A man suffered severe organ failure after a misguided attempt to consume psychedelic mushrooms led to the fungi growing in his bloodstream.
According to Insider, the 30-year-old man injected psilocybin mushrooms directly into his veins. Despite boiling the mushrooms first, he failed to kill the fungi, which began proliferating in his bloodstream, causing significant injury and organ failure.
This was far more than just a bad trip. The man, previously treated for bipolar disorder, had researched psilocybin as a potential treatment for his condition. While psilocybin has shown promise in alleviating depressive symptoms, it is intended to be ingested, not injected.
The fungi treated the man’s veins as a damp, dark environment perfect for growth. He experienced severe symptoms, including vomiting blood, confusion, and incoherence, leading to severe kidney and liver damage. Doctors had to put him on a ventilator and filter his blood during a three-week hospital stay.
This case highlights the dangers of self-medicating without proper guidance, emphasizing the need for professional support when exploring new treatments.