Turkey Tail (Trametes Versicolor)

Also known as: Coriolus versicolor, Kawaratake (Japanese name), or Yun Zhi (Chinese name)

Trametes versicolor (Turkey Tail) is a polypore mushroom that is found almost everywhere, indigenous to every country except Antarctica. They have been ingested medicinally for hundreds of years and were used in traditional medicine in several Asian countries such as China and Japan. Gathered in late winter before they dry out, Turkey Tail is most commonly used in teas or tinctures for their exceptional medicinal abilities. They are most often found in forests on fallen trees or stumps, or really anywhere on dead wood with enough moisture to support their growth. Trametes “Versicolor'' translates to “of many colors” and was nicknamed due to its vague resemblance to a turkey tail. (1) Turkey Tail is the most extensively researched of all medicinal mushrooms with impressive results in clinical trials involved with tumor treatment. Its extracts, PSK and PSP, both show impressive results in treating a variety of different tumors. (9)

Immunity⃰ : Another strong benefit of Turkey Tail ingestion is its ability to naturally enhance the health of the immune system. These mushrooms contain several powerful polysaccharides that boost the immune system. For example, Turkey Tail contains polysaccharide peptide which in a test tube study was found to increase monocytes, which are white blood cells that fight infection and generally boosts immunity. Also, they contain another important polysaccharide called Krestin, or PSK. PSK stimulates dendritic cells that promote immunity to toxins and regulate the immune response. In addition, PSK activates specialized white blood cells called macrophages, which protect your body against harmful substances like certain bacteria. (3) Turkey Tail also has a very high concentration of several different antioxidants which help promote your immune system health by reducing inflammation and stimulating the release of protective compounds. (

Anti-Tumor Properties⃰ : Turkey Tail is one of several medicinal mushrooms that can be used as an adjunctive in tumor treatments. In fact, in Japan, Turkey Tail is an approved product used for tumor patients. (4) Clinical trials done with Turkey Tail extract (PSK and PSP) have revealed impressive results with treating tumors including gastric esophageal, lung, breast, and colorectal. PSK has also been shown to significantly extend survival rates with tumors of the stomach, colon-rectum, oesophagus, nasopharynx, uterus, lung and breast in combination with conventional treatment. (9) Several tests have also shown Turkey Tail to reduce tumor size, inhibit certain tumor cells’ growth, and compliment the effects of already existing tumor treatments such chemotherapy and radiation. There are several very relevant tests that were performed on animals and revealed promising results. A study done on tumor-bearing mice concluded that daily Turkey Tail consumption significantly reduced tumor size. (5) Another study done on dogs with a highly aggressive tumor called hemangiosarcoma concluded that daily consumption of a Turkey Tail extract significantly slowed the spread of tumor cells as well as increased their survival rates. (6)

Stomach Health⃰ : Turkey tail mushroom can positively impact gut bacterial balance by enhancing the growth of beneficial bacteria while suppressing harmful species. A test-tube study found that turkey tail extract modified gut bacteria composition by increasing populations of beneficial bacteria like Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus while reducing potentially harmful bacteria, such as Clostridium and Staphylococcus. 

Clinical Summary:
Main Applications: Immunity
Key Component: Polysaccharides (Krestin/PSK)
Dose: 3-6 g/day for tumor and 1-2 g/day for immune support
Side Effects: There have been some reported cases of digestive symptoms such as gas, bloating, and darkened stool. Additionally, when taken alongside other tumor treatments, there have been reports of nausea and vomiting, but it is unclear whether or not these were in direct relation to Turkey Tail consumption. (2)

About Functional Fungi

Functional Fungi™ is a multi-patented, certified organic, vertically integrated line of functional mushroom powders grown in the USA. We produce a wide variety of mushroom powders and custom mushroom blends to supply to brands and manufacturers in the nutrition, food, and beverage industries. In 2014 Functional Fungi was merged into BYO Operations, LLC (BYO), a leading natural products contract manufacturer, based on a 4,000-acre certified organic farm in southern Missouri near the town of Koshkonong.

