Myristicin
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Myristicin is a phenylpropene, a natural organic compound which is classed as a deliriant, present in small amounts in the essential oil of nutmeg and to a lesser extent in other spices such as parsley and dill.[1] It is believed that Myristicin, along with elemicin and safrole, are the main psychoactive components found within nutmeg, responsible for it's psychoactive properties.
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| Chemical Nomenclature | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Common names | Nutmeg | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Substitutive name | Myristicin, 3-methoxy,4,5-methylenedioxy-allylbenzene | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Systematic name | 6-allyl-4-methoxy-1,3-benzodioxole | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Class Membership | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Psychoactive class | Deliriant | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chemical class | Phenylpropene / MDxx | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Summary sheet: Myristicin |
Myristicin acts as an anticholinergic, and is the traditional precursor for the psychedelic and empathogenic drug MMDA.
Nutmeg was reported to induce hallucinogenic effects, such as visual distortions and paranoid ideation. In the reports, nutmeg intoxication took several hours before maximum effect was reached. Effects and after-effects lasted up to several days. Raw nutmeg consists of 5-15% essential oil by mass. 4-8.5% of nutmeg essential oil, or 0.2-1.3% of raw nutmeg, is myristicin. One study found 20 grams of nutmeg to contain 210 mg myristicin.[2]
Chemistry
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This chemistry section is incomplete. You can help by adding to it. |
Myristicin belongs to a chemical class known as phenylpropene. It features a methylenedioxy ring at the R4 and R5 positions, as well as a separate methoxy group at the R3 position, fused to the main phenylpropene group.
The phenylpropene group consists of an allyl group attached to a benzene ring.
Pharmacology
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This pharmacology section is incomplete. You can help by adding to it. |
In 1963, Alexander Shulgin speculated myristicin could be metabolized to MMDA, a psychoactive drug related to MDA, in the liver.[3] This, however, is highly speculative. Myristicin is also found to be a serotonin receptor antagonist, while simultaneously acting as a weak MAO inhibitor.
Subjective effects
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This subjective effects section is a stub. As such, it is still in progress and may contain incomplete or wrong information. You can help by expanding or correcting it. |
The effects listed below are based upon the subjective effects index and personal experiences of PsychonautWiki contributors. The listed effects will rarely (if ever) occur all at once, but heavier dosages will increase the chances and are more likely to induce a full range of effects.
In comparison to datura or diphenhydramine, it's effects tend to be milder and, depending on the dosage, even be considered pleasant and euphoric. It has unique effects compared to other deliriants or hallucinogens. It also has a long, smooth and enjoyable come-up, where the effects build in a similar manner to cannabis.
Physical effects
The physical effects of myristicin are usually described as mild and tolerable, which makes them different from other deliriants. They can be uncomfortable or pleasurable, depending on the dosage. These are described below and generally include:
- Difficulty urinating and Frequent urination - This can be described as a feeling of concrete blocking the urethra, painfully conflicting with a frequent need to urinate.
- Abnormal heartbeat
- Dehydration
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Perception of increased weight
- Photophobia
- Pupil dilation
- Spontaneous tactile sensations
- Tactile enhancement
- Tactile hallucinations
- Tactile suppression
Cognitive effects
The cognitive effects of myristicin are described by many as mildly euphoric, but can also be dysphoric throughout the trip, primarily consisting of moderate paranoia. It can also be confusing and disorienting. Myristicin contains unique cognitive effects found almost exclusively in the deliriant class.
The most prominent of these effects include:
- Amnesia
- Anxiety
- Confusion
- Depersonalization
- Depression
- Derealization
- Emotion enhancement
- Euphoria
- Information processing suppression
- Language suppression
- Laughter
- Paranoia
- Psychosis
- Sleepiness
- Suggestibility enhancement
- Time distortion
- Thought deceleration
- Thought disorganization
Visual effects
Myristicin does not enhance visual stimuli in the way that psychedelics do; instead, it tends to degrade and decrease visual aptitude while increasing hallucinations. These components are detailed below:
Suppression
- Visual acuity suppression - This effect can result in blurry vision. It sometimes can last for days after the trip itself.
- Double vision
- Pattern recognition suppression
- Vibrating vision
Hallucinatory states
Myristicin is moderately efficient at inducing delirious hallucinations which can be broken into the categories described below:
- External hallucinations (autonomous entities; settings, sceneries, and landscapes; alterations in perspective and scenarios and plots) - In comparison to other classes of hallucinogen, this effect occurs more frequently than that of any other at moderate to heavy doses and is the defining feature of the experience. It can be comprehensively described through its variations as delirious in believability, autonomous in controllability and solid in style. The most common themes for these hallucinations include those of everyday occurrences such as smoking phantom cigarettes, talking to people who are not there, insects and sinister, nightmarish experiences.
- Internal hallucinations (autonomous entities; settings, sceneries, and landscapes; alterations in perspective and scenarios and plots) - In comparison to other classes of hallucinogen, this effect occurs briefly and spontaneously at moderate doses but becomes progressively extended in its occurrence and duration proportional to dosage before eventually becoming all-encompassing. It can be comprehensively described through its variations as delirious in believability, interactive in style, equal in new experiences and memory replays in content, autonomous in controllability and solid in style.
- Peripheral information misinterpretation
- Shadow people
- Unspeakable horrors
Auditory effects
Natural plant sources
Myristicin is found in nutmeg, nutmeg essential oil and to a lesser extent in parsley, dill and other plants.
Dosage:
- Light: 5 - 20g
- Common: 20 - 60g
- Strong: 60 - 100g
- Heavy: 100g+
Toxicity and harm potential
Myristicin is neurotoxic and can be fatal in extremely high doses.
Legal issues
Myristicin and nutmeg is unscheduled in the US and can be bought in form of either spice, essential oil or as whole nuts.
Experience reports
Anecdotal reports which describe this compound within our experience index include:
- Experience:3 drops of cinnamon bark oil/ 5 drops of german chamomile oil/ 2mL of nutmeg oil in lecithin - experiments with nutmeg oil
- Experience:4 tablespoons of Nutmeg
- Experience:Nutmeg (8 teaspoons) - My Mom Introduces Me To Genesis and Other Things
Additional experience reports can be found here: