Turkey Tail

Effects and Benefits

Core Identification

Common Names:
- Turkey Tail
- Kawaratake (Japanese: "mushroom by the river bank")
- Yun zhi (Chinese: "cloud fungus")
- Coriolus mushroom

Latin Name: Trametes versicolor (formerly Coriolus versicolor)

Category: Medicinal Mushroom

Uses

Traditional Uses

• Clear dampness and reduce phlegm - Traditional Chinese Medicine
• Heal pulmonary disorders and chronic coughs - Traditional Chinese Medicine
• Strengthen physique and increase energy in chronically ill patients - Traditional Chinese Medicine
• Treat ringworm and impetigo (topical) - Mexican folk medicine

Modern Uses

• Immune System Support - Activates multiple immune cell types including macrophages, dendritic cells, natural killer cells, T cells, and B cells | Research quality: Strong
• Key findings: Beta-glucans activate immune response through toll-like receptors in the digestive tract, stimulating cytokine production and enhancing overall immune surveillance. Effective for preventing and treating infections of upper respiratory, urinary, and digestive tracts.

• Source citations: Hobbs, Christopher - Medicinal Mushrooms: The Essential Guide

• Cancer Treatment Support - Reduces chemotherapy side effects and may improve survival rates when used as adjunct therapy | Research quality: Strong

• Key findings: Over 40 clinical trials show improved 5-year and 10-year survival rates for colorectal, gastric, esophageal, and breast cancers when PSK/PSP extracts are combined with conventional chemotherapy. Reduces nausea, improves immune function, and boosts energy during treatment. Prevents rapid white blood cell drops after chemotherapy with vincristine, cyclophosphamide, and 4'epidoxorubicin.

• Source citations: Hobbs, Christopher - Medicinal Mushrooms: The Essential Guide; PSK approved in Japan 1977

• Antiviral Activity - Supports the body's response to viral infections | Research quality: Moderate

• Key findings: Demonstrated antiviral effects particularly for hepatitis viruses. May help prevent/treat viral infections of the upper respiratory and digestive tracts.

• Source citations: Hobbs, Christopher - Medicinal Mushrooms: The Essential Guide

• Cardiovascular Support - Supports healthy cholesterol levels and blood sugar regulation | Research quality: Moderate

• Key findings: Lowers total and LDL cholesterol while increasing HDL. High fiber content provides additional cardiovascular protection. Mild blood-glucose-regulating effect with reduced insulin resistance noted in preliminary research.
• Source citations: Hobbs, Christopher - Medicinal Mushrooms: The Essential Guide

Active Compounds

Primary Active Ingredients:
- Beta-glucans (>50% content) - Immune-modulating polysaccharides with triple helix structure; one of the highest concentrations among medicinal mushrooms
- PSK (Polysaccharide-K/Krestin) - Protein-bound polysaccharide (62% polysaccharides, 38% protein); the most studied medicinal mushroom extract, approved as a cancer drug in Japan since 1977
- PSP (Polysaccharide Peptide) - Chinese counterpart to PSK with similar immune-modulating properties
- Ergosterol - Precursor to vitamin D2; supports cellular health
- Triterpenes - Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds
- Phenolic compounds - Antioxidant activity

Dosage Information

Standard Dosage:
- Form: Powdered extract or capsules
- Amount: 1-3 grams per day
- Frequency: Once or twice daily in smoothie, tea, or as capsules

Therapeutic Dosage:
- Form: Powdered fruiting bodies or concentrated extract
- Amount: 3-6 grams per day (PSK/PSP extracts for cancer support); up to 27 grams per day of dried fruiting bodies for acute conditions
- Purpose: Immune support during illness or as adjunct to cancer treatment
- Duration: Effects observed after 14+ days of consistent use; safe for long-term use (2+ years documented)

Maximum Safe Dosage:
- Daily maximum: No toxic effects observed even at very high doses
- Warning threshold: LD-50 >5,000 mg/kg with no toxic effects after 30 days in animal studies; considered extremely safe

Bioavailability Notes:
- Must be heated or cooked to break chitin-glucan bonds and release beta-glucans
- Only approximately 20% of beta-glucans are water-soluble without heating
- Simmer for 1-2 hours (or 30 minutes in multicooker on high) for optimal extraction
- Tinctures are inferior for immune/anticancer effects as beta-glucans are not alcohol-soluble

How to Take It

Timing:
- No specific time of day required
- Can be taken with food as tea, soup stock, or in smoothies
- Taking every other day has shown same benefits as daily use in studies
- For winter prevention, consider 10-15 grams per day of dried mushroom

Preparation Methods:
- Tea/decoction: Simmer dried mushrooms 1-2 hours, blend with cooking water
- Capsules: Two "00" capsules twice daily (400-500mg each); can increase to 4 capsules twice daily
- Fresh: Can be chewed raw (tastes like mushroom-flavored gum)
- Preservation: Freeze fresh mushrooms 3 days before drying to prevent larvae; dry at 100°F/38°C

Synergies - What It Works Well With

Complementary Supplements:
1. Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) - Complementary immune modulation | Combined medicinal mushroom protocols enhance overall immune support
2. Shiitake (Lentinula edodes) - Different beta-glucan profile | Broader spectrum immune activation
3. Maitake (Grifola frondosa) - Synergistic polysaccharides | Enhanced immune response when combined
4. Chaga (Inonotus obliquus) - Antioxidant and immune support | Comprehensive adaptogenic mushroom protocol

Rotation Protocol: Consider rotating medicinal mushroom species every 3 months to prevent habituation and maintain effectiveness.

Avoidance - What NOT to Combine With

Supplement Interactions:
- No significant supplement interactions documented

Drug Interactions:
- No significant drug interactions documented in safety literature
- Safely combined with chemotherapy drugs including vincristine, cyclophosphamide, and 4'epidoxorubicin in clinical trials (actually provides protective benefits against white blood cell drops)

Food Interactions:
- No specific food interactions documented

Safety Information

Contraindications:
- No established contraindications
- Extremely safe with extensive clinical trial data

Side Effects:
- Initial period may include: mild dizziness, sore bones, itchy skin, increased bowel movements, hardened feces, or pimple-like eruptions
- These are considered detox symptoms that typically resolve with continued use
- Generally very well-tolerated

Long-Term Use:
- Safe for prolonged use; studies document 2+ years of continuous use
- No tolerance development concerns when rotated with other medicinal mushrooms
- No monitoring recommendations required

Special Precautions:
- Pregnancy/Lactation: Traditional use supports safety; no adverse effects documented
- Surgery: No known concerns
- No toxic look-alikes when foraging; safe for wild harvesting

Primary Uses At-a-Glance

Primary: Immune system support, adjunct cancer treatment support, reducing chemotherapy side effects, preventing respiratory infections

Secondary: Cardiovascular support, antiviral support, increasing energy and vitality in chronic illness

Sources

Local Library:
- Hobbs, Christopher - Medicinal Mushrooms: The Essential Guide (primary source)
- Coffman, Sam - Herbal Medic
- Connors, Martha - The Everything Guide to Herbal Remedies
- Bennett, Robin Rose - The Gift of Healing Herbs
- Blankespoor, Juliet - The Healing Garden
- WRCHM - Western Materia Medica II
- WRCHM - Herbal Pharmacy
- WRCHM - Herb-Drug-Nutrient Interaction

General Knowledge:
- PSK approval and clinical trial data from Japanese oncology research (1977-present)
- Traditional Chinese Medicine documentation