Do You Know About the Narcotic Effects of Nutmeg?

By Ibo Nagano, Entheogen Review. Posted June 5, 2009.

Nutmeg has historically been used in Egypt as a surrogate for hashish. It has also been used in India, either chewed, or snuffed with tobacco, or added to betel chew, but little information is available on these practices (Schultes & Hofmann 1992).

Nutmeg was introduced first as a spice into Europe, and later as a medicine. The Europeans remained ignorant of the inebriating properties of this most popular of spices for several centuries.

The first nutmeg inebriation on record was reported in 1576 when a pregnant English woman became delirious after eating between ten and twelve nutmegs (Stein et al. 2001). Had it not been for the rumors of nutmeg's efficaciousness as an abortifacient, the psychoactive properties of nutmeg may have remained unknown for a long time. Occasional case notes of nutmeg poisoning were published subsequently, but nutmeg's inebriating qualities remained largely obscure and unexplored.

In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, nutmeg again became popular as an abortifacient. The tales of nutmeg poisoning increased, and many more case studies were reported. This helped to paint a clearer picture of the actions and effects of nutmeg. It is not certain how nutmeg came to be a recreational drug, but it appears to have its origins in the early twentieth century when its use emerged in United States' prisons as an alternative to marijuana and other illicit substances. Some authors suggest that use of nutmeg as a narcotic didn't emerge until after World War II. However, the report by Malcolm X that there was a nutmeg culture at Charlestown State Prison in 1946 suggests that prisoners had already been keen to the properties of nutmeg for some time. Malcolm X described his experiences with nutmeg in his autobiography, published in 1965:

I first got high in Charlestown on nutmeg. My cellmate was among at least a hundred nutmeg men who, for money or cigarettes, bought from kitchen worker inmates penny matchboxes full of stolen nutmeg. I grabbed a box as though it were a pound of heavy drugs. Stirred into a glass of cold water, a penny matchbox full of nutmeg had the kick of three or four reefers (Haley 1965).

Malcolm X's autobiography sparked interest in nutmeg's narcotic properties within the counter-culture--interest that has carried through to the present day. The use of nutmeg in prisons eventually became so widespread that nutmeg was ultimately removed from prison kitchens.

The fact that nutmeg was cheap and legal made the narcotic popular among prisoners, seamen, soldiers, and struggling musicians. Jazz saxophonist Charlie Parker reportedly knew about the narcotic properties of nutmeg, and would take the ground spice in Coca-Cola or milk (Rudgley 1998).

While many have experimented with nutmeg since the 1960s, it remains viewed as a second-class drug, deserving of little attention.

EFFECTS OF NUTMEG

Physiological effects include dry mouth, nausea, tachycardia, cutaneous flushing, paresthesia, hypotension, euphoria, detachment, CNS excitation, hallucinations, and dyspnea. Nutmeg does not cause any obvious effect on pupil size.

Nutmeg is perhaps best described as a deliriant. In low doses nutmeg inebriation shares characteristics of the combination of alcohol and marijuana. In higher doses the effects are more similar to those of the tropane alkaloids, causing confusion, disorientation, and hallucinations. The effects of nutmeg come on and dissipate in waves. One moment there may be a feeling of inebriation, while the next moment the feeling has passed. As the effects subside, the veil between ordinary and non-ordinary reality remains thin, allowing the user some control to switch back and forth between states of consciousness.

One reason why the effects of nutmeg remain mysterious to so many is that nutmeg inebriation follows a unique time-line. This is also the cause of much animosity towards nutmeg. People approach nutmeg expecting effects to come on within an hour as they do with traditional psychedelics like psilocybin-containing mushrooms or LSD. When it does not, people--believing they have not taken enough--will increase their dose and inadvertently become much more inebriated than planned. To best describe the effects of nutmeg inebriation, and to avoid mishaps, I have broken them down into stages and summarized the effects that one might experience during each phase of inebriation.

THRESHOLD STAGE (hours 1-4): The major effects of nutmeg generally do not take effect until the fourth hour after ingestion. However, nutmeg produces subtle effects within the first hour, and the effects rise in waves over the next three hours until inebriation takes hold. These effects are often written off as placebo due to their mild nature, but the changes are noticeably distinct. Generally these threshold effects are experienced as a combination of feeling energetic and yet markedly relaxed at the same time. One may perceive changes in pressure in the head, changes which are usually interpreted as either light-headedness or the beginnings of a headache. The effects experienced in this stage are otherwise similar to those caused by a pint or two of good beer, depending on dosage.

