The History and Benefits of Turkey Tail Mushroom

It is a Native American belief that true treasures are abundant things everyone can use. Other systems of herbalism say that if a thing is found everywhere, then it is a testament that it is there to benefit everyone and it means it must have a broad spectrum of benefits. Well, this mushroom is found throughout the whole world on dead logs and stumps in forests. And has been used for the immune system, to protect the liver, helps sugar metabolism, is an antioxidant, enhances the function of the nervous system and increases beneficial bacteria in the gut. It certainly has a wide variety of uses.

It even contains Polysaccharide K or Krestin (PSK) and Polysaccharide Peptide (PSP).They promote immune response by modulating specific types of immune cells and they suppress unhealthy, uncomfortable over-reactions.

PSK also increases the immune cells that promote immunity to toxins as well as activating natural killer cells.  PSP increases other white blood cells that protect the body.

In Japan and China, PSK under the name Krestin is an approved drug that fights man’s most dreaded and deadly concern as an adjunct treatment.

And this is just the beginning. In Traditional Chinese Medicine it is known to clear dampness, reduce phlegm, improve lungs, strengthen the stomach and spleen, boost energy and support people with long term conditions. It is also used for biological challenges in the respiratory and urinary systems and digestive tracts and to treat general immune weakness.

It is even good for the skin as it helps quench free radicals that damage skin and helps soothe it and strengthens the skin's natural moisture barrier, allowing it to hold in more moisture which keeps the skin plumped.

Turkey Tail has three Latin names: Coriolus versicolor, Trametes versicolor and Polystictus versicolor. I guess scientists couldn’t agree on the dominant characteristic. All three do a lot to distinguish this mushroom. 

Coriolus refers to the color as does the species name, but the species name means variety of color or turning color like in shades. This is very appropriate for anyone who has seen its multivalued stripes. Coriolus could also be from the word coriaceus, which means leathery. Turkey tail is very tough and leathery, which is why it is not usually eaten whole, but rather brewed into a tea or made into an extract.

Turkey Tail mushrooms are very interesting when it comes to color. They contain various pigments which are phenols which give them a range of colors from deep blues, browns and grays to blacks. These pigments protect the mushroom from UV rays and environmental stresses of many kinds. Some of these include biological invasions, excessive temperatures and gamma radiation.

But the pigments are not the only thing creating the color.

The stripes and the iridescent effects on the Turkey Tail are also caused by the structural arrangement of the fungal cells near the surface that cause light to reflect and scatter. You find this kind of structural coloration in butterfly wings and peacock feathers as well. It creates that sheen and a kind of velvety appearance and texture.

The shades and intensity of the colors in Turkey Tails are influenced by the environment it is growing in. Moisture, light exposure and the substance it is growing on are the main factors influencing this.

Trametes refers to its bracket shape, like a shelf sticking out from the trunk or stump of a tree. More on the shape later. Trametes is presently the most commonly used genus name for Turkey Tail.

Polystictus refers to the fact that there are no gills on the underside of this mushroom because its spores come out of pores, not long slits. Some refer to this as an obsolete genus because its members like the Turkey Tail were re-classified under other genera. (Genera is genus in plural in case that threw you.)

But while Polystictus may be obsolete as a genus, it is still alive and kicking as a word to describe the form of a mushroom. Sometimes it is the only way to distinguish one species from another.

Turkey Tail is of course the common name and it says it all. A cluster of these mushrooms actually looks like the tail feathers of a turkey.

Turkey Tail is known as Yun Zhi in China and Kawaritake in Japan. Both of these names translate to cloud mushrooms. It’s all in the viewpoint. 

Looking up at a tall tree at the underside of Turkey Tail against the sky does give the impression of clouds.

And using the doctrine of signatures, which states that herbs or animals have physical or behavioral traits that mirror the ailment it can successfully treat, considered like a signature put there by God, Chinese, Japanese and Native Americans attribute spiritual powers to Turkey Tail since, with its cloud shape, it seems to evoke the heavens and infinity, symbolizing long life and good health.

Native Americans often associated Turkey Tail with the spiritual realm. They considered it to be a messenger between the spiritual world and the living, guiding seekers on journeys of self-discovery and enlightenment.

Even in Astrology, Turkey Tail has importance. It is said to correspond with the Moon, relating to the rise and fall of fluids, cycles and rhythms. It resonates with Cancer, the water sign that rules nourishment and receptivity.

Although the nutritional content of a mushroom varies a lot depending on its environment and challenges, one can get some idea by analyzing a large number of mushrooms over a long period of time to get an average.

Here is such an average:

Average nutritional content of one cup of Turkey Tail Mushroom;

• Calories: 210 kcal
• Carbs: 40 grams
• Protein: 8 grams
• Fat: less than 1 gram
• Fiber: 30 grams
• Beta Glucans: 3-6 grams
• Polysaccharides: 12 grams
• Vitamin D
• Vitamin B
• Potassium
• Magnesium

It is exciting to know that you can’t go too wrong foraging for Turkey Tail in the wild. There are no toxic lookalikes. Even if you don’t find the real thing you will still wind up with a beneficial food.

So, if you are on a hike or you go purposely foraging and you see what looks like a Turkey Tail, the first thing to do is turn it over. It will be white and resemble the pores on a sponge if it is the real thing. There are a few lookalikes, but their undersides are yellowish and smooth. 

The second thing to look at is the surface and texture. The top has a velvety or fuzzy surface, and the substance of the mushroom is quite flexible and leathery. It won’t break up with handling like other mushrooms.

The third thing, and not the surest, is algae growth on the surface. Lookalikes are much more prone to algae growth than the true Turkey Tail, but older and bigger Turkey Tails can also have algae growing on the surface.

In summary, Turkey Tail looks like the tail feathers of a turkey, it has been used since time immemorial for many, many things and is considered a treasure in different cultures around the globe. It is currently prized for what it does for the immune system and relief of some of man’s gravest health situations. I forgot to say that it is available in the wild year-round and it has kind of a sweet taste. 

Unfortunately, it is not a culinary wonder, but if you were willing to chew it, you might get something out of it.  But since you’d have to get through even tougher cellular level barriers most of it wouldn’t be too bioavailable. 

We love to bring the best to you and Herbal Roots now offers Organic Turkey Tail Extract!

 

*This article is intended for informational purposes. The statements above have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.