Drug info - Nutmeg and Chocolate

[FuBai]

As many here will know, nutmeg has, perhaps unwisely, been used as an intoxicating drug of some power. Dosages vary, but commonly between 5 and 20 grams will elicit hallucinations and provide an amphetamine type feeling. According to Wikipedia "A test was carried out on the substance that showed that, when ingested in large amounts, nutmeg takes on a similar chemical make-up to MDMA (ecstasy)." However, its use is uncommon because of the vast and dizzying array of side-effects such as "dizziness, flushes, dry mouth, accelerated heartbeat, temporary constipation, difficulty in urination, nausea, and panic" After consumption it takes up to 6 hours to peak, and effects can be noticeable for up to three days afterwards. It also contains several worrying chemicals, amongst them Safrole, which is apparently a carcinogen.

Knowing all of the above it is easy to understand why most of the documented use of Nutmeg as a recreational drug is confined to prisons or psychiatric centres, however some poor souls have ventured to try it on the outside, out of curiosity and I witnessed this experience. The subject purchased a 46 gram jar of ground nutmeg, took it home and proceeded to ingest roughly 20 grams of it, aiming to induce hallucinations. The taste was, apparently, so vile that he had great difficulty swallowing it, and took to wrapping it up in Rizzler papers and "bombing" it.

As expected, the effects did not become apparent until about 4 or 5 hours later, and were very mild. He reported very little visual hallucinations, only a mild feeling of energy that kept him up late. Thinking that the nutmeg had failed and that buying pre-ground nutmeg had lessened the experience he went to sleep. Upon waking up the next day he became violently ill, vomiting a vile yellow sick repeatedly. He was shaking slightly and I was considering whether or not to take him to hospital when I decided that it would be a good idea to get him to eat or drink something as eating plain bread sometimes has a settling effect on my own stomach. He refused to eat anything but agreed to drink a hot chocolate. within a few minutes he noticed that the sickness had left him almost entirely. After a while he began to feel ill again, but drinking more hot chocolate almost instantly allayed that.

Now, I understand that the above is little more than anecdotal evidence, but it seems that chocolate may well be useful in combating the symptoms of nutmeg sickness. I wonder if anyone else has had a similar experience, or if they could explain why chocolate may have had that effect. Before any one starts shouting or jumping about, I know that this is one piece of evidence and that it may well not be representative, but I feel it is useful nonetheless.