You probably have a small, dusty glass jar of it sitting in the back of your pantry right now. It's the warm, woody scent of eggnog and pumpkin pie. But for decades, a weird corner of the internet has whispered about a "legal high" hidden in the spice rack. So, can you get high from nutmeg, or is it just an urban legend fueled by bored teenagers?
The short answer is yes. Technically. But honestly? It is a terrible idea.
Comparing a nutmeg "trip" to something like marijuana or even caffeine is a massive mistake. It’s not a mellow buzz. It is a full-blown toxic episode that feels more like a 48-hour case of the flu mixed with a waking nightmare. People who try it once almost never do it a second time. There’s a reason you don’t see "nutmeg lounges" popping up in trendy neighborhoods. It’s physically grueling. It’s unpredictable. And in some cases, it can be fatal.
The Chemistry of a Kitchen Toxicant
To understand why this happens, we have to look at the chemistry of the Myristica fragrans tree. Nutmeg contains a natural compound called myristicin.
It’s an insecticide. Plants didn't evolve these chemicals to help humans "vibe"; they evolved them to stop bugs from eating their seeds. When you consume a normal amount—like a pinch in a béchamel sauce—your liver handles it without a blink. But when you ingest massive quantities, typically two tablespoons or more, your body starts to struggle.
Researchers believe that once myristicin enters the system, it's metabolized into compounds that mimic amphetamines, though the exact pathway is still debated in toxicology circles. Some studies, like those indexed in the Journal of Medical Toxicology, suggest it acts as a weak monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor. This messes with your neurotransmitters—specifically dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine.
Why the "High" is Actually Poisoning
Most people looking for a recreational experience want euphoria. Nutmeg gives you the opposite. It is a deliriant, not a classic psychedelic like LSD or psilocybin.
Psychedelics usually involve sensory enhancement or "trippy" visuals. Deliriants, on the other hand, cause a state of profound confusion where you cannot tell the difference between what is real and what is a hallucination. Imagine seeing someone standing in the corner of your room, talking to them for ten minutes, and then realizing it was a coat rack. That is the nutmeg experience.
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It's heavy.
Your limbs feel like lead. Your heart starts racing—a condition known as tachycardia. You might feel a sense of impending doom. Case reports from the Illinois Poison Center often describe patients who are agitated, incoherent, and suffering from "nutmeg breath" that lasts for days because the oils are so difficult for the body to process.
The Brutal Timeline of Nutmeg Ingestion
One of the biggest dangers of asking can you get high from nutmeg and then actually trying it is the "lag time."
Most substances hit you in 30 to 60 minutes. Nutmeg is a slow-motion train wreck. It can take anywhere from 3 to 8 hours for the effects to kick in. This leads to a dangerous "redosing" problem. Someone eats a tablespoon, waits two hours, feels nothing, and decides to eat another two tablespoons. By the time the first dose hits, the second dose is already on its way to cause a potential overdose.
- The Ingestion Phase: It tastes awful. Eating several tablespoons of dry, chalky powder is a feat of endurance. It causes immediate nausea for many.
- The Waiting Room: You feel normal. Maybe a bit of a stomach ache. You think it was a hoax.
- The Descent: Suddenly, your mouth becomes "cotton-dry." Not just thirsty, but painfully dry. Your eyes get bloodshot—bright red, actually.
- The Peak: This lasts for 24 to 48 hours. You’re drowsy but can’t sleep well. You might see "shadow people" or hear voices. Your heart is pounding against your ribs.
- The Hangover: The "nutmeg hangover" is legendary in the worst way. It feels like a combination of a severe migraine and a stomach virus. It can take three or four days to feel human again.
Real-World Risks: It's Not Just a Bad Trip
We tend to think of spices as "natural" and therefore "safe." Arsenic is natural, too.
Medical literature is littered with "nutmeg poisoning" cases. In 2014, the Journal of Medical Toxicology highlighted a case of a 37-year-old woman who experienced myristicin poisoning. She had palpitations, dizziness, and dry mouth. Her symptoms were so severe she required hospital observation.
