Spices · Spice
Nutmeg
Myristica fragrans · also called Nutmeg, mace (its red covering), nuez moscada (Spanish)
Nutmeg is the seed of a tropical tree, grated into baking, sauces and drinks. A pinch in food is ordinary, but swallowing a large amount has caused real poisonings, with fast heartbeat, confusion and severe agitation. We found no human trial showing a health benefit from eating it. Keep whole nutmeg and mace away from children.
General information, not medical advice. Last substantive update · Not medically reviewed. A named clinician has not signed off on this page. How this page is made
About Nutmeg
Nutmeg is a flavour spice, not a proven remedy. A pinch in food is normal. Swallowing a large amount has caused poisoning, and children can be hurt by accident.
What it is
Nutmeg is the seed of the tropical tree Myristica fragrans. Mace is a different spice made from the red covering of the same seed (LactMed). It is sold whole or ground.
USDA data for ground nutmeg: 525 kcal per 100 g, with 36.3 g fat, 49.3 g carbohydrate and 20.8 g fibre. USDA lists one teaspoon as 2.2 g, which holds about 12 kcal, 0.8 g fat, 0.5 g fibre, 4 mg calcium, 4 mg magnesium and 0.06 mg manganese. A pinch is mostly flavour.
What the research shows
The one human trial found tested a skin product with nutmeg and mace oils for painful diabetic nerve symptoms. Both groups improved and there was no difference between them.
A 2025 review describes antioxidant, antidiabetic and anticancer effects in cells and animals, and says more clinical research is needed. In rats given very large amounts of nutmeg powder for 90 days, the liver and spleen were damaged, and the kidneys at the higher amount.
Food versus oils and extracts
The trial used oils on the skin and the lab work used extracts. Nutmeg essential oil is concentrated. None of these results tell us about the pinch of spice in a recipe.
Amounts
This page gives no amounts to eat. Ask a doctor or pharmacist what is right for you, especially if you take mood medicines or are breastfeeding.
At a glance
Traditional uses history, not proof
- Grated into baked goods, sauces, vegetable dishes and drinks
- Used in folk medicine, including for the stomach
- Long use as a spice is not proof that it treats any condition
Studied for research
- Painful diabetic nerve symptoms (a skin product with nutmeg and mace oils), low certainty, no added benefit over the comparison
- Antioxidant, antidiabetic and anticancer effects, very low certainty, lab and animal work only
- Digestive upset (traditional use), insufficient evidence
Main compounds
- Myristicin
- Elemicin
- Safrole
- Myristic acid
- Macelignan
Common forms
- Whole nutmeg seed, grated fresh
- Ground nutmeg
- Mace (the covering of the seed)
- Nutmeg essential oil (concentrated; not the same as the spice)
Research links: LactMed: Nutmeg · Illinois Poison Center nutmeg poisonings, 2001-2011 · Swiss poison-centre enquiries 2014-2023 · Research Library · Genes & Biomarkers Library
What it is and its history
- Accepted scientific name
- Myristica fragrans
- Naming authority
- Houtt. (as written in the 2025 safety study abstract)
- Common names
- Nutmeg (English); Mace (the red covering of the same seed) (English); Nuez moscada (Spanish); Jaiphal (Hindi)
- Family or group
- Myristicaceae (nutmeg family), per the 2025 review abstract.
- Classification
- Plantae > Myristicaceae > Myristica > Myristica fragrans
- Native range
- Not verified from a source read.
- Habitat
- The 2025 safety study abstract says it is widely cultivated in tropical regions.
- What it looks like
- Roots: Not verified.; Stems: Not verified.; Leaves: Not verified.; Flowers: Not verified.; Fruit: The seed is nutmeg; mace is the covering of the seed (LactMed).
- Cultivation
- Not verified from a source read.
- Harvest and processing
- Sold whole or ground (USDA lists ground nutmeg).
- Look-alikes and adulterants
- Name: Mace; Note: A different spice from the same seed; it was the cause in one child case.; Name: Nutmeg essential oil; Note: A concentrated product, not the food spice.
- Sustainability and conservation
- Not assessed.
Photographs
What is inside, and how it may work
What it contains and how those compounds act in cells and animals. Laboratory and animal mechanisms are not proven effects in people.
