Myristica fragrans (Nutmeg)

Myristica fragrans is an evergreen tree indigenous to the Banda Islands in the Moluccas (or Spice Islands) of Indonesia. The tree produces large nuts used to make the spices commonly known as nutmeg and mace. The spice name nutmeg typically refers to the ground seed present in the nut, while mace refers to the dried ground reddish aril (the seed coating). Whole nutmeg generally refers to the entire nut including the shell, seed, and aril.

The spice nutmeg is generally used to flavors sweets such as eggnog, pumpkin pie, etc. It's commonly combined with spices such as ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and allspice.


Sedative and Anxiogenic Activity

Nutmeg contains a large quantity of trimyristin. Trimyristin is a saturated fat. It's not found in the essential oil of nutmeg but is present in nutmeg butter in large quantities.

Trimyristin contributes to the sedative effects of whole nutmeg.[5] Trimyristin was also shown to have anxiogenic (anxiety inducing) effects in mice.[5]


Psychedelic Activity

Nutmeg powder has often been used in large doses as a legal psychedelic, or a legal XTC (MDMA) alternative.

The data captured at this site on May 15, 2015 from a total of 377 votes tells us that 45.89% of the voters state that nutmeg is only sometimes psychedelic, 37.14% say it's never psychedelic, while 16.98% say it's always psychedelic.

It's very clear that individual reactions to nutmeg's psychedelic compounds vary dramatically. With most voters stating that nutmeg is only sometimes psychedelic, this points in the direction of metabolites being involved in the psychedelic effects, and not the parent compounds in nutmeg. The exact ratio of metabolites created in humans will vary because of diet and other factors. Based on the theory that certain metabolites are the active psychedelic compounds in nutmeg, the Oilahuasca Activation technique was created to help coerce the proper metabolites to form. The Oilahuasca Activation technique is still being developed. It currently does not work well in everyone.

Nutmeg contains 5-15% essential oil. The essential oil is well documented to be capable of producing psychedelic effects in man. However not all people can obtain psychedelic effects from nutmeg essential oil.

The essential oil contains the allylbenzenes myristicin, safrole, and elemicin, believed by some authors to be responsible for the psychedelic effects attributed to nutmeg. However, it's more likely that alkaloid metabolites of these compounds are active and not the parent compounds themselves. The allylbenzenes themselves show very inconsistent results in people. For example, in one person on one day, 400 mg of myristicin might have no effect at all, and then on another day the same dose could be very obviously psychedelic. The voters in the polls below, show this is the case with nutmeg. The psychedelic effects tend to be elusive, not consistent.

Tests using 1.5 ml of nutmeg oil (an essential oil containing significant quantities of myristicin) in 4 volunteers elicited effects including euphoria lasting 36 hours, heavy-headedness, nausea, restlessness, proneness to laughter, a sense of unreality, heightened awareness, clarity of thought and emotion.[5] Note that individual reactions to nutmeg oil and myristicin vary dramatically. Anecdotal reports indicate that some individuals are very sensitive to nutmeg oil and experience effects from just a few drops of the oil orally or transdermally, while others have ingested as much as 10 ml of nutmeg oil without any noticeable effects.

Myristicin

Approximately 19% of nutmeg users surveyed indicate that nutmeg consistently produces psychedelic effects. Approximately 41% of nutmeg users report sometimes getting psychedelic effects. Myristicin and elemicin are believed to be primarily responsible for nutmeg's psychedelic effects.

Myristicin is proven to produce psychedelic effects at 400 mg orally in approximately 40% of humans tested.[1]

The psychedelic activity produced after myristicin ingestion or topical application is believed to be caused by it's piperidine and pyrrolidine alkaloid metabolites created in vivo.[2] It's possible that not all individuals create these alkaloid metabolites in large enough quantities to be effective, which may help explain why 60% of the humans tested did not experience psychedelic effects from myristicin.

Anecdotal reports show that myristicin's ability to produce psychedelic effects greatly increases when used with proper Oilahuasca Activation techniques. When activated properly anecdotal reports indicate it produces effects similar to MMDA. When not properly activated it can produce no effects, sedative effects, or stimulant effects. See the article Myristicin for more details.

Note that myristicin is often incorrectly attributed to having the effects of nutmeg. Whole nutmeg can have anticholinergic effects, however anecdotal reports from people using pure myristicin report there are no anticholinergic effects felt from using pure myristicin when properly activated using Oilahuasca Activation techniques.

Elemicin

Approximately 19% of nutmeg users surveyed indicate that nutmeg consistently produces psychedelic effects. Approximately 41% of nutmeg users report sometimes getting psychedelic effects. Myristicin and elemicin are believed to be primarily responsible for nutmeg's psychedelic effects.

Anecdotal reports also indicate that elemicin can produce psychedelic effects similar to mescaline in some individuals. As with safrole, without using proper Oilahuasca Activation techniques, many people are unable to obtain psychedelic effects from elemicin. When not properly activated it can produce no effects, sedative effects, or stimulant effects. See the article Elemicin for more details.

Safrole

Approximately 9% of nutmeg users surveyed indicate that nutmeg consistently produces effects similar to XTC (MDMA). Approximately 27% of nutmeg users report getting this effect occasionally. This effect is believed to be caused by the allylbenzene safrole which has a chemical structure very similar to XTC.

Anecdotal reports indicate that safrole is capable of producing psychedelic effects which are somewhat similar to XTC (MDMA) when metabolized properly. However these reports indicate that for most people its extremely difficult for the body to create active alkaloids from safrole without using proper Oilahuasca Activation techniques. When not properly activated it can produce no effects, sedative effects, or stimulant effects. See the article Safrole for more details.


Nutmeg Effects Pools

To view the results of the poll, you need to cast your vote. Similar polls can be found in the Oilahuasca Activation article.

These polls are live polls hosted by www.pollsnack.com and are 100% anonymous. You don't need to log in to vote.


See Also


Bibliography
1. Truitt et al. 1961
2. E.S. Oswald, L. Fishbein, B.J. Corbett, M.P. Walker.
Urinary excretion of tertiary amino methoxy methylenedioxy propiophenones as metabolites of myristicin in the rat and guinea pig; Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - General Subjects, Volume 244, Issue 2, 19 August 1971, Pages 322-328; DOI: 10.1016/0304-4165(71)90233-9. ISSN: 0304-4165; PubMed PMID: 5125615 (web link) (Download Attached PDF Document)
3. The pharmacological effects of the ligroin extract of nutmeg (Myristica fragrans).
Sherry CJ, Ray LE, Herron RE. PubMed PMID 7202086
4. Anxiogenic activity of Myristica fragrans seeds.
Sonavane GS, Sarveiya VP, Kasture VS, Kasture SB. PubMed PMID 11812528
5. The pharmacological effects of the ligroin extract of nutmeg (Myristica fragrans).
Sherry CJ, Ray LE, Herron RE. PubMed PMID 7202086
5. Anxiogenic activity of Myristica fragrans seeds.
Sonavane GS, Sarveiya VP, Kasture VS, Kasture SB. PubMed PMID 11812528
5. Essential Oil Safety: A Guide for Health Care Professionals
By Robert Tisserand, Rodney Young; Elsevier Health Sciences, Dec 2, 2013; ISBN 0702054348, 9780702054341
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