 In my research on cinnamon, I ran across a peculiar paper, speculating that certain natural compounds of spices, such as nutmeg, may form amphetamine-like compounds within the body, sufficient to elevate the mood and help provide some added Christmas cheer during the holiday season. This hypothetical risk was raised as far back as the 60s in the New England Journal, where it was pondered whether the age-old custom of adding nutmeg to eggnog arose from the psychopharmacological effects described in cases of nutmeg intoxication. Such cases evidently go back to the 1500s, where it was used as an abortifacent to induce a miscarriage, and in the 1960s as a psychotropic drug. The researchers conclude that while nutmeg is much cheaper for use and probably less dangerous than heroin, you don't want to take too much. The toxic dose of nutmeg is 2 to 3 teaspoons, which I assumed no one would ever come close to unintentionally until I saw this report, in which a couple ate some pasta and collapsed, were hospitalized a big mystery, until the husband revealed that he had accidentally added one-third of a jar of nutmeg to the meal whilst cooking it. That's like about 4 teaspoons. I don't know how they could have ate it. I imagine the poor wife just trying to be polite.