Turkey Tail


TURKEY TAIL – IMMUNE INTELLIGENCE
Trametes versicolor

Origin and Legacy

  • Named for its multicolored, fan-shaped fruiting body resembling a turkey’s tail

  • Grows abundantly on fallen hardwoods in forests across the world - Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas

  • Known as Yun Zhi in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Kawaratake in Japanese folk medicine

  • Used for centuries to strengthen lung function, clear dampness, and tonify immune defenses

  • Valued today for its immune-regulating properties and support during chronic illness

Key Benefits

  • Enhances immune system regulation and responsiveness

  • Supports gut health through prebiotic beta-glucans

  • May improve recovery during and after antibiotic use or illness

  • Protects against oxidative stress and environmental toxins

  • Demonstrated anti-viral, anti-tumor, and anti-inflammatory actions

  • Enhances resilience during chemotherapy, radiation, and convalescence

  • Supports microbiome diversity and mucosal immunity

Energetics and Use

  • Neutral - Sweet - Drying

  • Supports immune, digestive, and respiratory systems

  • Traditionally brewed as a decoction or prepared as a dual extract (alcohol and water)

  • Works best over time as a tonic, especially when immunity is compromised

  • Combines well with Reishi, Chaga, and Astragalus in deep immune blends

Scientific Highlights

  • Rich in beta-glucans, particularly polysaccharopeptides (PSP) and polysaccharide-K (PSK), known for immune modulation

  • PSK is a clinically approved cancer adjunct therapy in Japan – used since the 1970s

  • Clinical trials show improved immune markers and quality of life in breast and colorectal cancer patients

  • Exhibits antimicrobial and antiviral activity against strains like HPV and influenza

  • Supports gut immunity and improves intestinal microbiota diversity

  • Protects DNA and cells from oxidative damage

  • PSK shown to stimulate natural killer cells, dendritic cells, and macrophages

Contraindications

  • Generally safe and well-tolerated

  • Use caution if on immunosuppressive medications

  • May cause mild gastrointestinal discomfort in some people

  • Always consult a practitioner if undergoing cancer treatment

Sourcing

  • Wild-harvested and organically cultivated in temperate woodlands

  • Only mature fruiting bodies used – no myceliated grain or fillers

  • Dual-extracted for full-spectrum potency and bioavailability

  • Third-party tested for heavy metals, microbes, and solvent residues

Quick Facts

  • Over 400 identified bioactive compounds

  • One of the most scientifically studied medicinal mushrooms globally

  • PSK makes up over 25% of the Japanese mushroom extract market

  • Appears in over 40 clinical studies on immune function and cancer support

  • Known as “cloud mushroom” (Yun Zhi) in Chinese medicine

Formulation Note

We include Turkey Tail in MyGemBox immune-supporting blends - like Burnout Brew - for its unique ability to modulate immune response, restore gut integrity, and enhance recovery from stress or illness. It serves as a foundational ally in long-term vitality formulations.

References

  • Borchers, A.T. et al. (2004). Trametes versicolor and immune modulation. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 93(2-3), 145–161.

  • Eliza, W. et al. (2012). Phase I Clinical Trial of Trametes versicolor in Women with Breast Cancer. ISRN Oncology.

  • Kidd, P.M. (2000). The use of mushroom glucans in cancer treatment. Alternative Medicine Review, 5(1), 4–27.

  • Wasser, S.P. (2002). Medicinal mushrooms as a source of antitumor and immunomodulating polysaccharides. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 60(3), 258–274.

  • Hobbs, C. (2004). Medicinal Mushrooms: An Exploration of Tradition, Healing & Culture. Botanica Press.

  • Gao, Y. et al. (2005). Effects of Yunzhi (Trametes versicolor) on immune functions in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Immunopharmacology and Immunotoxicology, 27(3), 431–439.

  • https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/turkey-tail-mushroom
  • https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-648/turkey-tail-mushroom
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trametes_versicolor
  • https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/turkey-tail-mushroom