There's a new challenge on TikTok, and it involves young people who eat nutmeg in an attempt to get high. However, it is not safe. Don't participate in the TikTok Nutmeg Challenge.
This is why.
According to Healthline, nutmeg is a spice that is also known as Myristica fragrans. You may have tried the fragrant spice on pumpkin pie, eggnog, or Christmas foods and drinks like that. Ingested that way, it is safe. However, is it used as inhalation medication? That can cause big problems. Myristicin is the chemical in nutmeg that is said to make the high. This chemical affects "the central nervous system (CNS) by improving the neurotransmitter norepinephrine," reports Healthline.
Studies have found that eating nutmeg can be dangerous and even fatal.
A study looking at the dangers of nutmeg appeared in the Emergency Medicine Journal. "Nutmeg poisoning is rare but probably not reported and should be considered in recreational substance users with acute psychotic symptoms as well as neuromodulatory signs of the central nervous system that may partially mimic anticholinergic hyperstimulation," he says.
The study documents the case of a teenage girl who had a negative reaction to nutmeg:
An 18-year-old student who was previously well presented complaints of palpitations, drowsiness, nausea, dizziness, thirst, and dry mouth. She was very anxious, restless, and agitated, and described being "in a trance state." He felt specifically "like Jack in the box wanting to get out" but had no hallucinations. He did not complain of urinary or abdominal discomfort and had no history of seizures or migraine. He had an uncomplicated medical and psychiatric history and denied any suicidal ideation. The patient declined to give information on recreational drug use.
It turned out that the girl had eaten nearly 50 grams (g) of nutmeg in a smoothie, according to that study. The girl recovered. This study found that there is not much research on the subject and noted that "nutmeg poisoning has been poorly reported in the literature. Such reports span the period from 1908 to the present day, although some claim that Lobelius reported the first evidence for its effects in 1576 ". The medical literature does report two "fatal overdoses," according to the study, adding that symptoms may include "dry mouth, facial flushing, nausea, instability, epigastric pain, urinary retention, and blurred vision."
Another study on the topic of nutmeg poisoning appeared in The Netherlands Journal of Medicine.
Ingesting nutmeg in large quantities can cause toxic symptoms such as hallucinations, tachycardia, and anticholinergic effects. We describe a case of a 37-year-old woman who experienced unintentional nutmeg self-poisoning. Nutmeg poisoning is likely not properly reported. We suggest thinking specifically about nutmeg ingestion in case of symptoms as mentioned above, ”this study found. "In large quantities, nutmeg has toxic effects including hallucinations, tachycardia, nausea, vomiting, agitation, and hallucinations. Due to these effects, it is occasionally used as a recreational drug. "
It also doesn't take much for nutmeg to be toxic. "Toxic symptoms have been observed with a nutmeg dose of just 5g, equivalent to two teaspoons or two-thirds of a tablespoon of grated nutmeg," the study found.
For all these reasons, just don't do it.
This is why.
According to Healthline, nutmeg is a spice that is also known as Myristica fragrans. You may have tried the fragrant spice on pumpkin pie, eggnog, or Christmas foods and drinks like that. Ingested that way, it is safe. However, is it used as inhalation medication? That can cause big problems. Myristicin is the chemical in nutmeg that is said to make the high. This chemical affects "the central nervous system (CNS) by improving the neurotransmitter norepinephrine," reports Healthline.
Studies have found that eating nutmeg can be dangerous and even fatal.
A study looking at the dangers of nutmeg appeared in the Emergency Medicine Journal. "Nutmeg poisoning is rare but probably not reported and should be considered in recreational substance users with acute psychotic symptoms as well as neuromodulatory signs of the central nervous system that may partially mimic anticholinergic hyperstimulation," he says.
The study documents the case of a teenage girl who had a negative reaction to nutmeg:
An 18-year-old student who was previously well presented complaints of palpitations, drowsiness, nausea, dizziness, thirst, and dry mouth. She was very anxious, restless, and agitated, and described being "in a trance state." He felt specifically "like Jack in the box wanting to get out" but had no hallucinations. He did not complain of urinary or abdominal discomfort and had no history of seizures or migraine. He had an uncomplicated medical and psychiatric history and denied any suicidal ideation. The patient declined to give information on recreational drug use.
It turned out that the girl had eaten nearly 50 grams (g) of nutmeg in a smoothie, according to that study. The girl recovered. This study found that there is not much research on the subject and noted that "nutmeg poisoning has been poorly reported in the literature. Such reports span the period from 1908 to the present day, although some claim that Lobelius reported the first evidence for its effects in 1576 ". The medical literature does report two "fatal overdoses," according to the study, adding that symptoms may include "dry mouth, facial flushing, nausea, instability, epigastric pain, urinary retention, and blurred vision."
Another study on the topic of nutmeg poisoning appeared in The Netherlands Journal of Medicine.
Ingesting nutmeg in large quantities can cause toxic symptoms such as hallucinations, tachycardia, and anticholinergic effects. We describe a case of a 37-year-old woman who experienced unintentional nutmeg self-poisoning. Nutmeg poisoning is likely not properly reported. We suggest thinking specifically about nutmeg ingestion in case of symptoms as mentioned above, ”this study found. "In large quantities, nutmeg has toxic effects including hallucinations, tachycardia, nausea, vomiting, agitation, and hallucinations. Due to these effects, it is occasionally used as a recreational drug. "
It also doesn't take much for nutmeg to be toxic. "Toxic symptoms have been observed with a nutmeg dose of just 5g, equivalent to two teaspoons or two-thirds of a tablespoon of grated nutmeg," the study found.
For all these reasons, just don't do it.
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