Turkey Tail

Who is she?

If you enjoy long walks through the forest, you know her - even if you think you don't.

Turkey Tail can be found almost anywhere where trees grow.

She has thin, wave like shelves that overlap each other with bright, vibrant colors and patterns that resemble the tails on turkeys (hence the name). Rest assured, my Turkey Tail extract does not contain any real turkey.

It's latin name - Trametes versicolor, translates into"one that is thin" & "changing color."

Native & abundant in Europe, Asia & North America, Turkey Tail has long been an ally in Eastern medicine systems but what really has fascinated me is the research that is being done on it's efficacy of cancer treatments.

History

Turkey Tail has been featured in the Chinese material media since around 200 B.C. It has a tough, leather like exterior that makes it unpleasant to eat (trust me I've tried) but great for brewing a medicinal tea. In TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) Turkey Tail has been used to strengthen the spirit (Shen) & vital energy (Chi) + its been used as lung & liver support for centuries. The abundant clinical investigation into Turkey Tail brought to light the application potential of mushroom polysaccharides, also known as beta-glucans, as potent immunomodulators. The polysaccharides of Turkey Tail are suspected to interact directly with our immune cells, increasing their numbers in the body and augmenting their ability to seek out and dispose of unwanted pathogens. It's compounds, polysaccharopeptide & polysaccharide-k (PSK) have been shown to inhibit cancer cells growth. Not only that - but these polysaccharides also promote a beneficial shift in the immune state of the body, as measured by messenger signals in the blood, activating other immune cells involved in long-term immunological memory.

The mushroom itself contains more than just polysaccharides. The array of steroids, triterpenes, organic acids, alkaloids and pro-vitamin D2 found in Turkey Tail are thought to contribute to its antioxidant and pre-biotic activity.

Turkey Tail is the most widely-studied medicinal mushroom in scientific literature, the evidence for the benefits of Turkey Tail is definitely intriguing!

Health Benefits

Immune Health

Due to its high polysaccharide content, Turkey tail has been shown to stimulate immune functions, specifically in women with breast cancer.

Gut Health

Recent studies have also shown that Turkey tail polysaccharides have a prebiotic effect on the gut microbiome, promoting a healthy balance of beneficial bacteria in the gut. Learn more about fungi & gut health.

Antioxidants

There are more than just polysaccharides found in turkey tail mushroom. There are over 30 different compounds with antioxidant properties. A full spectrum Turkey tail extract has been shown to act a natural source of antioxidants, protecting against DNA damage.

Supporting our immune system, gut health and managing oxidative stress in the body are all critical in promoting long term health and wellbeing. :-)