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Nutmeg

Nutmeg molecule structureNutmeg molecule structure
Myristicin
Mace (from seed aril), Jaiphal (Hindi), Pala (Indonesian)
Myristica fragrans
Chemical Class
Phenylpropene (aromatic ether)

Nutmeg is a common culinary spice derived from the seeds of Myristica fragrans,citation needed a plant indigenous to Indonesia and New Guinea. Its primary psychoactive constituent is myristicin,1 a phenylpropene aromatic ether.citation needed When consumed orally in quantities far exceeding culinary use, nutmeg produces deliriant, hallucinogenic, and oneirogenic effects. Its widespread availability as an ordinary household spice makes it one of the most accessible psychoactive substances.

Dosage & Duration

Dosage

Doses are population estimates that vary widely between individuals.

Threshold~5 g
Light5-15 g
Moderate15-20 g
Strong20-30 g
Heavy30+ g

Approximately 10 g (about two teaspoons) can cause symptoms of toxicity.

Duration

Onset1-6 hours
Total72 hours

Subjective Effects

Legacy content. A statistically backed ontology from Mindstate Design Labs is coming soon.

Nutmeg produces a delirious, dysphoric intoxication that is widely regarded as unpleasant rather than recreational. Onset is unusually delayed, often taking several hours before effects appear, which frequently leads users to believe the dose was inactive. Once present, the experience is dominated by confusion, nausea, dizziness, and severe physical discomfort rather than any coherent psychedelic state, and the aftermath can extend into a hangover of dry mouth and general illness lasting a day or more, with lingering malaise sometimes persisting for several days.

Physical

The body load is heavy and punishing, featuring nausea, sickening dizziness, severe headache, and motor impairment severe enough to prevent standing or walking. Pronounced dry mouth and a prolonged, debilitating hangover follow the acute effects.

Uncomfortable

Physical discomfort dominates the experience and extends well beyond the acute phase.

Cognitive

The headspace is one of unmitigated confusion and delirium with a strongly dysphoric emotional tone; users report no euphoria or pleasure at any point in the experience.

Emotional

Impairment

The mental state is deliriant in character, marked by disorganized and confused cognition rather than lucid alteration.

Auditory

Persistent ringing in the ears has been reported during the peak of the experience.

Tactile

Touch and proprioception become unreliable, with solid surfaces losing their apparent firmness.

See also: Subjective Effects of Deliriants

Pharmacology

Pharmacodynamics

The psychoactive effects of nutmeg appear to derive from anticholinergic-like hallucinogenic mechanisms attributed primarily to myristicin and elemicin, two phenylpropanoid compounds present in the essential oil.citation needed Myristicin has additionally been identified as a monoamine oxidase inhibitor.12 The essential oil is a complex mixture containing dozens of terpenes and phenylpropanoids, and the overall psychoactive profile likely reflects contributions from multiple constituents rather than a single compound.3

Pharmacokinetics

Whole-nutmeg pharmacokinetics cannot be represented by one constituent. In a single 75 g poisoning case, serial serum measurements were used to estimate half-lives of 19 hours for myristicin, 17 hours for safrole, and 8.5 hours for elemicin. [S1][S2] Human urinary analysis after suspected nutmeg abuse identified metabolites of elemicin, myristicin, and safrole; neither the parent constituents nor the previously proposed amphetamine derivatives were detected in that urine sample. [S3] These data do not establish oral bioavailability or a single elimination half-life for whole nutmeg. [S1][S2][S3]

Interactions

Interactions not written up yet

An unlisted combination is an unknown one, not a safe one. Check a dedicated combination chart before mixing.

Check TripSit

Tolerance

Tolerance not written up yet

Harm Potential

Addiction & Dependence

Psychological

Extremely Low

The intensely dysphoric and physically unpleasant nature of nutmeg intoxication provides minimal reinforcing effects, though recreational use does occur among those seeking a low-cost high, particularly adolescents and prisoners with limited access to other substances.citation needed

Toxicity

Central Nervous System

Large doses can cause convulsions, delirium, confusion, severe headaches, amnesia, and generalized body pain; these effects may persist for several days following intoxication.

Cardiovascular

Palpitations and cardiovascular stress can occur with large doses due to myristicin content.citation needed

Gastrointestinal

Nausea and eventual dehydration are commonly reported effects of nutmeg intoxication at recreational doses.citation needed

Reproductive

Large amounts consumed during pregnancy may cause premature labor and miscarriage; nutmeg was historically considered an abortifacient.citation needed

Dermatological

Allergic reactions and contact dermatitis have been reported with nutmeg exposure.citation needed

Psychosis Risk

High doses can cause serious toxic effects including acute psychosis.5 Delirium, anxiety, and confusion are common features of intoxication,citation needed with risks heightened in individuals with pre-existing psychiatric conditions.

