Many different varieties of magic mushroom may change their appearance over time, such as blue spots or blotches on the surface. Some believe that these spots mean that the shrooms are weaker, and less potent. While others believe that they are an indicator that the shrooms contain the psychedelic effects that you may be looking for. So let’s take a further look into why there are blue spots on magic mushrooms.
What Causes the Blue Spots?
The blue spots on the shrooms occur through a process knowing as bruising or bluing. It is very common on the outside of mushrooms that contain psilocybin and is often discussed by plant experts. However, the cause is disputed. Most believe that the blue colour appears when the psilocin substance within the mushroom (this causes psychedelic effects) begins to degrade within the cells of the mushroom after it is exposed to oxygen having been broken away from the root. As the cells begin to degrade, they turn a darker blue colour, causing the spotting on the surface.
The blue spotting on shooms therefore, gives us a great indicator that psilocin was present at one stage in the mushroom, even if it has now fully degraded. It is also believed that the mushrooms that are most potent and have a stronger effect are likely to develop bruising more easily and therefore may have more bruising than their less potent counterparts.
How to Identify?
It is also important to note however, that some varieties of mushroom with no psychoactive properties can also develop some blue colouring. The reaction that causes the blue colour is different in none-psychoactive types and due to this, the blue shade is a different tone. The colour instead forms from different reactions within the mushroom, reacting with different compounds within it.
Blue spots are not a simple tell of whether a mushroom has psilocybin in it however, as some with the compound do not bruise at all – it simply varies by species. If you find magic mushrooms that have no bruising that doesn’t mean they will not have any psychoactive effects.
When you are examining magic mushrooms, make sure that you are not assuming that the spots are dark blue when they could actually be black. Although some heavy bruising can look very dark, black spots that have a bad smell are actually rotting of the mushroom and mold. If your mushrooms have mold or are decomposing, then do not consume them as they may cause harm to the body.
It is often asked, when does bruising occur? The answer to this is when more of the mushroom is exposed to oxygen in the air. This happens when they are picked out of the ground and handled. The more a mushroom is handled, the more likely it is to develop blue spots. This is because the structure of the mushroom is damaged by being handled and this leads to more oxygen entering it’s insides. This then degrades the psilocybin, causing blue spots.
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