While not everyone can be a professional mycologist such as Paul Stamets, there are certain things you just should never - ever - do with magic mushrooms. And we’re not even talking about things to do during a trip. Reports have come in that a man who injected magic mushrooms into his bloodstream into himself has fallen victim to organ failure as the fungi began to develop in the body.

“Even more alarming were the results of the blood test: the 'magic' mushrooms, which grow well in dark places, began to actually grow in the bloodstream”

Not a great idea...

The incident is talked about in the Journal of the Academy of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry. The 30-year -old man wanted to use less medication for his bipolar disorder and depression. It was during this period that he began research into the therapeutic effects of microdosing LSD and psilocybin, a naturally occurring psychedelic produced by over 200 species of mushrooms, as you are probably well aware of. He found some studies about magic mushrooms and psilocybin and thought it would be a good idea to incorporate the shrooms in his daily life. More and more scientific researchers think there might be a link between the two, but home-treatments are still never advised.

Normally, as most of you guys know, the mushrooms should be eaten in their entirety or, if necessary, dissolved in powder in tea, which can then be drunk. The man had other plans. He boiled the mushrooms, filtered the water, and injected the remaining substance. Drinking mushroom tea is a method used by some recreational takers of the drug. However, Mr X took the unusual step of preparing it for injection by drawing it through cotton, before injecting the concoction into his veins.

Also read: Americans looking forward to psilocybin-retreats

A trip to the hospital

Safe to say that wasn’t the best idea. A few days later he became very tired, started vomiting blood, developed a fever and diarrhea. His family found him in dire condition and took the man to the hospital, where doctors could no longer initiate a conversation with the man. Tests showed that liver and kidneys were not working properly and the initial stage of organ failure occurred.

Even more alarming were the results of the blood test: the 'magic' mushrooms, which grow well in dark places, began to actually grow in the bloodstream, writes The Insider. The man had to be ventilated and his blood was thoroughly filtered. He received two antibiotics and an anti-fungal treatment that continues even after discharge from the hospital.

"It is unclear whether active intravascular infection with a psychoactive fungus such as Psilocybe cubensis may prompt persistent psychoactive effects as seen with ingestion of the same species, which could further contribute to changes in perception and cognition," the team wrote in the report, adding that the case highlights the need to educate the public on the dangers of using drugs in ways that they are not prescribed.