A 26-year old man from China was left with a burnt hole in his stomach lining and hospitalized in Wuhan, China, after he enjoyed a notoriously spicy soup.

The man ordered a mala soup, meaning 'numbing hot’ soup, experienced a piercing pain in his stomach and vomited a large amount of blood. Doctors say the Sichuan-peppercorn-addled soup "burned right through his stomach tissue." “The combination is known to cause a numbing sensation when consumed,” according to The Daily Mail.

With no medical history of ulcers or other gastrointestinal disorders of the man, the medical professionals have concluded that the spicy mala soup must have burned through his stomach tissue. Doctors now have started calling these cases “hot pot patients”.

According to Sankei Biz, many hot pot restaurants now use cheap synthetic seasonings and additives rather than traditional expensive Sichuan pepper.