BENEFIT 478: Nutmeg High

Did you know you can overdose on a spice used in desserts? The spice is nutmeg and it's a poor man's substitute for recreational drugs - it's actually categorized as a psychoactive drug by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The spice comes from the seed of an evergreen tree, Myristica fragrans, indigenous to the eastern islands of the Moluccas but now widely cultivated. Arab traders brought nutmeg to Europe in the 12th century and it was soon recognized for its potency. They used it to treat infections and stimulate menstruation, and it was known to induce a hazy high. At one point nutmeg became so valuable it was second only to gold. In modern times, Nutmeg mythology entered the prison culture. Malcolm X described nutmeg hidden in matchboxes and mixed into liquids to create a high equal to several marijuana cigarettes. What he didn't describe are the unpleasant side effects, which include intense nausea, rapid heartrate and hallucinations. Too much nutmeg can cause hearing, nerve and liver problems. Nutmeg contains psychoactive compounds that produce these symptoms. One study found 32 nutmeg poisoning cases reported over a decade, of which just over half were accidental and fifteen were deliberate. The deliberate cases involved 15-20 year olds who mixed the spice with pharmaceuticals. In another study of 119 cases, 70% were deliberate; some were toddlers whose parents left the spice out. So, enjoy baking with your young ones, but be sure to keep nutmeg out of their reach. As for teens looking for a cheap high, this should be a wakeup call that a nutmeg high is not worth the risks. Source: https://www.utmb.edu/mdnews/podcast/episode/nutmeg-high ------------------ The Not My Kid Foundation, an Arizona-based nonprofit organization dealing with substance abuse and other youth-age issues, was recently featured in news reports bringing the abuse of nutmeg to the attention of parents and the general public. Source: https://eu.fosters.com/story/news/2010/12/03/spice-abuse-on-rise-some/51357438007/ ------- Sheikh Muhammad Ba Jammāl hafidahullah was asked: Disagreements have arisen between us and some of our brothers regarding the permissibility of consuming foods that contain a small amount of nutmeg. Some of our brothers say that nutmeg used in prepared food is similar to other intoxicants — that if the quantity is small within the food or drink to the extent that one cannot extract and consume it on its own, then it is permissible for consumption. The question is: Is the determining factor in this matter the absence of what is called an intoxicating component in any measurable quantity — even if the smell and taste remain...? Sheikh responds: In any case, nutmeg is reported to have intoxicating effects, and based on this, it would be better to avoid it — especially in light of differing opinions on the matter. [As in hadith:] "Leave what makes you doubt for what does not make you doubt," and also, "Whatever intoxicates in large amounts, then a small amount of it is also forbidden." Source: https://t.me/bajmaal/3267