Short answer: not as a real cure-all. “Blue Angel” is a fictional miracle fungus from the TV series Common Side Effects. In mycology, the nickname sometimes points to a real species, Psilocybe azurescens, which is a potent psychedelic, not a universal medicine.

Where the pop-culture name comes from

The show Common Side Effects centers on a mythical “Blue Angel” mushroom said to heal almost anything. That mushroom is a story device, not a documented organism. Reviews and coverage of the series describe it as fiction.

The real mushroom sometimes called “blue angel”

Some writers use “blue angel” for Psilocybe azurescens. This is a real wood-loving species native to the Pacific Northwest, known for high psilocybin content and strong blue bruising. It is also widely called the flying saucer mushroom. None of this relates to disease cures.

Do not confuse it with “destroying angel”

“Destroying angel” refers to several deadly white Amanita species, especially Amanita bisporigera and A. virosa. They are not blue, they are not psychedelic, and they can be fatal if eaten. The similar names can mislead beginners.

Safety and legality

Psilocybin mushrooms are illegal in many places. A few jurisdictions have decriminalized personal possession, which does not make them medically approved or risk-free. Identification mistakes with wild mushrooms can be severe, and foraging by common names is unsafe. Use scientific names and expert guidance.

Bottom line

The “Blue Angel mushroom” from TV does not exist in nature. The real species sometimes nicknamed blue angel is Psilocybe azurescens, a powerful psychedelic with no proven disease-curing properties. If you are reading about mushrooms for food or medicine, rely on scientific names and expert sources, not nicknames.