Main compounds
| Compound | Family | Where it is concentrated | Activity studied | Level of evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Myristicin | alkylbenzene | Seed oil Not given in the sources read | Named by the Texas and mace reports as one of the oil compounds linked to the toxic effects; a case report says it moderately inhibits monoamine oxidase. 4 5 3 | Human data |
| Elemicin and safrole | alkylbenzenes | Seed oil Not given | Named with myristicin as implicated in the psychoactive and anticholinergic effects of poisoning. 5 4 | Human data |
| Myristic acid and other fats | fatty acid | Seed Ground nutmeg is 36.3 g fat per 100 g (USDA) | LactMed lists myristic acid and trimyristin as seed contents. 9 10 | Human data |
| Macelignan | lignan | Seed Not given | Named in the 2025 review as a prime bioactive; findings are lab and animal. 8 | Laboratory research |
Mechanisms, receptors and pathways
| Target or pathway | Gene or receptor | What was found | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monoamine oxidase and anticholinergic effects | Monoamine oxidase (as stated by the case report authors) | Case report authors say myristicin moderately inhibits monoamine oxidase and that a metabolite (MMDA) is responsible for psychedelic effects. 5 | Human (authors' account in a case report) |
| Cell signalling (lab) | PI3K/Akt/mTOR, MAPK, NF-kB | The 2025 review reports effects on these pathways in lab studies. 8 | Laboratory research |
Absorption, metabolism and elimination
- Absorption
- Not found.
- Distribution
- Not found.
- Metabolism
- A metabolite (MMDA) is named in one case report.
- Elimination
- One adult's symptoms resolved within 26 hours; a child went home 36 hours after eating mace.
- Bioavailability
- Not found.
Isolated compounds versus whole extracts
The only human trial used a skin product with nutmeg and mace oils plus menthol and methyl salicylate. The lab and animal work uses extracts and isolated compounds. Neither tells us about nutmeg as a food. LactMed and the poison reports are about swallowed spice or oil in large amounts.
Nutritional composition
Nutrition from USDA FoodData Central, Spices, nutmeg, ground (FDC 171326, SR Legacy 2018), read from the project's saved copy of the USDA record on 2026-10-26. Per 100 g: 525 kcal, 5.84 g protein, 36.3 g fat, 49.3 g carbohydrate, 20.8 g fibre, 184 mg calcium, 183 mg magnesium, 2.9 mg manganese, 3.04 mg iron, 350 mg potassium. USDA lists 1 teaspoon of ground nutmeg as 2.2 g. One teaspoon (2.2 g) therefore holds about 12 kcal, 0.8 g fat, 0.5 g fibre, 4 mg calcium, 4 mg magnesium and 0.06 mg manganese. A pinch is mostly flavour; these amounts are tiny. Values vary by product.
1 low certainty1 very low certainty1 not enough evidence
What was looked at
The 3 benefits and uses checked for Nutmeg, each with how strong the evidence is. Tap one to open it.
- Painful diabetic nerve symptoms (skin product with nutmeg and mace oils)Low certainty
- Antioxidant, antidiabetic and anticancer effects (lab and animal work)Very low certainty
- Digestive upset (traditional use)Not enough evidence
Lab markers tracked in the studies
Pain and nerve symptom scores
What is Nutmeg good for?
The studied uses and how strong the human evidence is for each. There is no trial of eating nutmeg for any benefit.
Benefits, one by one
Each card is a research question, not a promise. Tap a goal to filter. Open a card to see the studies, doses and limits.
Painful diabetic nerve symptoms (skin product with nutmeg and mace oils)
Low certaintyOne 4-week trial gave 74 adults with painful diabetic nerve symptoms a skin product with nutmeg and mace oils or the same product without them. Both groups improved, and the nutmeg oils added nothing. This was a skin product, not food and not a swallowed supplement.
1 studiesSkin product with nutmeg and mace oils. Not a food form.
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
A randomised, double-blind trial in Trinidad compared a product with nutmeg oil (14%) and mace oil (2%), methyl salicylate and menthol against a product with the menthol and methyl salicylate only.
Results
Pain, sleep, walking and mood scores fell in both groups. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups at 4 weeks on any outcome.
Effect sizes as reported
No between-group difference; within-group reductions p<=0.001 for worst and average pain.
Why this rating
Low: one small, short trial of one skin product. It found no benefit from the nutmeg oils over the comparison. It tells us nothing about nutmeg as a food.
Form and dose studied
Skin product with nutmeg and mace oils. Not a food form.
