Psilocybin is gaining traction in medical research due to its potential therapeutic benefits. However, a severe incident has underscored the risks associated with its use outside of controlled environments.
An Austrian man amputated his penis with a blunt axe after consuming a large dose of psilocybin mushrooms, storing its fragments in a jar with soil and dirty snow.
Doctors were mostly able to reattach the penis fragments after disinfecting and debriding them, according to a report of the extreme case in the Mega Journal of Surgery.
Psilocybin is a naturally occurring psychedelic compound found in magic mushrooms.
Once ingested, the body converts it to psilocin, a chemical with psychoactive properties that can cause hallucinations, altering a person’s perceptions of the world and their emotional states.
A recent study published in Translational Psychiatry found that the drug showed promise in treating depression by increasing positive mood and alleviating negative thought patterns, while another study by the Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis documented how psilocybin could impact peoples’ perceptions of space and time, making them more open and flexible.
However, outside of the controlled environments of clinical laboratories, psilocybin can be potentially dangerous – especially in those with pre-existing mental health disorders that cause psychosis.