Pakistani man is addicted to eating trees

A Pakistani man says he has been addicted to eating trees for the past 25 years.

Mehmood Butt, 50, from Gujranwala, a district in the Punjab province, first started eating wood and leaves because he was too poor to afford a basic meal.

He said: `There was too much poverty in my family. Everything was beyond limit and it was very difficult for me to get a meal.

`I thought it is better to eat wood rather than begging on a street.`

Years later, as Mr Butt took up work and could afford meals, he found himself strangely keen on maintaining his unique eating practice.

`Eating wood and leaves has become my habit now,` he said.

Mr Butt earns almost £5 a day by transporting things from one place to another on his donkey cart. His eyes are always set to eating fresh wood and leaves.

His neighbour Ghulam Mohammad said: `He will stop his cart on the roadside anytime and will eat fresh tree branches.`

Mr Butt is popular in his community for his eating habits but has left people shocked as he has never got sick from eating trees.

Mohammad added: `He has never visited a doctor or any hospital. We are shocked how can a person not fall ill despite eating wood all these years.`

Mr Butt`s favourite wood is Banyan, Tali and Suck Chain trees.

Source: Daily Mail Online