Nutmeg Blamed For Llama Man's Rampage

A 28-year-old Swedish man on trial for an aggressive spitting rampage that earned him the nickname "Llama Man" has testified that the actual guilty party is a common table spice: nutmeg.

The idea is only about half as crazy as it sounds. According to the Huffington Post, nutmeg contains myristicin, a natural compound that can have mind-altering effects if consumed in large doses. The man said he had been consuming too much of the spice, which caused his multiple violent rages.

A "nutmeg high" can cause LSD-like hallucinations, but according to ABC News, the effects only last for a day or two. Side effects include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, which doesn't sound like a great time for a person who is tripping.

The short timeline on a nutmeg high doesn't do Llama Man's stories any favors, because running through the streets and spitting in the faces of strangers was among the least of his crimes. Llama Man was also arrested for harassing two sisters with death threats and rude text messages. According to The Local, an English-language Swedish newspaper, he also went "berserk" while being treated at a hospital last summer and attempted to strangle a female guard during an escape attempt. 

There's no word on whether the court bought Llama Man's story, but he was convicted Friday and sentenced to four months in prison for illegal threats, harassment, damage to public property, and threatening behavior. 

In small amounts, like what a normal person might use on top of his or her cappuccino, nutmeg is totally safe. If all this hasn't scared you off, try out some of our nutmeg recipes and see if their dangerous side makes them taste more illicit and exciting.