Summary Of The Evidence For Medicinal Mushrooms
To assist readers in evaluating the results of human studies of integrative, alternative, and complementary therapies for cancer, the strength of the evidence associated with each type of treatment is provided wheneverpossible. To qualify for a level of evidence analysis, a study must:
- Report on a therapeuticoutcome or outcomes, such as tumorresponse, improvement in survival, or measured improvement in quality of life.
- Describe clinical findings in sufficient detail that a meaningful evaluation can be made.
Separate levels of evidence scores are assigned to qualifying human studies on the basis of statistical strength of the study design and scientific strength of the treatment outcomes measured. The resulting two scores are then combined to produce an overall score. For an explanation of the scores and additional information about levels of evidence analysis of integrative, alternative, and complementary therapies for cancer, see Levels of Evidence for Human Studies of Integrative, Alternative, and Complementary Therapies.
Benefits Of Turkey Tail Mushrooms
In addition to helping your immune system and warding off malignant cells, turkey tail mushrooms provide the following health benefits.
- Influence on the immune system
Polysaccharides, a kind of carbohydrate abundant in these mushrooms, have been shown to promote the health of immune cells. Polysaccharide Peptides and Krestin may be found in turkey tails in abundance . These may help your immune system by increasing your immunological response and lowering inflammation at the same time. White blood cell counts are increased by PSP, while macrophages, a kind of white blood cell that may fight off dangerous pathogens, are activated by PSK.
- Antioxidants in abundance
Chronic inflammation and cellular damage are both possible outcomes of oxidative stress. The use of antioxidants may mitigate oxidative stress. Flavonoids and phenols in turkey tail mushrooms have been demonstrated to lower inflammation and trigger the production of critical protective substances that may improve your immune system. Turkey tail mushrooms include these antioxidants.
- This substance might inhibit cancer cell proliferation.
Studies have shown that turkey tail mushrooms may be able to halt the growth of cancerous cells and that it aids in treating cancer alternatively. Research has focused on the following areas:
- Cancer of the breast
- Cancer of the colon
- Cancer of the lungs
- Increased resistance and immunity
- Digestive health is improved.
Induces Cancer Cell Death And Inhibits Cancer Cell Growth
A study published in the International Journal of Phytotherapy Research concluded that the hot water extract from turkey tail could exert direct anti-cancer activity in vitro and in vivo. It was suggested that the extract can fight cancer cells on its own without having to couple with chemotherapy or other therapies that kill cancer cells. It works by inducing apoptosis and reducing the growth of cancer cells.
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Chinese Medicine For Cancer Care
Turkey tail researchers predict the mushroom will fight cancer cells and strengthen the body’s wellness at the same time. That dual approach is typical of traditional Chinese medicine. It’s also how students approach wellness in Bastyr University’s acupuncture and Oriental medicine programs.
“In Chinese medicine, we don’t treat cancer. We treat the body,” says Angela Tseng, DAOM, LAc, a core faculty member in Bastyr’s School of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. “If the person’s immune system is strong, they can cope with chemotherapy treatment better. We can help build their resistance to illness.”
Learn more about studying Chinese medicine at Bastyr.
Now that researchers have approval from the FDA, they plan to begin prostate cancer clinical trials in early 2013. The ultimate goal is to develop a cancer therapy without the debilitating side effects of pharmaceutical drugs.
“One of the things chemotherapy does is suppress the immune system, so our question is whether patients taking the extract can maintain healthier immune function,” says Masa Sasagawa, ND, a senior project manager at the Bastyr University Research Institute.
Turkey Tail And Lung Cancer
A 2015 systematic review summarised 28 studies that looked at the use of PSK to help prevent lung cancer and improve survival rates. The review included 11 clinical trials and 17 preclinical studies.
Across the board, most studies found improved survival rates for patients who underwent radiation after 1, 2 and 5 years. The review concluded that turkey tail derived PSK may improve immune function, reduce tumour-related symptoms like fatigue, enhance quality of life and increase survival rates.
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Prevents Angiogenesis And Reduces Inflammation
Mushrooms are potent anti-inflammatories. They lower inflammation by inhibiting the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, proteins that initiate and upregulate the inflammatory cycle. Inflammation is an underlying cause of all chronic conditions. Keeping levels of inflammation in check reduces cancer risk.
Turkey tail has an exceptional antioxidant profile, raising levels of two of the bodys most important enzymes, glutathione and superoxide dismutase . Antioxidants clean up the damage caused by free radicals and oxidative stress, a type of stress that damages cells and leads to chronic inflammation, both key factors in cancer development.
As referred to above, turkey tail contains copious amounts of health-promoting polysaccharides, called beta-glucans, which correlate with reductions in tumor growth and metastasis. Angiogenesis, the development of new blood vessels from pre-existing ones, is one mechanism in which cancer spreads and tumors grow because additional blood vessels supply a steady influx of oxygen and nutrients, enabling cancer to thrive.
Beta-glucans are thought to inhibit the spread of cancer and prevent tumor growth by halting new blood vessel growth, making them anti-angiogenic, anti-tumor, and anti-metastatic. In 1980, PSK, also known as Polysaccharide K and marketed as Krestin, was approved in Japan for treating numerous cancers. Its known as Yun Zhi in traditional Chinese Medicine, and has been used as a holistic remedy for thousands of years.
