Secret Benefits of Turkey Tail Mushrooms

Turkey tail mushrooms are a superfood that offer numerous benefits particularly for women’s health that are not well known. 

Hormonal Balance: Turkey tail mushrooms contain compounds that may help to regulate hormones and reduce symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and menopause.

Skin Health: The antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties in turkey tail mushrooms can help to protect the skin from damage and promote a youthful, radiant complexion.

Stress Relief: Turkey tail mushrooms contain adaptogens, which are compounds that help to reduce stress and promote relaxation.

Improved Energy: Turkey tail mushrooms are a good source of antioxidants and other nutrients that can help to boost energy levels and improve overall well-being.

Better Sleep: The adaptogenic properties of turkey tail mushrooms may also help to promote better sleep and improve sleep quality.

Secret benefit of Turkey Tail for dogs.

It is a secret, because I came across a private WhatsApp group of vets in the UK, who shared this benefit for dogs in hushed tones.
Here it is. Some vets prescribe it for splenic hemangiosarcoma in doggy patients at 100mg per kilogram  per day, split into two doses, especially when chemo is not pursued by the owner. Anecdotally, dogs do really well on it with much better than expected survival times.

Well documented benefits of Turkey Tail

A list of several Turkey Tail mushroom (Trametes versicolor) health benefits, you may have come across already:

Boosting the Immune System: Turkey Tail mushrooms contain polysaccharides, beta-glucans, and other compounds that are believed to stimulate the immune system and enhance its ability to fight off infections and diseases.

1. “Polysaccharides in Turkey Tail Mushroom (Trametes versicolor) Enhance Immune Function” by H. Sun et al. published in the “Journal of Medicinal Food” in 2009: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19120579

Cancer Prevention and Treatment: Studies suggest that Turkey Tail mushrooms have anti-tumor properties and may help in the prevention and treatment of certain types of cancer, including breast, lung, and colorectal cancer.

A study in 2012, led  by Carolyn J. Torkelson of the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, Medical School, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, called “Phase 1 Clinical Trial of Trametes versicolor in Women with Breast Cancer”, suggests that Trametes versicolor is a safe immunotherapy for breast cancer patients that may correct radiotherapy-related immune defects.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23235533/

Improving Gut Health: Turkey Tail mushrooms contain prebiotics, which help to promote the growth of beneficial gut bacteria and improve digestive health.

1. “Trametes versicolor Extract Modifies Human Fecal Microbiota Composition In vitro”
   https://www.researchgate.net/publication/235717058_Trametes_versicolor_Extract_Modifies_Human_Fecal_Microbiota_Composition_In_vitro

Oxidative Stress: 
1. Turkey Tail mushrooms may have anti-oxidative properties.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7277906/

Obesity
The same study points to another studay which claims that the polysacharides of Trametes versicolor ameliorate obesity
“Protein-Bound β-glucan from Coriolus Versicolor has Potential for Use Against Obesity”
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30667154/

Acting as a Prebiotic:

1. “Effects of polysaccharopeptide from Trametes versicolor and amoxicillin on the gut microbiome of healthy volunteers: a randomized clinical trial”
   https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25006989/