Turkey Tail

Dosage: 1-2 dropperfuls daily in water or juice 

Shake well before use, because the tincture is double extracted, you will see a gel-like substance. 

The gel-like substance in your turkey tail mushroom tincture is normal and a sign of a high-quality, potent extract. It is primarily composed of beneficial compounds, specifically the long-chain polysaccharides and beta-glucans, that have precipitated (fallen out) of the solution. 

Why the Gel Forms

• Polysaccharide Concentration: Turkey tail mushrooms are rich in immune-boosting polysaccharides like Krestin (PSK) and Polysaccharide Peptide (PSP). These are highly desired water-soluble components that can become visible when they are highly concentrated in the tincture.

• Solubility Changes (Dual Extraction): Tinctures often use a dual-extraction method (both alcohol and water) to capture all beneficial compounds. When the water-based extraction, which contains the polysaccharides, is combined with the alcohol-based one, the change in alcohol concentration can cause some of these substances to "crash out" of the solution, forming a cloudy or gel-like material.

Ingredients:

Organic Turkey Tail Mushroom 

Grain Alcohol 

Warnings: 

Turkey Tail is generally well-tolerated. Up to 9g was given to women with breast cancer daily for a period of six months with no significant side effects (16). Adverse reactions are rare but may include darkening of stools and fingernails and digestive disturbance (6). Information regarding the safety of Turkey Tail for pregnant and breastfeeding women is lacking.

About:

Mushrooms are perhaps the best source of readily absorbed beta-glucan polysaccharides, which are known to have immune-modulating and stimulating effects (1). This is in part achieved by the stimulation of the release of cytokines (chemical messengers involved in the immune response). Turkey Tail has especially high levels of these wonderful immune-boosting constituents. The primary therapeutic polysaccharides extracted from the mycelium of Turkey Tail are polysaccharide-krestin (PSK) and polysaccharide-peptide (PSP). Drugs derived from these extracts are licensed and have been in regular use for several decades in China (PSP) and Japan (PSK) as adjuncts to conventional treatment for a number of cancers where their immunomodulatory action is believed to enhance the efficacy of treatment, reduce the unpleasant side effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapies, support recovery and extend survival times (2-6).

These immune benefits extend themselves to management of the common cold, and Turkey Tail may be taken as a preventative to boost the immune system at the beginning of flu season or used to reduce the severity and duration of colds and flu that have already set in (7).

Turkey tail may also be helpful as an anti-viral aid and has shown promising results in treating herpes simplex virus (HSV), HIV, human papilloma virus (HPV) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS/ME) with a high viral load (7).

1. Boosts the Immune System

The turkey tail mushroom has been shown to modulate the immune system, helping fight infections, illness and diseases.

With a high concentration of two polysaccharides — polysaccharide-K (krestin, or PSK) and polysaccharide peptides (PSP) — with immune-boosting properties, turkey tail mushroom features antiviral activity alongside low toxicity.

These polysaccharides also prime immune cells to protect the body against infection, including promoting the growth of white blood cells that battle infection and boost immunity.

2. Adjuvant Therapy for Cancer

Adjuvant therapy for cancer means additional treatment that’s delivered after the primary treatment. It’s intended to lower the risk that the cancer will come back.

For more than 30 years, medicinal mushrooms have been used as adjuncts to standard cancer treatments in Japan and China. They are used for various types of cancer, including lung cancer, breast cancer, gastric cancer and colorectal cancer.

PSK, the best known active compound found in turkey tail mushroom, has been studied in patients with several types of cancer, and it has been safely used for cancer in Japan with few reported side effects. Studies show that PSK helps repair immune cell damage that’s caused by chemotherapy and strengthen the immune system. In Japan, PSK is meant to help patients undergoing chemotherapy restore their immune status.

More research is needed to understand the true benefits of turkey tail mushroom for cancer, but there is evidence that it may help significantly improve survival, according to a review done by the National Cancer Institute. In fact, a review of 13 clinical trials discovered that cancer patients given turkey tail in tandem with standard treatments improved their lifespans compared to those who received only chemotherapy.

A study published in Global Advances in Health and Medicine revealed that an 83-year-old woman who was diagnosed with advanced, metastatic inflammatory breast cancer led a disease-free life after using turkey tail mushroom. Though she continued chemotherapy, she consumed capsules of turkey tail mushroom at the same time.

Scientists believe that the immune response of the turkey tail mushrooms boosted the woman’s immune system by recognizing the tumor, which increased the effectiveness of the chemotherapy. Other studies have shown that turkey tail extracts not only inhibit the growth of some cancer cells but also improve immune function in people with certain cancers.

In a 2023 study, turkey tail mushroom exhibited anti-melanoma activity in vitro. In particular, extracts demonstrated potent cytotoxic activity towards human melanoma cell lines. Study authors declared that turkey tail mushroom’s therapeutic potential for melanoma merited further study.

3. Offers Gut Health Support

Studies indicate that mycelium in turkey tail mushroom supports gut health, as polysaccharides act as prebiotics in the digestive system.

This means that it can help the growth of the good bacteria, including acidophilus and bifidobacterium, in the gut microbiome. A balanced, healthy gut microbiome is connected to better gut health, a robust immune system and a reduced risk of gastrointestinal problems.

One study showed that turkey tail mushroom extract improved the ratio of good bacteria to bad bacteria. Study volunteers took 3,600 mg of turkey tail PSP extract each day for eight weeks.

Other Benefits

Turkey tail mushroom also appears to offer these health benefits:

• Human Papilloma Virus (HPV): According to a study of 61 patients with gum disease testing positive for oral HPV, 88 percent of the 41 patients who received both turkey tail and reishi mushrooms showed positive results after only two months of treatment.

• HIV/AIDS: A trial revealed that the use of turkey tail mushroom, in conjunction with other wild medicinal East African mushrooms, may be useful in treating patients with Kaposi’s sarcoma, a skin cancer often affecting those with HIV/AIDS. The same product has also benefited patients with HIV/AIDS even without the sarcoma.

• Cognitive function: High in antioxidants, turkey tail mushroom may boost cognitive function and lower the risk of age-related cognitive decline.