Who was studied
Adults with painful diabetic neuropathy, aged 30 to 85.
Limits
The comparison product also had menthol and methyl salicylate, so the trial cannot show whether the nutmeg oils did anything on their own. Funding was not stated in the abstract.
Why researchers looked
Nutmeg oils are used in rubs for aches, so researchers tested one for nerve pain in diabetes.
Traditional use
Nutmeg has long been used as a spice. Use in rubs or in food is not proof that it treats any condition.
Proposed mechanism Unknown
The trial paper says nutmeg has properties that may ease nerve pain. No mechanism was shown in people.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
Nutmeg oil is concentrated. Swallowing large amounts of nutmeg is a poisoning risk; see the Safety tab.
Antioxidant, antidiabetic and anticancer effects (lab and animal work)
Very low certaintyA 2025 review describes antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antimicrobial and anticancer effects of nutmeg extracts and compounds in cells and animals. These are not results from people eating nutmeg, and the authors say more clinical research is needed.
1 studiesExtracts and isolated compounds.
Studies, doses and limits
Results
Lab and animal effects only. No human result was found in the abstract.
Why this rating
Very low: cells and animals, using extracts and isolated compounds at levels not tied to cooking amounts.
Form and dose studied
Extracts and isolated compounds.
Limits
A narrative review, not a systematic one. Only its abstract was read.
Why researchers looked
Nutmeg holds many plant compounds, and lab scientists test them on cells and animals.
Traditional use
Nutmeg is a long-used spice and traditional remedy. Tradition is not evidence.
Proposed mechanism In vitro and animal
The review names signalling pathways (PI3K/Akt/mTOR, MAPK, NF-kB) and enzyme blocking in lab studies.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
The same review says high doses have caused stomach and gut and liver and kidney side effects.
Digestive upset (traditional use)
Not enough evidenceNutmeg is used traditionally for stomach complaints. No trial of nutmeg for digestion was found.
0 studiesNot applicable.
Studies, doses and limits
Results
No human trial found.
Why this rating
No human study was found in the searches done.
Limits
Absence of a trial is not proof of no effect.
Why researchers looked
Traditional medicine uses nutmeg for the gut.
Traditional use
Traditional use only.
Proposed mechanism Unknown
None shown.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
Large amounts of nutmeg can cause poisoning, including stomach and gut upset in some reports; see the Safety tab.
Connections to the rest of health
How Nutmeg connects to the rest of our health knowledge graph. Every link says what kind of connection it is. A safety link (for example to the liver) is a warning, not a benefit. A study that merely mentions a topic never creates a benefit link.
Explore every connection: goals, body systems, organs, symptoms, genes
B. Body systems
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nervous System | Biological association | Low certainty | Studied for: Painful diabetic nerve symptoms (skin product with nutmeg and mace oils) | 7 |
| Digestive System | Biological association | Not enough evidence | Studied for: Digestive upset (traditional use) |
C. Body parts and organs
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brain | Adverse effect or risk | Documented risk | Large amounts have caused delirium, agitation and drowsiness in poison-centre and case reports. Preparation or compound: Large amounts of nutmeg or mace |
1 2 5 |
| Liver | Adverse effect or risk | Animal only | Liver changes in rats; not shown in people. Preparation or compound: Nutmeg powder at very high amounts in rats |
6 |
E. Health conditions
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nutmeg poisoning | Adverse effect or risk | Documented risk | Poison-centre series describe harm from large amounts; children and teenagers are over-represented in the Illinois series. Preparation or compound: Nutmeg swallowed in large amounts |
3 4 |
I. Biomarkers
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pain and nerve symptom scores | Biological association | Low certainty | Measured in trials: no-change. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit. | 7 |
K. Biological pathways
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monoamine oxidase | Preliminary mechanism | 5 |
L. Active compounds
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Myristicin | Biological association | Human | Named by the Texas and mace reports as one of the oil compounds linked to the toxic effects; a case report says it moderately inhibits monoamine oxidase. Preparation or compound: Seed oil |
4 5 3 |
| Elemicin and safrole | Biological association | Human | Named with myristicin as implicated in the psychoactive and anticholinergic effects of poisoning. Preparation or compound: Seed oil |
5 4 |
| Myristic acid and other fats | Biological association | Human | LactMed lists myristic acid and trimyristin as seed contents. Preparation or compound: Seed |
9 10 |
| Macelignan | Biological association | In vitro | Named in the 2025 review as a prime bioactive; findings are lab and animal. Preparation or compound: Seed |
8 |
Each connection is stored with the ingredient, the connected record, the kind of connection, the evidence status, the supporting studies, the preparation or compound involved, and a review date (last reviewed October 26, 2026).