One of the key differences with the Functional Fungi™ growing process is that we use a higher quality, nutritional rich growth substrate than any of our competitors. Traditionally, mushroom growers use inert substrates like brown rice or a cereal grain or even SAWDUST! Functional Fungi mushrooms are grown on higher value substrates like Purple Corn and other high anthocyanin content materials which results in a more nutrient-dense functional mushroom and greater benefits for the end consumer.

Functional Fungi operates a highly controlled, vertically integrated process using regenerative cultures that allows us to replicate and create continuity and consistency in the growing process that directly results in a more reliable and consistent finished mushroom powder on every batch. Typical growth time for our mushrooms from start to finish is 90-100 days.

Our foundational cultivation technology was originally developed in Japan and has been used extensively over the last 20 years. The ability to maintain a low moisture level throughout the drying process is critical to insure stability in the polysaccharide content of the mushrooms. This is essential for scaling large volume output and critical for repeatability and scaling on a batch to batch basis.

Finally, our functional mushroom powders are Certified Organic and Gluten-Free. ·

CCOF Certified Organic – This is one of the most internationally recognized agricultural organic certifying agencies in the country. By choosing CCOF for organic certification, 2 percent of our certification fees go to the CCOF Foundation. That 2 percent enables the CCOF Foundation to give grants to teachers and students studying organic, provide financial assistance to organic farmers in need, develop education programs for organic professionals, and promote consumer education. · Gluten-Free – Functional Fungi created a proprietary process to remove ALL gluten containing grains, both pre and post fermentation and cultivation, to assure the entire process is free from all gluten. Other companies start with gluten-based substrates like barley, malt or barley extract and are unable to remove all gluten but can still identify the product as “gluten-free” by meeting the <20 ppm requirement. Finally, all Functional Fungi Mushrooms are produced without additives or fillers and its clean process is both toxin-free and contaminant-free and ensures heavy metals, pesticides or herbicides are not present in the materials.

*FDA Disclaimer: The statements made have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The efficacy of these products has not been confirmed by FDA-approved research. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. All information presented here is not meant as a substitute for or alternative to information from health care practitioners. Please consult your health care professional about potential interactions or other possible complications before using any product.

References:

1. Bradley, K. (2020, August 18). Foraging + Using Turkeytail Mushrooms - Trametes Versicolour. Retrieved December 22, 2020, from https://www.milkwood.net/2017/08/14/foraging-using-turkeytail-mushrooms-trametes-versicolour/

2. Kubala, J. (2018, November 06). 5 Immune-Boosting Benefits of Turkey Tail Mushroom. Retrieved December 22, 2020, from https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/turkey-tail-mushroom

3. Sekhon BK;Sze DM;Chan WK;Fan K;Li GQ;Moore DE;Roubin RH;. (n.d.). PSP activates monocytes in resting human peripheral blood mononuclear cells: Immunomodulatory implications for tumor treatment. Retrieved December 22, 2020, from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23497877/

4. Medicinal Mushrooms (PDQ®)–Health Professional Version. (2020, October 5). Retrieved December 22, 2020, from https://www.tumor.gov/about-tumor/treatment/cam/hp/mushrooms-pdq

5. Awadasseid, A., Hou, J., Gamallat, Y., Xueqi, S., Eugene, K., Musa Hago, A., . . . Xin, Y. (2017, February 8). Purification, characterization, and antitumor activity of a novel glucan from the fruiting bodies of Coriolus Versicolor. Retrieved December 22, 2020, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5298263/

6. Brown, D., & Reetz, J. (2012). Single agent polysaccharopeptide delays metastases and improves survival in naturally occurring hemangiosarcoma. Retrieved December 22, 2020, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3440946/

7. LP;, E. (n.d.). Efficacy of Yun Zhi (Coriolus versicolor) on survival in tumor patients: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Retrieved December 22, 2020, from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22185453/

8. Coriolus Mushroom: Uses, Side Effects, Interactions, Dosage, and Warning. (n.d.). Retrieved December 22, 2020, from https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-648/coriolus-mushroom

9. Tsukagoshi S;Hashimoto Y;Fujii G;Kobayashi H;Nomoto K;Orita K;. (n.d.). Krestin (PSK). Retrieved February 18, 2021, from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6238674/