Over time, most magic mushrooms tend to develop blue bruising. Even though this is usually thought to reduce mushroom potency, it’s also an indication of the presence of chemical constituents with psychedelic properties.
If you grow or consume magic mushrooms, you might have noticed that with time, they tend to develop. These spots are mostly regarded as bruises, and they sometimes act as an indicator of the level of potency of the magic mushroom. Even though it’s not fully known why bruises occur, they usually appear pear on the mycelium and fruiting bodies. Continue reading to learn more about blue bruising on magic mushrooms and why they occur.
What is Magic Mushroom Bruising?
Bruising is also known as bluing, and this is a natural process that usually occurs in psilocybin mushrooms. Even though bluing is very common and discussed a lot, it’s unclear why it happens. However, the general belief is that blue bruising occurs as a result of psilocin degradation caused by enzymes within the cells of the mushrooms after an oxidative process. This implies that the bluing is a result of the decomposition of the psychoactive compounds in magic mushrooms.
The bluing of magic mushrooms usually serves as a confirmation that psilocybin or psilocin was or is present in the mushroom. Another interesting fact is that potent mushrooms are generally believed to develop blue bruising more than less potent ones. However, it’s important to note that there are many non-psychoactive mushroom strains that develop blue bruising over time, but this is a result of a different reaction.
Also, there are psilocybin-containing mushroom species that don’t bruise at all. Therefore, the key thing to have in mind is that not all magic mushroom species experience bruising. If you notice bruising on yours, it’s not completely a sign of ineffectiveness. In addition, it’s important to ensure that you don’t confuse blue bruising with blackening. If you notice black sports with an unpleasant smell on your mushroom, it could be a sign of rot/mold and an indication that the mushroom is not safe for consumption.
When Does Bruising Occur?
Mushrooms are generally thought to experience bruising after exposure to oxygen or when they are manipulated or handled improperly. This damage affects the mushroom’s structure, and it eventually leads to the degradation of psilocybin. Despite that, a 1997 study highlights that a bluing reaction is not always a sign of oxygen exposure.
This has caused many to believe that the presence of metallic compounds in mushrooms is a factor that can cause the reaction. It’s also likely to occur in the presence of enzymes, but this is not common in all psilocybin mushrooms. This is why not all psilocybin-containing mushrooms will bruise. Basically, it’s only mushrooms with copper-based compounds that will bruise.
Can Mycelium Get Bruised?
Blue bruising can also affect mycelium. Basically, it’s possible for the substrate to develop blue bruising when handled improperly or exposed to oxygen. In some cases, inexperienced growers usually think bruising is a type of contamination. However, it’s important to note that you can always determine whether your mycelium is contaminated or bruised with the Q-tip test. You only need to wipe a fresh Q-tip across the affected area, and if you notice the blue color on the Q-tip, then it means the mycelium is contaminated and not bruised.
Does Bruising Affect Magic Mushroom Potency?
Bluing can affect the potency of the psilocybin mushrooms. This is due to the fact that psilocin must break down and degrade before the bluish bruise occurs. There, more bruising on your mushrooms implies that more of their psilocin content has degraded. With that, the mushroom will now be as active and will only produce little psychedelic effects after consumption. Therefore, when harvesting magic mushrooms, it’s important to avoid unnecessary bruising.
Do All Psilocybin Mushrooms Bruise Blue?
Magic mushroom strains are generally known for their tendency to bruise, but some strains don’t bruise at all. As mentioned earlier, the requirement for bruising includes the presence of psilocin, psilocybin, and a copper-based element. However, it’s important to note that not all magic mushroom strains that contain these compounds will bruise blue. Psilocybe cubensis is a strain that is known for bruising blue or green in some cases. There are other strains with higher psilocin and psilocybin content that also bruise blue, like Psilocybe azurescens.
