Turkey tail is probably the most famous mushroom in the scientific sphere and has been most heavily researched, particularly for cancer in both humans and canines.
It was most famously used by mycologist, Paul Stamets to cure his mother from stage four metastatic breast cancer when doctors had predicted she only had three months left to live. Today she is alive and well with no detectable cancers!
So let’s take a deeper look at this “mushroom of immunity”.
BACKGROUND
This mushroom is commonly found and widespread throughout the world, and is known by the name ‘turkey tail’ due to its many colours and its fan-like appearance resembling the tail of a wild turkey.
It can be easily mistaken for the ‘False Turkey Tail’ mushroom which looks very similar, but is of a completely different order.
It commonly grows in rows or groups on stumps or logs of deciduous trees, and has been used for centuries as a health promoting supplement in traditional Chinese medicine (where it is known as Yun Zhi) and Native American herbalism.
In Japan, its name ‘Kawaratake’ means ‘Cloud mushroom’, with the cloud in Japanese culture representing longevity, health and spiritual attunement.
WHAT IS TURKEY TAIL MUSHROOM USED FOR?
As mentioned above, turkey tail has been so heavily researched due to its effectiveness against even the most aggressive cancers, showing similar or better effects than chemotherapy.
It has also known to ameliorate side effects from chemotherapy and radiotherapy, as well as extend survival time in cancer patients, but it also has benefits outside of cancer, lending the name “the mushroom of immunity”.
BENEFITS OF TURKEY TAIL MUSHROOM
● Cancer-fighting properties - delaying metastasis, inducing cell death in tumours and clearing of cancer lesions.
● Fighting viral and respiratory infections
● Treating splenic disorders (resulting in weakness, diarrhoea, bloating and vomiting)
● Relieving joint pain
● Balancing blood sugar
● Improving gut health and preventing obesity
● Boosting stamina and reducing fatigue
● Enhancing immune status and antioxidant activity
Turkey tail is commonly used with a combination of other medicinal or functional mushrooms to treat cancer cases in older dogs, whose owners don’t want to put their pets through chemotherapy or other invasive procedures.
Complexes of these kinds can be used to treat any kind of infection, whether acute or chronic, to give the whole system an overall boost.
Hopefully, the power of turkey tail can introduce you to the many benefits of functional mushrooms.
if you would like to try turkey tail mushroom extracts for your pets, you can find this in our Immunity super topper.
Check out our other supplements here for more information.
References:
- Brown DC, Reetz J. Single agent polysaccharopeptide delays metastases and improves survival in naturally occurring hemangiosarcoma. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2012;2012:384301. doi: 10.1155/2012/384301. Epub 2012 Sep 5. PMID: 22988473; PMCID: PMC3440946.
- Gedney A, Salah P, Mahoney JA, Krick E, Martins R, Scavello H, Lenz JA, Atherton MJ. Evaluation of the anti-tumour activity of Coriolus versicolor polysaccharopeptide (I'm-Yunity) alone or in combination with doxorubicin for canine splenic hemangiosarcoma. Vet Comp Oncol. 2022 Sep;20(3):688-696. doi: 10.1111/vco.12823. Epub 2022 Apr 25. PMID: 35442554.
