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The Finch Effect
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The Finch Effect is the sensation created by having too much nutmeg. Nutmeg and its sister spice, mace—the seed and the membrane that covers it, respectively, from the Myristica fragrans tree—both contain a substance called myristicin. A potent narcotic compound, it can cause hallucinations when eaten in large amounts. However, it also causes serious dry mouth, nausea, and vomiting, which makes nutmeg an unlikely candidate for recreational drug use. It takes between 5 and 15 grams of grated spice (about one to two whole nutmeg seeds) to induce any sort of narcotic reaction. Fatal nutmeg poisonings are rare—the last reported case was in 2001—and most occur from eating copious amounts of the spice in an attempt to get high. (The drug requires several hours to take effect, during which time people sometimes ingest more, thinking they have not eaten enough.) This sensation was first discovered by Steven J Finch back in early 16th century when the Dutch gained control of the Banda Islands. 
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