Evidence at a glance: what changed in 1 lab markers
Tap a number to show only those markers. Counts are markers, not people.
The evidence
The research centre for Nutmeg. Every record here was checked against PubMed or the publisher's page; we never list a study we have not verified.
Evidence by outcome
Bars show how many studies we found for each outcome, not how well it works. People are added up across trials only (reviews are not added, to avoid double counting).
How we rate evidence
High certainty
Several well-run trials or reviews agree; further research is unlikely to change the picture much.
Moderate certainty
Good trials point the same way, but some doubt remains.
Low certainty
Small, short or inconsistent trials. The finding could change with better research.
Very low certainty
Very little or very weak human data. Treat as a possibility only.
Mixed findings
Trials or reviews disagree with each other.
Not enough evidence
Not enough human research to say either way.
Evidence against
Good research found no benefit, or found harm.
We take the reviewers' own risk-of-bias and GRADE statements where they exist, and otherwise judge from study size, design, consistency, directness and whether a product matches what is sold. Many publications do not make evidence high. Method note: We re-checked nutrition in a saved copy of the USDA FoodData Central record, read LactMed through PubMed, and searched PubMed for poison-centre series, case reports, trials and reviews. Only abstracts were read. Items we could not verify are flagged in the research gaps.
Study library: every study we checked 10
| Study | Design | People | Product, dose, length | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bleisch 2026 Intoxication with nutmeg: A case presentation and analysis of Swiss poisons information center (Tox Info Suisse) enquiries 2014-2023. Toxicol Rep · PMID 42205531 · DOI |
Case report and case series |
236 One 23-year-old man plus 236 patients in Swiss poison-centre enquiries, 2014 to 2023 |
Nutmeg swallowed by mouth Seed (nutmeg) 75 g in the case report (reported event, not advice) Symptoms resolved within 26 hours (case) |
A man on long-term fluoxetine and quetiapine swallowed 75 g of nutmeg with suicidal intent. He had a fast heartbeat and wide pupils at 4 hours and became sleepy at about 14 hours; symptoms settled by themselves within 26 hours. Enquiries about 236 patients were made; the most (30) were in 2020 and 2021, which the authors link to a TikTok nutmeg challenge and more home baking. The authors say intoxications usually have a mild course. 236 patients; 30 enquiries in 2020 to 2021 (Not applicable) Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Symptoms and enquiry counts Limitations: One case plus phone enquiries. One person on two mood medicines is not proof about safety with medicines. Funding and conflicts: Authors declare no conflicts Read: abstract |
| Casale 2023 Nutmeg Intoxication: A Case Report. Cureus · PMID 37915877 · DOI |
Case report |
1 One young adult in a New York emergency department |
Nutmeg swallowed by mouth Seed (nutmeg) Described only as excessive (no amount in the abstract) Short observation then discharge |
The patient arrived with severe agitation and delirium, was put on a breathing tube and moved to intensive care, then pulled the tube out, admitted eating too much nutmeg and went home after a short observation. The authors say nutmeg intoxication is uncommon and needs a high index of suspicion. Not applicable (Not applicable) Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Symptoms and course Limitations: One case. No amount, no blood tests in the abstract. Funding and conflicts: Authors declare no competing interests Read: abstract |
| Ehrenpreis 2014 Nutmeg poisonings: a retrospective review of 10 years experience from the Illinois Poison Center, 2001-2011. J Med Toxicol · PMID 24452991 · DOI |
Case series |
32 32 nutmeg ingestion cases reported to one US poison centre, 2001 to 2011 |
Nutmeg swallowed by mouth (intentional and accidental) Seed (nutmeg) Exposure reports 2001 to 2011 |
Of 32 cases, 17 (53.1%) were unintentional and 10 of those (58.8%) were under age 13; four of the child cases were eye exposures. 15 (46.9%) were intentional; 5 of those had combined drug intoxication, all aged 15 to 20. One patient who had taken several drugs needed breathing support in hospital. 17 of 32 unintentional; 10 in children under 13 (Not applicable) Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Poison-centre outcomes by age and intent Limitations: Poison-centre records only; no exposed total, so no rate. Cases were found using the code for hallucinogenic plants. Not cooking amounts. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract Read: abstract |
| Forrester 2005 Nutmeg intoxication in Texas, 1998-2004. Hum Exp Toxicol · PMID 16323572 · DOI |
Case series |
17 17 nutmeg ingestion calls to Texas poison centres, 1998 to 2004 |