The cardiovascular stress is the real killer here. If you have an underlying heart condition you don't know about, the tachycardia caused by myristicin can trigger an arrhythmia. Then there’s the "nutmeg psychosis." For people predisposed to mental health issues, a deliriant episode can trigger a long-term psychotic break that doesn't just go away when the spice wears off.
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And let's talk about the liver.
Your liver has to work overtime to break down these volatile oils. Taking huge doses of nutmeg is essentially an acute toxic insult to your internal organs. It’s a lot of strain for a "high" that most people describe as "feeling like I was hit by a truck while having a fever dream."
The "TikTok Challenge" Influence
Every few years, this resurfaces on social media. In 2020, the "Nutmeg Challenge" went viral on TikTok.
Health experts were horrified. Hospitals saw a spike in admissions from teenagers who thought they found a "hack" for a free legal high. What the 15-second videos didn't show were the hours spent vomiting in a dark bathroom or the terrifying heart palpitations that followed.
Dr. Gaylord Lopez, former director of the Georgia Poison Center, has gone on record multiple times warning that the dose required to get "high" is uncomfortably close to the dose that can cause a coma or respiratory failure. There is no "safe" way to use nutmeg recreationally because the concentration of myristicin varies wildly from one nut to the next. You never know exactly how much you're getting.
Historical Context: Malcolm X and Prison
It’s interesting to note that nutmeg has a history in prisons, where access to other substances is limited. Even Malcolm X wrote about it in his autobiography. He described using it while in Norfolk Prison Colony, noting that it was a desperate substitute that usually ended in a painful "hangover" and a sense of physical depletion.
When a man who survived the harshest environments of the mid-20th century basically says "this isn't worth it," you should probably listen.
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What to Do If Someone Ingests Too Much
If you or someone you know has swallowed a large amount of nutmeg—usually anything over 10 grams—it is time to stop playing around.
- Don't wait for symptoms: Because of the 8-hour delay, you might feel fine now but be in trouble later.
- Call Poison Control: In the U.S., that’s 1-800-222-1222. They deal with this more often than you’d think.
- Hydrate, but don't overdo it: Sip water for the dry mouth, but if you start feeling disoriented, you need a hospital, not a liter of water.
- Watch the heart rate: If the heart is racing or skipping beats, go to the ER immediately. Doctors can provide benzodiazepines to calm the nervous system and fluids to help the kidneys process the toxins.
Actionable Insights for the Curious
If you’re reading this because you’re looking for a legal way to alter your consciousness, nutmeg is the wrong path. The "price" you pay in physical pain and mental distress far outweighs any supposed benefit.
1. Respect the Spice: Keep nutmeg for your lattes. In culinary amounts (less than a teaspoon per recipe), it’s perfectly safe and actually has some antioxidant properties.
2. Understand Deliriants: Educate yourself on the difference between psychedelics and deliriants. Deliriants are almost universally described as unpleasant. There is no "spiritual enlightenment" at the bottom of a nutmeg jar—only confusion.
3. Check Your Sources: If you see a "life hack" on social media involving the ingestion of large amounts of any household product (cinnamon, nutmeg, salt), it is a recipe for a hospital visit.
4. Monitor for Psychosis: If someone has experimented with nutmeg and continues to hear voices or feel "out of it" 72 hours later, they need a psychiatric evaluation. The toxic effects should wear off, but the mental triggers can stick around.
Ultimately, the question isn't just "can you get high from nutmeg," but "why would you want to?" There are far safer, more pleasant ways to spend a weekend than being poisoned by your own spice cabinet. Keep the nutmeg in the kitchen and the toxins out of your bloodstream.
Next Steps for Safety:
Check your spice cabinet for any "bulk" containers if you have curious teenagers in the house. If you are struggling with substance use or looking for ways to manage stress without resorting to dangerous "legal highs," reach out to the SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP. They provide confidential, free, 24/7 information and treatment referral services.