Man Injected Himself with "Magic Mushroom," and Fungal Spores Began Growing in His Body

Psilocybin mushrooms (Psilocybe cubensis)Photo byWikipedia commons.

In an extraordinary medical incident published as a case report in 2021, a 30-year-old man ended up fighting for his life after injecting himself with a homemade concoction of “magic mushroom” tea.

While most people associate magic mushrooms with psychedelic experiences when ingested orally, this individual’s misguided attempt to self-medicate resulted in a rare fungal infection spreading through his bloodstream, leading to severe organ failure.

Photo byJournal of the Academy of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry 2021

The Shroom Tea Incident

The man, who struggled with bipolar disorder and opioid dependence, sought relief from his symptoms by turning to psilocybin mushrooms—famous for their mind-altering effects.

He had stopped taking his prescribed medication for bipolar disorder and was in a vulnerable state, moving between severe depressive and manic episodes. After reading about the potential benefits of hallucinogens like LSD and psilocybin mushrooms for mental health, he decided to experiment by brewing a tea from the mushrooms.

What makes this case even more alarming is the method of administration. Instead of drinking the tea, as is more commonly done, the man filtered the mushroom tea through a cotton swab and injected it directly into his bloodstream, bypassing the digestive system. This dangerous decision quickly turned his life upside down.

Severe Consequences and Hospitalization

Just days after the injection, the man’s health took a dramatic turn for the worse. He became lethargic and nauseated, his skin turned yellow, and he developed severe gastrointestinal symptoms, including vomiting blood and diarrhea. His family rushed him to the emergency room when they noticed he was extremely disoriented and unable to communicate effectively.

Upon arrival at the hospital, doctors found that his liver and kidneys were failing, and his condition continued to deteriorate. He was transferred to the intensive care unit (ICU), where he was treated for multi-organ failure.

His blood tests revealed an alarming presence: a fungal infection caused by Psilocybe cubensis—the very mushroom he injected—and a bacterial infection with Brevibacillus.

The fungal spores had not only survived the boiling process of making tea but had also begun to grow in his bloodstream, leading to systemic infection. This rare but severe condition required the man to be placed on a ventilator after his lungs began to fail, and he was treated with a combination of antifungal and antibiotic medications.

The Dangers of Unsanctioned Drug Use

This case sheds light on the potential dangers of using drugs, especially when misused in unconventional ways. While psilocybin, the active compound in magic mushrooms, is being studied for its therapeutic potential in treating mental health disorders, these studies are conducted in controlled environments.

Scientists administer psilocybin either in pill form or under strict medical supervision, sometimes through intravenous injections that do not contain live fungi.

But in this man’s case, injecting live fungal matter directly into his veins led to a cascade of life-threatening complications. The doctors treating him emphasized the need for public awareness about the dangers of using drugs in ways they are not intended or prescribed.

Psilocybin’s Therapeutic Potential: A Word of Caution

It’s important to note that while psilocybin is still classified as a Schedule I substance in the U.S., meaning it has no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse, recent research suggests that these classifications may need reconsideration.

Emerging studies indicate that psilocybin could be a powerful tool for treating certain mental health conditions, such as depression, anxiety, and addiction. In fact, cities like Denver, Oakland, and Portland have decriminalized the use of magic mushrooms, and Oregon has legalized their use in therapeutic settings.

Still, this potential is only realized when the drug is used in a safe, controlled environment under medical supervision. Recreational use, especially through unconventional and dangerous methods like injecting, presents significant health risks, as demonstrated by this man's case.

Psilocybin mushrooms are typically consumed by brewing them in tea, eating them raw or dried, or taking them in capsules, but injecting the substance directly into the bloodstream is extremely risky and should never be attempted.

A Lesson Learned

This disturbing case highlights the need for further public education on the proper use of substances like psilocybin, as well as the dangers of unsupervised self-medication.

For this patient, what began as a search for relief from mental illness and addiction turned into a life-threatening ordeal, serving as a sobering reminder of the potential dangers of misusing drugs.

Fortunately, after intensive treatment and ongoing therapy, the patient survived. But his story stands as a powerful cautionary tale for others who might be considering similar experiments with hallucinogenic substances.