INITIAL INEBRIATION (hours 4-8): The truly inebriating properties of nutmeg generally take hold within the fourth or fifth hour following consumption. By this time cotton mouth has set in and the eyes have become bloodshot. The inebriation takes on a strong alcohol/marijuana-like buzz, which continues to rise in waves, and concentration becomes difficult. The senses become enhanced and hilarity tends to set in. This is followed by the onset of closed-eye visuals, time distortion, and the beginnings of slurred speech. Reality may take on a dream-like nature during this stage.

PEAK INEBRIATION (hours 8-12): The peak generally sets in around the eighth or ninth hour following ingestion and usually continues for three or four hours. At this point the user may experience auditory hallucinations, closed-eye visuals and possibly mild open-eye visuals, including walls breathing and disturbances in the peripheral vision. The user's speech may become slurred and he or she may experience loss of coordination similar to drunkenness.

END OF PEAK (hours 13-18): Around the thirteenth hour it usually becomes apparent that the peak is over and the user might feel a slight letting up in the effects. The effects decrease slowly, and usually do so in waves, much like the onset.

RESIDUAL INEBRIATION (hours 19-25): By hour nineteen the main inebriating effects of nutmeg have generally worn off. The user will probably still feel moderately stoned for the next seven or eight hours. Some report feeling weak and tired by this point in the trip. Those who sleep during this stage may find their dreams to be exceptionally vivid and easy to recall upon waking. Hangover effects may set in for those who forget to remain hydrated.

FINAL STAGE-BASELINE (hours 26-32): By hour thirty-two most users will be more or less back to baseline. The user will likely continue to feel relaxed, perhaps slightly stoned, and may continue to experience difficulty concentrating for another day or two.

DOSAGE The potency of nutmeg can vary significantly from sample to sample; one should be aware of how potent one's material is before taking a large dose. Nutmeg from the East Indies is said to be more potent than that produced in the West Indies, and freshly ground nutmeg is reputed to be more potent than pre-ground. Nutmeg is not very conducive to adjustment of dose since onset may take up to six hours, making familiarity with potency quite important.

The following information on dosage is based on my own experiences and on an analysis of 176 experience reports posted on-line at Erowid.org.

THRESHOLD (3-5 grams or 1-1.5 tsp) A threshold dose of nutmeg is marked by euphoria, relaxation, mood elevation, hilarity and enhancement of the senses. Baseline is around hour eighteen. Some people will not experience effects at this level.

LOW--MODERATE (6-10 grams or 1.5-3 tsp) A low-moderate dose of nutmeg will produce a more distinct effect than a threshold dose, and may cause visual distortions, closed-eye visuals, and auditory hallucinations. Short-term memory may become impaired and speech may become slightly slurred during the peak of a low-moderate dose.

MODERATE (11-15 grams or 1-1.5 Tbsp) A moderate dose of nutmeg can cause slurred speech, disorientation, and loss of coordination. Previously stated effects increase and the user may experience mild visual phenomenon.

MODERATE-HIGH (16-20 grams or 1.5-2 Tbsp) A moderate-high dose may produce a waking dream-like state. One individual sought emergency room services after ingesting 15-20 grams of nutmeg. The user reported experiencing trouble breathing, blackouts, delusions, and panic (Marquis 2006).

HIGH (20-25 grams or 2-2.5 Tbsp) A high dose may increase the perception of being in a dream world. Users may begin experiencing stomach pain.

NOT RECOMMENDED (25+ grams or 2.5+ Tbsp) Doses this high usually will not increase the psychoactive effects of nutmeg, but will likely increase the length of the trip and thus will take longer to recover from. Physical discomforts such as stomach pain, abnormally rapid heartbeat, nausea, and dizziness tend to increase. Vomiting seldom occurs. User may experience trouble breathing or trouble urinating. Users may also become delusional. Out of sixty-six individuals who reported taking more than 25 grams of nutmeg, 17% reported having a difficult experience and 45% of these sought emergency room care. The average dose for those reporting negative effects was between 29 and 30 grams, though the median dose was only 25 grams. The average dose for those seeking ER care was 47.5 grams, while the median dose was 52.5 grams. With the variability in potency of nutmeg, some samples might require a high dose to produce a moderate effect, but one should be extremely familiar with the potency of his or her material before taking a high or not-recommended dose.

PREPARATION

See more stories tagged with: medicine, aphrodisiac, nutmeg, narcotic, dream enhancer, inebriant, dosage, effects

Liked this story? Get top stories in your inbox each week from AlterNet! Sign up now »