Can nutmeg cause HPPD?
Question:
A week later, and I have all the symptoms of HPPD. I'm not sure if it's because of nutmeg or something else. Blah I'm just really confused and would like to know where the halos, trails of light, and hallucinations are comming from.
Answers:
How much nutmeg have you ingested prior to the appearance of the said symptoms? I'm not sure if you know this already, but nutmeg, although no neuro-therapeutic claims, can be psychoactive and possibly cause psychiatric disorder upon its ingestion in toxic doses (typically above 25g). Some of the symptoms of "nutmeg poisoning" include the ones you have just listed, as well as thought disorder "scary visions" that could involve a feeling of death or dying. The duration of these symptoms usually last for about 3 days or more, although it is dependent on the extent of nutmeg ingestion and how susceptible a person is to its "psychotic effects".
Your HPPD might have been triggered by the nutmeg poisoning event; it's possible that the symptoms you have elicited upon your ingestion of a toxic nutmeg dose have persisted over time or for a longer period than expected. Perhaps what you are experiencing is still the nutmeg psychotic effects and may have confused it with HPPD, as mild hallucinations and visions of light or their modifications are also symptoms of nutmeg toxication.
It must be known that the authentic HPPD, compared to its "derivative" or subtle "cousins", is a much potent perception-altering disorder, and is usually caused by powerful hallucinogens such as LSD or other potentially psychoactive mushrooms, or even ingestion of fungi like mold in rye (familiar with the Massachusettes and New England "witch" hunting ritual where one hypothesis regarding the event was mass hysteria? It was believed to have been caused by ingestion of infected or moldy Rye that led to neurologic toxication).
In any case, I suggest you visit your physician and consult about your case. Usually the symptoms would recede over time as you clear the nutmeg psychoactive chemicals out of your body.
I hope this helps in any way, and wish for your speedy recovery. And please do be careful next time regarding the nature of different seeds or flowers or anything believed to have psychoactive ingredients or psycho-therapeutic effects, as different people respond differently to such things, especially when it comes to toxic doses and/or potential side effects.
I think you are doing it wrong. Nutmeg varies hugely in potency. Choose light colored ground nutmeg, or grind some on a suitable grater. Boil about 20 grams per person in about 2 cups of water per person with a lid on for about an hour. Decant the liquid into a cup each with lots of sugar and cocoa and some cream or milk. Discard the dregs. Wait about 6 hours and you should find your reality suitably altered for about 12 hours, without the toxic effects of simply eating the stuff. Dark brown nutmeg has all the toxicity without the desired psychoactive ingredients in lighter colored ground nutmeg. I think you might have had way too much, which might have been a bit dark brown. Anyway, all hallucinogens can cause HPPD if you persistently take high doses which results from incomplete metabolizing of less reactive agents which eventually break down and cause flash-backs (mild hallucinations). Do not worry, you will get used to it and it will not last for long.
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