Turkey Tail Mushrooms Studied For Cancer Patients
The prestigious naturopathic university in Washington state, Bastyr, in collaboration with the University of Washington and others, was approved to conduct a study on turkey tail mushrooms (trametes versicolor) to discover whether they can help cancer patients boost their immune systems during chemotherapy.
Trametes Versicolor, A Much Studied Mushroom
Trametes versicolor, along with many other medicinal mushrooms, are a rich source of immunoceuticals, nutrients that have immune boosting properties. The polysaccharides extracted from certain mushroom species have been some of the most thoroughly studied natural products in both preclinical and clinical studies.
The turkey tail mushroom has been used for centuries to treat illness in various parts of the world, primarily Asia. Numerous research studies have also been carried out in Asia.
So why are they doing more studies on it? It appears that there are plenty of studies, over 146, in fact, according to a study abstract titled Trametes Versicolor Mushroom Immune Therapy In Breast Cancer.
It would appear that it has been proven that turkey tail mushrooms are a potent immunity stimulating substance!
Well, here’s the deal. The FDA-approved study being carried out by Bastyr is for patients with advanced prostate cancer to ascertain whether turkey tail mushrooms can assist with immunity when combined with conventional chemotherapy. They not only want to measure the immune boosting function of the mushrooms, but also to see if there are any interactions with chemotherapy drugs.
Study participants were recruited at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance and the plan was to have some of the patients take oral doses of a Japanese turkey tail extract along with docetaxel chemotherapy, while others would only receive a placebo and chemotherapy. The researchers would then determine safety, measure the levels and activity of natural killer (NK) cells and other immune cells, which typically plummet after chemotherapy, leaving the body vulnerable to disease and opportunistic infections.
The ultimate goal, according to the Bastyr press release dated November 30, 2012, is to develop a cancer therapy that does not have the debilitating side effects of pharmaceutical drugs.
No Answer Yet
So I thought I would check on this and see what happened. I am waiting for a reply from Bastyr University and we might know nothing until after the first of the year. I promise to update you when I’ve heard from them.
Mushroom Expert’s Mother Is Cured From Breast Cancer
In the meantime, here is a great article dated June 5, 2012 from Paul Stamets, a mycologist and author of six books on medicinal mushrooms, writing for the Huffington Post: Turkey Tail Mushrooms Help Immune System Fight Cancer.
Mr Stamets’ own mother used a combo of chemotherapy drugs along with turkey tail mushrooms to blast a 5.5 cm tumor that had spread to other parts of her body. She was considered by her oncologist to be Stage IV with 3 months to live. She took 8 turkey tail mushroom supplements each day, along with Taxol and Herceptin, and is now in complete remission. Here’s a moving YouTube video where he talks about it.
Building a strong immune system is vitally important when fighting breast cancer. If you’d like to know the best way to go about it, see my page 8 Ways To Build A Super Strong Immune System.
If you would like my help with getting through breast cancer in an inspiring and ultra-healthy way, please sign up for my free e-newsletters and e-book on the right, and/or “like” me on Facebook (Marnie Clark, Breast Health Coach). It is my honor and my goal to help you through this so that you emerge from breast cancer feeling better than before, thriving!
I was wondering about how the Bastyr trial was going also.
Did Paul Stamett’s mother take 8 turkey tail pills a day of one brand or do something different? Thanks.
Hi Steve,
I have contacted them but have yet to receive a reply, sadly. I will keep asking. I don’t know what brand Paul Stamett’s mother took, I’m sorry, but yes it was 8 per day according to my resources. You could probably contact him on his blog to find out more.
Warmest regards,
Marnie
Is there any further information available yet? Thanks
Nanci,
I have had no updates, unfortunately, despite asking and following up. I have, in the meantime, become aware of some pretty great supplements that incorporate medicinal mushrooms, along with a host of other things and they are achieving a 437% increase in Natural Killer cell activity, and that is the one we need working strongly on our behalves to scour up cancer cells. Let me know if you would like more information.
Warmest regards,
Marnie Clark
Hi I was wondering if you can give any information on how to use the wild, natural one from the forest, as a prevention or a cure. Do we have to dry it, Do we have to boil it? (How much water for how much mushroom for how much time for how to take it?). Is there a danger (deadly one) to over use the mushroom ? You know that kind of information ? Thanks a lot.
Hi Sylvain,
Thanks for contacting me. I am definitely not an expert on how to use wild, natural mushrooms. I would highly recommend that you contact the guy who is, Paul Stamets, and you can probably contact him via the Huffington Post, for which he often writes articles about medicinal mushrooms. Here’s a link that may assist you: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paul-stamets/
Warmest regards,
Marnie
Dear Marnie,
I was wondering if you could provide more detail on “…some pretty great supplements that incorporate medicinal mushrooms, along with a host of other things and they are achieving a 437% increase in Natural Killer cell activity.” July 17th post.
Would you be able to provide a contact link to Paul Stamets for follow-up questions?
With kind regards,
Brent
Hi Brent,
Thanks for your comment. The supplements I mention are one of my product lines (the most important one!), if you’d like more information about them, just go to my website and click the “Contact” link. They contain cordyceps sinensis, agaricus blazeii, grifola frondosa and lentinus edodes, along with some other cutting edge ingredients that make these one of the best immunity products currently in existence.
To contact Paul Stamets, you should be able to contact him via his website: http://www.fungi.com/contact.html
Hope that helps!
Warmest regards,
Marnie
we have a great supply of turkey tail up here on the North shore of Lake Superior. The environment facilitates a harder tempered produce and is expressed as increase polysaccharides to name one. We can supply as much as you need.
Hi Bryan,
Thanks for letting us know. Can you share your company name with us please?
All the best,
Marnie Clark
Does anyone take turkey tail for multiple myeloma? Is there any other supplements you take with it? Im currently on kyprolis/ sarclasa.
Hello Connie,
My best advice to you would be to work with Elyn Jacobs in NYC. She’s a cancer strategist, and would have more information for you. I am a breast cancer coach – that’s my area of expertise – and I don’t feel comfortable advising you on multiple myeloma. You can reach Elyn at elynjacobs.com
Warmest regards,
Marnie Clark