Seizure Risk

Myristicin, a major psychoactive component of nutmeg, can cause convulsions when consumed in large amounts.citation needed

History & Culture

Origins and Ancient Trade

Nutmeg is native to the Banda Islands, a cluster of eleven small volcanic islands within the Maluku archipelago of eastern Indonesia. These remote islands remained the world's sole source of both nutmeg and mace until the mid-nineteenth century. Archaeological excavations on Pulau Ai have yielded…

Legality

By Country

Legal / decriminalized3
United States flagUnited StatesLegal (regulated)
Belgium flagBelgiumLegal (regulated)
Colombia flagColombiaLegal (regulated)

References

Source Pages

  1. Drug Users Bible by Dominic Milton Trott
  2. Erowid: Nutmeg Basics
  3. Erowid: Nutmeg Effects & Chemistry
  4. Erowid: Nutmeg FAQ
  5. Erowid: Nutmeg Vault
  6. IsomerDesign: Myristicin Drug Status Report
  7. PsychonautWiki: Myristicin
  8. Wikipedia
  9. Wikipedia: Myristica fragrans
  10. Wikipedia: Myristicin

Citations

  1. Mace Poisoning: Accidental Toxic Ingestion in a Child Leading to a Reversible Coma. (n.d.). https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11754422/12
  2. Pharmacological and Therapeutic Potential of Myristicin: A Literature Review. (n.d.). https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8512857/1
  3. Safety and efficacy of a feed additive consisting of an essential oil from the seeds of Myristica fragrans Houtt. (nutmeg oil) for all animal species (FEFANA asbl). (n.d.). https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10273060/1
  4. Abuse of nutmeg: metabolism and toxicologic detection of elemicin, myristicin, and safrole in rat and human urine. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov (n.d.). https://doi.org/10.1097/00007691-200608000-000131
  5. Myristica fragrans Houtt. (PIM 355). International Programme on Chemical Safety (IPCS), WHO/UNEP/ILO (n.d.). https://www.inchem.org/documents/pims/plant/pim355.htm1
  6. Nutmeg Primer: History, Use + Whole vs Ground. Selefina Spices (n.d.). https://www.selefina.com/primers/nutmeg.html1
  7. Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/915, Article 2(1) and Annex I, point 1.1.14. eur-lex.europa.eu (n.d.). https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2023/915/oj1
  8. Resolución 4241 de 1991. normograma.invima.gov.co (n.d.). https://normograma.invima.gov.co/compilacion/docs/resolucion_minsalud_4241_1991.htm1
  9. 21 CFR § 182.10. ecfr.gov (n.d.). https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/section-182.101
  10. 21 CFR § 182.10. fda.gov (n.d.). https://www.fda.gov/regulatory-information/search-fda-guidance-documents/cpg-sec-525600-whole-and-ground-nutmeg-adulteration-insect-filth-mold-rodent-filth1

Further Reading

  1. ChemSpider: Myristicin Chemical Structure
  2. DrugWise: Nutmeg
  3. El-Alfy et al. 2016: Indirect modulation of endocannabinoid system by nutmeg
  4. El-Alfy et al. 2019: Phenolic compounds from nutmeg inhibit FAAH
  5. Healthline: High on Nutmeg - Effects and Dangers
  6. NCATS: Myristicin Drug Profile
  7. Project CBD: Chemicals in Nutmeg Boost Anandamide
  8. PubChem: Myristicin Compound Summary

Article Status

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    An autonomous workflow built by Josie Kins compiled this article's foundation from information published across the web.

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Recent changes8 human edits · latest

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16 August 2026

  1. Lyrea · Edited in History & Culture › Sections 2 › Content

  2. Lyrea · Reworded 2 words in Dosage & Duration › Routes 1 › Dose ranges › Threshold

24 January 2026

  1. Josie Kins · Updated the article · also 1,4-Butanediol, 1B-LSD, 1cP-AL-LAD and 573 more

  2. Josie Kins · Updated the article · also 1,4-Butanediol, 1B-LSD, 1cP-AL-LAD and 573 more

  3. Josie Kins · Updated the article · also 1,4-Butanediol, 1B-LSD, 1cP-AL-LAD and 573 more

  4. Josie Kins · Updated the article · also 1,4-Butanediol, 1B-LSD, 1cP-AL-LAD and 573 more

  5. Josie Kins · Updated the article · also 1,4-Butanediol, 1B-LSD, 1cP-AL-LAD and 573 more

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