The s Cultural And Sociological Values - 1106 Words

Ecstacy.MDA. Nutmeg. A ubiquitous spice that can be found in kitchens worldwide, nutmeg has been harnessed in cooking, rituals, and a multitude of different ways across multiple cultures for millennia (Baxamusa, 2011). Its most common use in near day-to-day cooking is something that is not given a lot of thought to, but with Drug culture becoming increasingly prevalent in younger demographics, nutmeg has become a cheap and easily sourced alternative (Shafer, 2010). Through analysis of its chemical components, its structures and properties, in comparison to other illicit drugs such as MDMA (Ecstasy) and MDA (3, 4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine), credence can be given to the relationship between its popularity rise in youth culture, and its†¦show more content†¦Exotic and Aromatic, nutmeg became monopolized by the Dutch in the early 1600’s after the massacring the islands native population (AUBREY, 2012). Here the first plantations of the spice were established and all othe r sources which could pose a threat to the economic assets of the Dutch were eradicated. Prior to this, it had been considered a rare commodity predominantly throughout Europe, Asia and the Middle East, where its earliest uses were traced back for Indian medicinal purposes around 700 B.C.E (Nagano, 2009). Nutmeg was sought by the rich, for its potency to induce hallucination ‒ which can now be related to the prevailing substances that are found in its oils. These oils are what give basis to nutmegs association with madness. The links between nutmeg and madness, or rather the symptoms of being in an altered physical and mental state, correlates to the molecular composition of nutmeg’s oils. Specifically, nutmeg consists of numerous psychoactive compounds that have been found in its fixed oils (24 – 40%), known also as the butter as well as in the volatile oils (5-15%) of the total sample (Nagano, 2009). The most influential and common compounds as the cause for these effects being: Myristicin (13.57%), Safrole (4.28%) and Elemicin (1.42%). Estimated to account for 20% of the oils within nutmeg (Muchtaridi, Subarnas, Apriyantono, Mustarichie, 2010), each of these molecules