Man amputates penis with an axe after consuming psilocybin mushrooms
In a shocking and unprecedented case, a 37-year-old man in Austria severed his own penis with an axe after consuming a high dose of psychedelic mushrooms, according to a recent report published in the Mega Journal of Surgery and detailed by PsyPost.org.
The man, who was reportedly struggling with depression and alcohol abuse, ingested four to five dried psilocybin mushrooms, leading to a brief psychotic episode. Psilocybin, the active compound in “magic” mushrooms, is known to cause hallucinatory states by altering serotonin receptors in the brain, heightening emotions and altering sensory perceptions.
It has been used for centuries by indigenous cultures in spiritual ceremonies and is currently being studied for its potential therapeutic benefits, including the treatment of depression, anxiety, PTSD, and addiction. However, the unsupervised use of the drug in this case had devastating consequences.
The man’s psychotic break led to what doctors are calling the first documented case of psilocybin-induced Klingsor syndrome, a rare and extreme form of self-harm involving the genitals.
While alone at his vacation home, the man used an axe to sever his penis into multiple pieces, apparently attempting to control blood flow with a piece of cloth and placing parts of the organ in a jar filled with snow.
After wandering from his home in search of help, he was eventually spotted by a local resident and transported to a hospital in critical condition.
He arrived about five hours after the incident, with doctors immediately facing complications, including tissue necrosis (death of skin tissue).
Despite the severe nature of his injuries, doctors at Hospital Feldkirch in Austria were able to reattach the tip and about two inches of the penis. Other parts had been too damaged for reattachment.
Remarkably, within a few months of surgery, the man regained both erectile and urinary function. While the case has drawn attention for its grisly details, it also serves as a cautionary tale about the risks of unsupervised psychedelic use, particularly for individuals struggling with underlying mental health conditions.