Nutmeg swallowed by mouth Seed (nutmeg) Exposure reports |
64.7% of 17 calls were intentional abuse; abuse cases were all male and more often adolescents. Most calls were managed outside a health facility. None led to more than moderate clinical effects or death. None more than moderate effects in 17 calls (Not applicable) Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Poison-centre outcomes Limitations: Small series of phone calls; no measured amounts. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract (the abstract lists a state health department) Read: abstract |
| Imtiaz 2024 Mace Poisoning: Accidental Toxic Ingestion in a Child Leading to a Reversible Coma. Cureus · PMID 39850188 · DOI |
Case report |
1 One six-year-old girl in Riyadh |
Mace swallowed by mouth (accidental) Mace (covering of the nutmeg seed) Six pieces (reported event) Discharged 36 hours after |
The child had an altered level of consciousness and too much acid in the blood from slowed breathing after eating six pieces of mace by accident. She recovered with supportive care and went home 36 hours later. The authors say myristicin moderately inhibits monoamine oxidase and that a metabolite (MMDA) is responsible for the psychedelic effects. Not applicable (Not applicable) Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Symptoms and recovery Limitations: One case. Mace, not nutmeg seed. The mechanism statement is the authors' account. Funding and conflicts: Authors declare no funding or conflicts Read: abstract |
| Lv 2025 Safety of Nutmeg powder by oral exposure: Toxicity prediction and in vivo evaluation. Food Chem Toxicol · PMID 40024564 · DOI |
Animal study animal |
Mice (single dose) and rats (13 weeks plus 28-day recovery) | Nutmeg powder by mouth Seed powder Mice: single dose; rats: 1400 and 3500 mg/kg a day (the authors call this 35 and 87.5 times the human therapeutic dose) 13 weeks, then 28 days recovery · vs Untreated animals |
In mice a single dose caused no deaths over 14 days (LD50 above 5000 mg/kg). In rats, 1400 mg/kg a day for 90 days caused liver damage and iron-pigment (hemosiderin) deposits in the spleen, and 3500 mg/kg a day also caused kidney damage. Liver and spleen changes at 1400 mg/kg; kidney too at 3500 mg/kg (Not applicable) Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Death, organ damage Limitations: Animal study at doses far above cooking amounts. A computer toxicity prediction was also used. Not a human result. Funding and conflicts: Authors declare no competing interests Read: abstract |
| Motilal 2013 Nutmeg extracts for painful diabetic neuropathy: a randomized, double-blind, controlled study. J Altern Complement Med · PMID 23098698 · DOI |
Controlled trial |
74 74 adults with painful diabetic neuropathy in Trinidad (24 men, 50 women, aged 30 to 85) |
Skin product with nutmeg oil (14%) and mace oil (2%) plus methyl salicylate and menthol in coconut oil Nutmeg and mace oils, applied to the skin Not advice 4 weeks · vs Same product without nutmeg and mace oils (methyl salicylate 6%, menthol 6%, coconut oil, alcohol) |
Pain and symptom scores fell significantly in both groups, but there was no statistically significant difference between the groups at 4 weeks on any outcome. The authors conclude that the nutmeg extracts added nothing to the benefit of the menthol and methyl salicylate product. No between-group difference (Not given in the abstract) Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Pain and quality of life scores Limitations: A skin product, not food. The comparison product contained menthol and methyl salicylate. Short trial. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract Read: abstract |
| Tariq 2025 Nutmeg Beyond Spice: A Review on Its Therapeutic Potential, Safety and Industrial Promise. Food Sci Nutr · PMID 41104350 · DOI |
Narrative review review |
Mostly lab and animal studies of Myristica fragrans | Nutmeg extracts and isolated compounds Seed and mace extracts Various · vs Various |
The review reports antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antimicrobial and anticancer effects in lab and animal work, and says that at high doses stomach and gut and liver and kidney side effects have been reported. The authors say more clinical research is needed. Not applicable (Not applicable) Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antimicrobial and anticancer effects; safety Limitations: Narrative review (not a systematic one); the abstract names no human trial results. Funding and conflicts: Authors declare no conflicts Read: abstract |
| s-lactmed-nutmeg LactMed: Nutmeg (Drugs and Lactation Database, NICHD/NLM) · PMID 30000898 |
Health agency n/a |
Methods, limits and fundingRead: abstract | ||
| s-usda-fdc-171326 USDA FoodData Central: Spices, nutmeg, ground (FDC 171326, SR Legacy 2018) · Source |
Food database n/a |
Methods, limits and fundingRead: project copy |
What we do not know yet
- No trial of eating nutmeg was found for any health outcome.
