Self-cannibalism

Self-cannibalism is the practice of eating parts of one's own body, also called autocannibalism^[1] or autosarcophagy.^[2] Generally, only the consumption of flesh (including organ meat such as heart or liver) by an individual of the same species is considered cannibalism.^[3] In line with this usage, self-cannibalism means the consumption of flesh from one's own body. While some texts use this strict definition,^[4] others use the term autocannibalism in a wider sense that includes the consumption of hair or nails from one's own body.^[5]

Both humans and some animal species occasionally practice self-cannibalism. In humans, it can be a symptom of a mental disorder, but there are also a handful of people who have voluntarily consumed an amputated body part. In other cases, people were forced to eat parts of themselves as a form of torture.

A similar term that is applied differently is autophagy, which specifically denotes the normal process of self-degradation by cells. While typically used only for this specific process, autophagy has nonetheless occasionally been used as a general synonym for self-cannibalism.^[6]