmeg high, including the symptoms, how it feels, and what causes it. People use nutmeg when preparing and cooking food, often choosing to flavor the following foods with it:.
People all over the world have used nutmeg in cooking, and it has also played a role in traditional remedies.
In Asia, it has served as a traditional medicine for treating stomach cramps, diarrhea , and rheumatism. Researchers have also reported that nutmeg can have antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, as well as effects on the central nervous system.
They have, however, noted that nutmeg intoxication can cause serious symptoms and side effects. The more serious symptoms usually occur after a person has consumed a larger amount of nutmeg or combined it with other harmful substances.
Myristicin is the chemical compound in nutmeg that causes nutmeg intoxication. It also occurs naturally in the essential oils present in certain plants, including parsley and dill. When a person consumes myristicin, the body metabolizes it, forming 3-methoxy-4,5 methylenedioxyamphetamine MMDA. People with nutmeg intoxication experience a variety of symptoms, including drowsiness and hallucinations. There is, however, only a small amount of research on nutmeg intoxication.
One study looked at cases of nutmeg poisoning at the Illinois Poison Center. The researchers reviewed the literature over a year period and looked at 32 documented cases. 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.
Injecting a drug directly into a vein is the fastest and inhalation is often considered the second fastest. The slowest method of delivery for a drug or compound is through ingesting the substance orally. Because of this, the dangers of myristicin consumption become that much more likely for those who choose to use alternate methods of delivery, such as inhaling or injecting.
As with any toxic substance, the risks almost always outweigh the benefits. Before you consider using nutmeg as a recreational substance to get high, understand that there are serious risks associated with myristicin toxicity, including organ failure and even death. For those looking to avoid unintentional nutmeg overdose, consider that cooking with nutmeg in small amounts is safe.
So, feel free to enjoy that cup of eggnog or slice of spiced cake — in moderation, of course. When it comes to nutrition, more is not always better. Here are 8 foods that are incredibly healthy, but can cause severe harm if eaten in excess.
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