Main Image courtesy of the Missouri Department of Conservation.
Recently, natural remedies have been skyrocketing in popularity, and we can definitely understand why. Mushrooms specifically have attracted a lot of attention as of late for their various health benefits.
Whether or not you’re a fan of mushrooms as a food, many different types of mushroom have medicinal applications that you won’t want to miss out on. Turkey tail is just one of many fungi that could prove helpful.
If you want to try out medicinal mushrooms, they could be the perfect place to start. Still, before you try them, you should know some more details. Why exactly are turkey tail mushrooms so healthy? What are the pros and cons? Keep reading to find the answers to these and other questions.
What are Turkey Tail Mushrooms?
As the name suggests, these mushrooms resemble a turkey’s tail feathers between the fanned out shape and different colored lines. They’re also known as Trametes versicolor or Coriolus versicolor, however, and have been used in medicine for centuries.
Turkey tail mushrooms have a rich history specifically within traditional Chinese medicine. They were even included within the Compendium of Materia Medica, a sixteenth century volume detailing Chinese medical practices and herbology.
In 1960, there are records of doctors in Japan studying the positive impact of turkey tail mushrooms on the immune system, and even using them as part of chemotherapy. Recently, however, people have become even more interested in the fungus’ beneficial qualities.
These mushrooms commonly grow in deciduous forests in Asia, Europe, and North America. You can find them taking root in dead plant matter, such as rotting logs, tree stumps, or fallen branches.
If you go looking for turkey tail mushrooms yourself, be careful about correctly identifying it before ingesting any of it— this goes for any fungus, for that matter.
Though turkey tail mushrooms are edible, they’re not exactly a popular delicacy due to their leathery texture. So, for the most part, people consume turkey tail mushrooms by drying them and grinding them into a powder.
In powder form, you can add turkey tail mushrooms to any of your favorite beverages and reap all of the fantastic health benefits without dealing with the texture or taste.
If you harvest turkey tail mushrooms yourself, you should store them in an airtight container in a dry area, and keep them away from direct sunlight so they can stay cool.
When it comes to purchasing a product that already has turkey tail mushrooms added as an ingredient, follow the instructions. Some products may require refrigeration.
Turkey tail mushrooms have been the subject of extensive studies, and in fact it could be argued that they’re the most researched mushrooms used in supplements. The two complex carbohydrates that can be extracted from turkey tail mushrooms— polysaccharide peptide and polysaccharide krestin —are both extremely beneficial.
Let’s go into more detail about the benefits of turkey tail mushrooms so you can decide whether or not you want to give them a try.
Benefits of Turkey Tail
One of the most well-known and well-researched benefits of turkey tail mushrooms is their ability to boost the immune system. A big reason for this is the antioxidants that they contain, which help combat oxidative stress and inflammation.
Turkey tail mushrooms contain a whole host of antioxidants, which in turn can reduce your risk of harmful conditions such as heart disease.
In addition to the antioxidants, turkey tail mushrooms contain a high amount of two polysaccharides— the aforementioned PSP and PSK, both of which have a lot of benefits for your immune system. They stimulate your immune cells to help them fight off diseases.
Studies on PSP have found that it increases your number of monocytes, a type of white blood cell geared towards fighting off infection.
Meanwhile, PSK boosts dendritic cells and natural killer cells. The former will increase your immunity to toxins while the latter helps protect against harmful pathogens.
Both PSP and PSK are often used as part of cancer treatment to assist in chemotherapy, surgery, radiation, and more since they boost your immune system so much. The polysaccharides contained in turkey tail mushrooms may suppress the growth and spread of cancerous cells.
Research even points to cancer patients that underwent treatment involving turkey tail mushrooms may have a longer life expectancy.
These mushrooms have many other benefits as well, however, and can do much more that boost your immune system. One other big reason why many people may want to take turkey tail supplements is how it benefits gut health.
Maintaining a healthy gut microbiome is absolutely essential to your overall health, and to do so you need to have a good number of healthy bacteria in your gut while eliminating harmful bacteria.
Turkey tail mushrooms can act as a prebiotic, which means that they can help sustain the healthy bacteria in your gut. If you are experiencing any digestive issues, turkey tail mushrooms have the potential to be a big help.
There are lots of other benefits to these mushrooms, too! For example, a study performed on mice found that turkey tail can increase stamina and endurance levels, as well as lower fatigue. As a result, athletes are looking at turkey tail as a potential performance booster.