- The only human trial tested a skin product with menthol and methyl salicylate in the comparison too.
- No official statement on nutmeg in pregnancy was found.
- Poison reports do not give the chance of harm per use or a safe or toxic amount.
- Nutmeg allergy, aflatoxin, heavy metals and liver safety databases were not researched or opened.
How new research is added
New studies are found by a saved PubMed search and placed in a review queue before the page changes.
Lab markers
What changed in blood or saliva tests during trials. A changed number is not the same as feeling or being healthier, and we give no "normal ranges".
Other 1
Pain and nerve symptom scores
No clear change in trials
Scores from questionnaires about worst and average pain, burning, pins and needles, and tingling.
Low certaintyResults and what it means
Why it was measured
The trial wanted to know whether the skin product eased nerve pain.
Statistical vs. clinical meaning
The nutmeg and mace oils did not add to the effect of the comparison product.
Safety implication
None reported in the abstract.
| Study | Result | People | Product |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Scores fell in both groups (p<=0.001 for worst and average pain) with no statistically significant difference between groups after 4 weeks | 74 adults with painful diabetic neuropathy | Skin product with nutmeg oil 14% and mace oil 2% compared with the same product without them |
Safety
What studies and official sources say about side effects, medicines and who should check first. Each point shows what kind of evidence it comes from.
Main points to know 5
- A pinch in food is ordinary; swallowing a large amount has caused real poisonings. Poison-centre reports describe harm when nutmeg is swallowed in large amounts: fast heartbeat, wide pupils, sleepiness, confusion and sometimes severe agitation. Most cases in the reports were mild or moderate, but a young adult with severe agitation was put on a breathing tube. Cooking amounts are different from these reports. No safe or toxic amount can be given from the sources read. Case report 4 3 1 2
- Children can be poisoned by accident. In the Illinois poison-centre series, 10 of the 17 accidental exposures were in children under 13. A six-year-old girl who ate six pieces of mace became very drowsy with an altered level of consciousness and needed hospital care; she recovered with supportive care. Keep whole nutmegs and mace out of children's reach. Case report 3 5
- Teenagers and 'challenges': nutmeg mixed with other drugs. In Illinois, 5 of 15 intentional exposures also involved other drugs, all in 15 to 20 year olds, and one needed breathing support. Swiss poison-centre enquiries peaked in 2020 and 2021, which the authors link to a social media nutmeg challenge. Nutmeg is not a safe way to get high. Case report 3 1
- Mood medicines: a possible link, not proven. A case report says myristicin moderately inhibits monoamine oxidase, an enzyme that some mood medicines also act on. A man on long-term fluoxetine and quetiapine who swallowed 75 g had a mild course. Whether cooking amounts matter with these medicines is not known. Ask a pharmacist. Case report 5 1
- Breastfeeding: stay with food amounts. LactMed says no data exist on nutmeg in nursing mothers or infants, that a spoonful can cause anticholinergic symptoms (which may reduce milk supply), and that amounts above food flavouring should be avoided while breastfeeding. Authoritative guidance 9
Side effects 4
| Effect | How often | Severity and recovery | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fast heartbeat and wide pupils after swallowing a large amount One man after 75 g; not a cooking amount. | Not established | moderate Settled by itself within 26 hours in one case | Case report 1 |
| Sleepiness, confusion and altered level of consciousness Child case was mace (six pieces). | Not established | moderate to serious Reversed with supportive care in a child | Case report 5 1 |
| Severe agitation and delirium One young adult; no amount in the abstract. | Not established | serious Resolved after a short hospital stay in one case | Case report 2 |
| Poison-centre outcomes overall Small series of reported cases; no rate among all users. | None of 17 Texas calls led to more than moderate effects or death; one Illinois patient who had taken several drugs needed breathing support | mostly mild to moderate Not stated | Case series 4 3 |
Liver
No liver injury in people from nutmeg was found in the abstracts read. In rats fed very large amounts for 90 days, liver damage appeared. LiverTox was not checked. 6 8
How often. No human frequency found.
