Mace

botanical

Best with a meal

What is it

Mace is the dried, lace-like aril (covering) of the nutmeg seed from Myristica fragrans. It is used as a culinary spice and in herbal preparations, sharing many of the same compounds and uses as nutmeg.

Evidence for 2 uses

AI-assisted evidence assessment — talk to your doctor before relying on any single supplement.

Digestive support (traditional use)

Mixed Evidence

Mace has a long history of use for nausea and indigestion in traditional medicine. Modern clinical evidence is essentially absent.

Antimicrobial / oral health

Mixed Evidence

Laboratory studies show activity against various bacteria and fungi, but human clinical evidence is lacking.

How it works

Mace contains essential oils similar to nutmeg, including myristicin, elemicin, sabinene, alpha-pinene, and limonene. Myristicin is the most studied compound; it has weak monoamine oxidase inhibitor activity and at very high doses produces psychoactive and toxic effects. Traditional Ayurvedic and Unani systems use mace for digestive complaints, oral health, and as a carminative. Modern research is limited but has examined potential antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory activity in laboratory models. Clinical human evidence is sparse.

Dosage

There is no recommended dose. Culinary use is small (a pinch to half a teaspoon for a whole recipe). Herbal preparations vary widely. DSLD label data did not report a median supplement dose.

When and how to take it

WHEN: As a culinary spice, mace is used in baking, soups, sauces, and curries - no special timing. As a traditional herbal remedy for digestion, small amounts are typically taken with or after meals. HOW: Ground powder, whole blades, or essential oil. Keep medicinal doses well below toxic levels.

2 commercial forms

Whole or ground mace

Volatile oils are released by grinding and heat.

Culinary form used in cooking.

Mace essential oil

Concentrated; very small doses only.

Used for aroma; not recommended for internal use without expert guidance.

Safety

At culinary doses mace is safe. At larger doses (typically more than 5-10 grams of nutmeg or equivalent mace) myristicin can cause hallucinations, nausea, palpitations, agitation, dry mouth, and dangerous changes in heart rhythm. Cases of nutmeg/mace toxicity have required emergency care.

Who should be cautious

Avoid medicinal doses during pregnancy - traditional reports associate mace and nutmeg with miscarriage and uterine stimulation. People with cardiovascular conditions, seizure disorders, or those taking psychiatric medications should avoid medicinal use. Culinary amounts are safe for most people.

Interactions

Myristicin's MAO-inhibiting and CNS effects may interact with antidepressants (SSRIs, MAOIs), sedatives, and stimulants. Avoid combining high doses with prescription medications affecting brain chemistry.

Food sources

Food	Amount	%DV
Ground mace (spice)	1/4 tsp culinary serving	—

Frequently asked questions

Is mace the same as nutmeg?⌄

They come from the same plant (Myristica fragrans). Nutmeg is the seed; mace is the bright red aril that covers the seed. They share many flavor compounds but mace is milder and more aromatic.

Can mace cause hallucinations?⌄

At culinary doses, no. At large doses (5-10+ grams of nutmeg or equivalent mace) the compound myristicin can cause hallucinations and serious toxicity. Stay within food amounts.

References

Mace on Wikidata — Wikidata link
Mace on NIH DSLD (US supplement label database) — NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database link
Research on Mace (PubMed search) — PubMed link

Track Mace with Pilora

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Evidence-based·How we grade evidence

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This page is educational, not a substitute for personalized medical advice. Evidence grades are AI-assisted assessments — talk to your doctor before starting any new supplement, especially if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, on medications, or managing a chronic condition.