11/05/2017
Like many mushrooms, the Turkey Tail mushrooms offers a variety of support for overall health and natural immunity. With a colorful appearance like the feathers in a turkey’s tail, this mushroom provides many benefits. In fact, scientists are now researching Turkey Tail more than any other medicinal mushroom! Meanwhile, herbal practitioners continue to celebrate its pro-immune and anti-cancer effects.1
If you’re looking to learn more, here is what you need to know about the Turkey Tail mushrooms…
Health Benefits of the Turkey Tail Mushroom
Known as Trametes versicolor by scientists, the Turkey Tail mushroom can support general health and wellness in many ways. Here are a few key benefits of this medicinal mushroom…
Boosting immunity: The natural anti-viral and anti-fungal qualities of this mushroom support the body in fighting off viruses infections. This includes a range of health problems, from the common cold and pneumonia to E. coli, Herpes, and HIV.
Fighting cancer: In addition, many more medical practitioners recognize and endorse the anti-cancer benefits of Turkey Tail mushroom. A 2012 study found that a daily dose improved immune function in women with breast cancer.2 Since 1977, Turkey Tail has been approved for use as an anti-cancer adjutant in Japan.3
In fact, new research is still underway to continue looking into this mighty mushroom and its many applications.
Active Ingredients in the Turkey Tail Mushroom
Researchers point to polysaccharides – that is, beneficial sugars – as a key to Turkey Tail’s anti-cancer benefits. Research shows that these complex sugars help the body to preserve lymphocytes.4
The specific polysaccharides are “Kresin” (PSK) and “Peptide” (PSP).
Today, this compound is extracted from the Turkey Tail mushroom to make cancer-fighting supplements.
Turkey Tail - by Jerzy Opioła - CC BY-SA 3.0Native Habitat of the Turkey Tail Mushroom
Unlike many other medicinal mushrooms, Turkey Tail mushrooms grow abundantly all over the world. In fact, they are some of the most common mushrooms on the planet.
One will find these thin, leaf-like fungi growing on most any dead trees, logs, or stumps. That means they flourish in pretty much any climate where trees grow!
Traditional Uses of the Turkey Tail Mushroom
The Turkey Tail mushroom has a long history of use around the world. Indeed, on almost every continent, people have treasured this simple mushroom for its many healing qualities. Of course, the most prevalent use was in Chinese and Japanese traditional medicine. There it dates back for centuries.
In Japan, it symbolizes a sense of longevity and spiritual strength. While in China, practitioners used it to support respiratory and gut health, as well as energy and immunity.
Today, many people enjoy Turkey Tail for its health benefits as a medicinal mushroom.
Whether eaten whole or taken as a supplement, the Turkey Tail mushroom can provide a host of benefits. And there are other similarly medicinal mushrooms, too! In fact, there is much to learn about other well-known species. To get started,learn more about medicinal mushrooms and their ability to boost energy and immunity. Plus, check out reishi, chaga, cordyceps, lion’s mane, maitake, and shiitake.