Monitoring. No agency monitoring advice found.
This is a safety connection. It is not evidence that Nutmeg supports liver health.
Medicines and supplements 3
| With | Why it matters | Importance | Evidence | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mood medicines that act on monoamine oxidase or serotonin (for example fluoxetine, quetiapine) prescription | A case report says myristicin moderately inhibits monoamine oxidase. | One man on fluoxetine and quetiapine had a mild course after 75 g. No study of cooking amounts with these medicines was read. | Case report Not enough evidence 5 1 | Ask a pharmacist, especially before taking nutmeg as a remedy. |
| Other drugs taken at the same time as large amounts of nutmeg recreational | Not studied. | In Illinois, combined drug intoxication occurred in 5 teenage and young-adult cases, and one needed breathing support. | Case series Low certainty 3 | Do not mix. Call a poison centre or emergency services if someone has. |
| Warfarin, blood sugar medicines, blood pressure medicines prescription | No source read describes an interaction with food amounts of nutmeg. | Unknown Not enough evidence | Ask a pharmacist if you use nutmeg as a remedy. |
Who should check first 4
| Situation | Advice | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Children (accidental swallowing of whole nutmeg or mace) | Store out of reach. Call a poison centre if a child has eaten more than a taste. | Case series 3 5 |
| Taking mood medicines (SSRIs, antipsychotics, MAO inhibitors) | Ask a pharmacist before using nutmeg as a remedy; cooking amounts have not been tested with these medicines. | Case report 5 1 |
| Breastfeeding | LactMed advises avoiding amounts above food flavouring. | Authoritative guidance 9 |
| Pregnancy | No official statement was found in the sources read. Ask your midwife or doctor about anything beyond food amounts. | Unknown |
Overdose, product quality and regulators
Summary. Large single amounts cause nervous-system effects in people. In rats, very large amounts over 90 days damaged the liver and spleen and, at the higher level, the kidneys.
Animal. Mice: no deaths over 14 days after a single dose (LD50 above 5000 mg/kg). Rats at 1400 and 3500 mg/kg a day for 13 weeks: liver and spleen changes, with kidney damage at the higher level.
Human doses studied. A reported 75 g ingestion in one man gave a fast heartbeat, wide pupils and sleepiness that settled within 26 hours. Six pieces of mace in a six-year-old caused a reversible coma-like state. No safe or toxic amount can be set from these reports.
High dose or long term signals. Liver and kidney changes in rats; stomach and gut and liver and kidney effects at high doses are listed by a 2025 review.
Overdose response. Case reports describe supportive care in hospital. Call a poison centre or emergency services.
Genotoxicity. Not researched.
Toxic or hazardous parts. The oil in the seed and mace contains myristicin, elemicin and safrole, linked in reports to the effects.
No source read describes contamination or adulteration of nutmeg.
| Body | Action | Date |
|---|---|---|
| LactMed (US NIH, NICHD/NLM) (United States) | Nutmeg entry: no data in nursing mothers; avoid amounts higher than food flavouring while breastfeeding; states nutmeg, mace and their oils are generally recognized as safe (GRAS) as food ingredients by the FDA source | 2026-10-15 |
When to get medical help
- Someone has swallowed a large amount of nutmeg or mace and is hard to wake, has a very fast heartbeat, is very confused or agitated, or has trouble breathing: call emergency services
- A child has eaten whole nutmeg or mace: call your poison centre (US: 1-800-222-1222)
- Nutmeg swallowed together with other drugs or alcohol, especially in teenagers
Stop using the product and contact a clinician or emergency service. In the US, Poison Control is 1-800-222-1222.
General information only, not medical advice. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before use, especially with medicines, in pregnancy or with a health condition. See the Natural Remedy Safety guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is nutmeg good for?
Is nutmeg poisonous?
What should I do if someone ate too much nutmeg?
Is nutmeg safe for children?
Is nutmeg safe with antidepressants or other mood medicines?
Is nutmeg safe in pregnancy?
We found no official statement on nutmeg in pregnancy in the sources read. Food amounts are ordinary in recipes. Ask your midwife or doctor about anything more.