Research points to several other benefits of turkey tail mushrooms, too— healthier bones, antibacterial properties, improved cognitive function, anti-aging, insulin resistance, you name it! For all of these issues and more, we have cause to believe that turkey tail mushrooms may help.
Why shouldn’t you try them out, then? Well, let’s go into some of the potential side effects before you decide whether turkey tail mushrooms are right for you.
Side Effects
As with any medicine or supplement, there’s always the potential that your body could react badly.
Though negative side effects of turkey tail mushrooms have been found to be uncommon in the extensive research surrounding them, there’s always a possibility, and it’s always better to know about that possibility in advance.
Turkey tail mushrooms are considered pretty safe, though if you have an allergy to another species of mushroom it’s possible that may be true of these as well. Keep this in mind before trying out a turkey tail supplement.
Likewise, if you are already taking any prescription medications, you should consult with your doctor before you consume turkey tail mushrooms. Certain diabetes medications, blood thinners, anticancer/chemotherapy drugs, immunosuppressants, and medications that lower blood sugar all have interacted poorly with turkey tail mushrooms in the past.
You should also avoid turkey tail mushrooms if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, under the age of eighteen, have diabetes, or suffer from a bleeding or clotting condition.
Even if you don’t have a prior condition that could lead to complications, negative side effects are still a possibility that it’s important to prepare for. The most common side effects are gastrointestinal— bloating, constipation, gas, stomach pain, diarrhea, and even nausea are all possible.
You also may experience a decrease in blood sugar, blood pressure, or your white blood cell count. Heartburn, heart palpitations, rashes, and cold or flu symptoms are all also possible.
If you notice any negative side effects after trying turkey tail mushrooms for the first time, you should contact your doctor immediately, no matter how mild your symptoms appear to be. Always err on the side of caution when trying something new.
Speaking of cautious, careful consideration of dosage is also very important. We mentioned earlier that turkey tail mushrooms are pretty easy to find, but you should definitely start in moderation.
Measure carefully if you found some yourself, and always carefully follow the instructions if you’re buying a turkey tail supplement. Dosage will depend upon what other ingredients are present, of course, but if you’re taking pure powdered turkey tail?
No overdose of turkey tail has ever been documented, but you can never be too careful. Especially with wild-grown mushrooms, there’s a potential for other harmful substances to have been absorbed, such as heavy metals like mercury or lead.
Do not one to three grams a day to be as safe as possible. Clinical trials on cancer patients used doses as high as three to nine grams per dose, though that was under the supervision of medical professionals.
You might also wonder how turkey tail interacts with other kinds of mushrooms, if other natural remedies interest you. Well, plenty of supplements combine turkey tail extract with that of other fungi so you can reap the rewards of several different types.
Our very own product happens to be one such supplement.
Dr. Emil’s Elite Lion's Mane Mushroom Plus
A brand new product to hit our shelves contains an elite blend of several medicinal mushrooms so that you can get the maximum health benefits from taking just one supplement.
Dr. Emil’s Elite Lion's Mane Mushroom Plus supplements are based on our original, highly popular Lion's Mane “Smart Shrooms” supplements. The new product contains turkey tail mushrooms, too, as well as maitake, reishi, and chaga.
These supplements are made in the United States, free of hormones, GMOs, soy, and fillers. Each bottle contains 60 capsules, a month-long supply, for $34.95.
With these supplements, you’ll be getting a daily dose of 900 mg of lion's mane mushroom extract. This is the main active ingredient, which boosts cognition and brain function. As it says on the bottle, lion’s mane supports “memory, focus, and clarity.”
The serving size contains 100 mg of every other mushroom’s extract, with extra ingredients microcrystalline cellulose, magnesium stearate, and hypromellose.
Chaga mushrooms are included for their powerful antioxidants, reishi for its calming effects, and maitake for their added immune support. Though last on the list of ingredients, turkey tail mushrooms are certainly not of the least importance.
As you know by now through reading this article, the potential benefits of turkey tail mushrooms seem truly limitless. Though plenty of research backs this up, even more research into its benefits is being done every day.
If you’re intrigued by all that turkey tail mushrooms have to offer, why not try them out? Find out how your body reacts, perhaps to a small dosage at first, and before you know it you could be taking turkey tail supplements every day.
Turkey tail mushrooms can be helpful in numerous ways, from your immune system to your digestive tract, and you don’t want to miss out.
