What are these turkey tail mushrooms anyways. In their ‘technical name’, trametes versicolor, commonly referred to as turkey tail because of their appearance, are found worldwide. In North America specifically, they can be found anywhere there are dead hardwood logs and stumps decomposing. Often brown in color, but can also add colors similar to reddish brown, cinnamon or caramilk, and fuzzy or velvety in texture on the cap.
They are safe for consumption, after their suggested process of preparations, and are encouraged to be used by those with compromised immune systems, and some scientific studies suggest those suffering from cancer can benefit greatly. There are also documented benefits to cardiovascular health.
Mushrooms a Natural Remedy?
More commonly used medically in China as a preventative and curative agent for liver infections and liver cancer, and in Japan it is considered a remedy for a variety of different infections and cancers. It is believed to be an immune stimulant. Although there is very little medical proof to make this designation of remedy there are multiple scientific studies to support these claims.
Many of the clinical studies performed in Japan, from liver to lung cancer, in stages I – III suggested survival rates were significantly increased.
An in vitro study was also completed on patients with a HIV diagnosis. The results from this case study demonstrated antiviral activity in humans. A similar study was completed using mice as the subjects, and the in vitro results also demonstrated a protective effect.
Several multi year studies are occurring in North America presently, dating back to 2010 when NCCAM was awarded a 5.4 million dollar grant where a portion was designated to the discovery, clinical trial and follow up on the turkey tail mushrooms. Naturopathy students have adopted this remedy and one student particularly won a $24,000 dollar scholarship with his contribution.
What are the Medicinal Properties and How Do We Get Them?
Dating back hundreds of years, our ancestors would boil the mushrooms – few reasons for that; eliminate bacteria, help the mushroom itself become softer, and help extract the rich, soluble, cells. Advanced technology now, assists in making the process far easier, but boiling the turkey tail mushrooms are still quite common if being ingested as a tea or liquid.
Known as the “natural killer cells” the turkey tail mushrooms aid (scientifically) in virally infected cells – common in patients with Human Papillomavirus (HPV) – linked to cervical cancer, and Hepatitis C – linked to causes of liver cancer.
“The Japanese company Kureha first screened many polypore mushrooms and found that turkey tails produced a profound immune response, a discovery confirmed by many other subsequent studies. The Kureha researchers received a patent for extracting both the mycelium and mushrooms in 1976 and derivative U.S. patents through 1981 (long since expired). The extraction method led to marketing “PSK” (polysaccharide Krestin®) and later “PSP,” both protein-bound polysaccharides. PSK became recognized as a cancer drug in Japan and approved under somewhat controversial conditions”.
How to Access These Benefits?
Unfortunately, in the United States specifically, in order to have a drug approved by the FDA, made in a foreign country, the active medicinal ingredient needs to be disclosed. As a result, because of the various sugars and proteins, it is unclear what, if any, the unique molecule is.
Although that particular formula isn’t available for sale in the United States – the actual turkey tail mushrooms are widely available. The turkey tail mushroom can also be marketed, or advertised as something that “supports the immune system” as a result of being recognized by the FDA as a nutraceutical ingredient. In order for the FDA approval, there needs to be a clearly identified active agent, and that’s simply not possible at this time.
Does Organic Matter?
Yes! Organic, turkey tail mushrooms are a must – otherwise, these particular mushrooms when tested, test high, particularly in Asia, in hyper-accumulate heavy metals, generally from soil pollution. In simple terms, would be counter productive to taking these mushrooms for immune defenses. Their “life expectancy” is approximately two years – and beyond that, often becomes home to other living organisms; beetles and moths for example.
An interesting fact is turkey tail, a lot like shiitake mushrooms, accumulate selenium from the environment – when selenium meets mercury, they come completely non-toxic. Sounds like a perfect match for a fish entree, wouldn’t you agree?
Be sure when purchasing turkey tail mushrooms, that they are organic, don’t mistake a company's trademark for that of a certified organic symbol.
Mushrooms versus Medicine
Dependent on the single molecule approach – however, drugs are typically quite potent in the end, and nature simply just doesn’t work like that. As a result of natural remedies and products having a variety of multiple mechanism in action, it is scientifically very difficult to figure them all out. But, our bodies have evolved enough, that we are able to rely on them.
To create a synergy or clarity even, research will continue to bring natural medicines and modern science, together.
A bridging of Eastern and Western medicine.