Is nutmeg safe while breastfeeding?
LactMed says no data exist in nursing mothers and advises avoiding amounts above food flavouring. Large amounts have anticholinergic effects that may reduce milk supply.
Can nutmeg make you high?
Does nutmeg help blood sugar, cancer or inflammation?
Not shown in people. A 2025 review describes such effects in cells and animals using extracts and says more clinical research is needed.
Can nutmeg damage the liver or kidneys?
In rats given very large amounts of nutmeg powder for 90 days, liver and spleen damage appeared, and kidney damage at the higher amount. This was not shown in people and is not a cooking amount.
What is the difference between nutmeg and mace?
Is nutmeg oil the same as the spice?
No. The oil is concentrated. The skin-product trial used nutmeg and mace oils. Do not swallow essential oils; ask a pharmacist.
Explore by health goal
Editorial transparency
- Written by
- AlternativeMed editorial team. Research compiled with AI assistance, then checked against the sources listed.
- Medical review
- None. This page has not been reviewed by a physician or pharmacist.
- First published
- 2026-10-26
- Last substantive update
- 2026-10-26
- How we research
- We re-checked nutrition in a saved copy of the USDA FoodData Central record, read LactMed through PubMed, and searched PubMed for poison-centre series, case reports, trials and reviews. Only abstracts were read. Items we could not verify are flagged in the research gaps.
- How we rate evidence
- See "How we rate evidence" in the Evidence tab.
- Independence
- No product is promoted on this page. No affiliate links are shown.
Sources 10
Each source was opened and checked. Where we read only the abstract, it says so. The small numbers in the text point here.
- Bleisch A, Spani S, Schumann R, et al.. Intoxication with nutmeg: A case presentation and analysis of Swiss poisons information center (Tox Info Suisse) enquiries 2014-2023.. Toxicol Rep. 2026. PMID 42205531. DOI 10.1016/j.toxrep.2026.102274. (abstract)
- Casale MJ, MacDonald LL, Mitra A. Nutmeg Intoxication: A Case Report.. Cureus. 2023. PMID 37915877. DOI 10.7759/cureus.46286. (abstract)
- Ehrenpreis JE, DesLauriers C, Lank P, et al.. Nutmeg poisonings: a retrospective review of 10 years experience from the Illinois Poison Center, 2001-2011.. J Med Toxicol. 2014. PMID 24452991. DOI 10.1007/s13181-013-0379-7. (abstract)
- Forrester MB. Nutmeg intoxication in Texas, 1998-2004.. Hum Exp Toxicol. 2005. PMID 16323572. DOI 10.1191/0960327105ht567oa. (abstract)
- Imtiaz A, Almutairy BM, Almutairi TM, et al.. Mace Poisoning: Accidental Toxic Ingestion in a Child Leading to a Reversible Coma.. Cureus. 2024. PMID 39850188. DOI 10.7759/cureus.76284. (abstract)
- Lv W, Zhang X, Zhang H, et al.. Safety of Nutmeg powder by oral exposure: Toxicity prediction and in vivo evaluation.. Food Chem Toxicol. 2025. PMID 40024564. DOI 10.1016/j.fct.2025.115364. (abstract)
- Motilal S, Maharaj RG. Nutmeg extracts for painful diabetic neuropathy: a randomized, double-blind, controlled study.. J Altern Complement Med. 2013. PMID 23098698. DOI 10.1089/acm.2012.0016. (abstract)
- Tariq D, Sultan MT, Noman AM, et al.. Nutmeg Beyond Spice: A Review on Its Therapeutic Potential, Safety and Industrial Promise.. Food Sci Nutr. 2025. PMID 41104350. DOI 10.1002/fsn3.71053. (abstract)
- . LactMed: Nutmeg (Drugs and Lactation Database, NICHD/NLM). . . PMID 30000898. (abstract)
- . USDA FoodData Central: Spices, nutmeg, ground (FDC 171326, SR Legacy 2018). . . (project copy)
Where to buy
Check the label first. Whatever you buy, look for these:
- Whole or ground: whole spices keep their flavor longer
- The origin and a packed-on or best-by date for freshness
- Organic or non-irradiated labeling if that matters to you
- A resealable, airtight container
Talk to a pharmacist or doctor before you start any supplement, especially if you take medicines. See the Safety tab for interactions.
Support our free guides: as an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Full disclosure.