Medications Changed By The Liver Substrates
Interaction Rating=Minor Be watchful with this combination.
Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver. PSP, a chemical found in turkey tail mushroom, might change how quickly the liver breaks down these medications. This could change the effects and side effects of these medications.
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Reasons To Use Turkey Tail Mushrooms For Breast Cancer
How can a type of fungus that grows abundantly on dead logs and trees be medicinal for health? The Chinese have understood the value of mushrooms for centuries. These shriveled, spongy-looking things are loaded with hundreds of therapeutic constituents that reduce inflammation, strengthen the immune system, and combat pathogenic organisms. Here are 3 reasons to use turkey tail mushrooms for breast cancer and other chronic illnesses.
Turkey Tail mushrooms, species Coriolus versicolor, is one of the many mushrooms that have been studied for their therapeutic properties. Versicolor means multi-colored, and its this characteristic that make turkey tail mushrooms easy to identify, coupled with the fact that they look like, you guessed it, turkey tails.
These peculiar looking fungi are bursting with nutrition, antioxidants, and cancer-fighting compounds. They most definitely deserve the renown distinction of being one of the healthiest foods on the planet.
Turkey Tail Mushroom Benefits
Traditional healers have been using turkey tail mushrooms for thousands of years to stimulate the immune system.
More and more research confirms that ancient healers were onto something. Scientists found that there are two main carbohydrates that fuel your immune system: polysaccharide krestin and polysaccharide peptide pack apowerful immune-boosting punch. They act as both immune activators and immune modulators so that your body responds the way it needs to when its under attack.
Another way turkey tail mushrooms indirectly strengthen your immune system is by providing food for your friendly gut bacteria. Turkey tail mushrooms are agreat source of prebiotics. You may see improvements in digestion for this reason.
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Can You Take Turkey Tail With Chemotherapy
Apart from the ones mentioned above, many ongoing animal and human studies continue to examine the anti-cancer potential of turkey tail mushrooms. With more research showing that the fungus has beta glucans capable of fighting cancerous cells, it is clear that the mushroom can easily increase the survival rates of people dealing with cancer. While they certainly cant replace anti-cancer drugs, the turkey tail mushrooms can be used as an adjunct in the treatment.
Additionally, PSK has been approved by the FDA for use, as an adjunct, in cancer therapy. There is no toxicity with the combined use of PSK.
When using the right turkey tail mushroom dosage, the mushroom extract has also been shown to modulate and improve immune function during chemotherapy.
The results of the studies prove that Turkey tail can be given with chemotherapy. But does turkey tail mushroom interact with medications? Not according to the available clinical data.
What Is The Mechanism Behind Turkey Tail Cancer
Now that you know there is a relationship between turkey tail mushroom and cancer, you may want to know how the fungi operate to eliminate or treat a variety of cancer conditions. The fact is, like many medicinal mushrooms, turkey tail mushroom contains bioactive compounds that contribute to their many health benefits.
These bioactive compounds play a major role in the numerous turkey tail cancer benefits. To begin with, just like Lion’s mane benefits help patient’s immune system operate much better, one of the reasons the turkey tail mushroom is used to treat cancer is that its dietary supplements improve the body’s ability to wade off infections and risk factors for cancer. Going beyond immune modulation when it comes to preventing and treating cancer, medicinal mushroom Trametes has compounds that directly deal with factors that cause cancer.
Two particular polysaccharides have been extracted and isolated from the mushroom and are known to provide most of the turkey tail mushroom benefits for cancer. These are called Polysaccharide Krestin and Polysaccharide peptide .
The best turkey tail supplement for cancer carries these 2 turkey tails polysaccharides in abundance. Simply using an ideal turkey tail mushroom dosage gives you access to the bioactive compounds in the turkey tail extract, which act as a biological response modifier that ensures your body is responding in the right way to cancer triggers.
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To Learn More About Cam
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health
The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health at the National Institutes of Health facilitates research and evaluation of complementary and alternative practices, and provides information about a variety of approaches to health professionals and the public.
- NCCIH Clearinghouse
- Post Office Box 7923 Gaithersburg, MD 208987923
- Telephone: 1-888-644-6226
Turkey Tail Mushroom Side Effects
The current research shows that turkey tail mushrooms are generally safe and well tolerated, with very few adverse effects reported across the board. In saying that, occasional side effects include digestive upset like gas, diarrhoea, and bloating. Always speak with your doctor before starting with any mushroom supplement.
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Why People With Cancer Use It
Mushrooms are used in Japan and China to treat lung diseases and are sometimes given alongside cancer treatment. Research is looking at whether mushrooms can help the immune system.
It is thought that some of the chemical compounds in mushrooms might strengthen the immune system. If they do, researchers wonder if this could help fight cancer cells.
Button mushrooms and flat mushrooms are commonly eaten in the UK. They contain all the essential amino acids and are a good source of vitamins. So they can be used as part of a healthy diet. But there is no evidence that they can treat cancer.
In the UK, powdered shiitake, maitaki and reishi mushrooms are available. You can also sometimes get preparations of their juices. These are sold in health food shops.
As far as we know, there is nothing in the mushrooms or compounds that would be harmful but we don’t currently know how helpful they are in cancer care.
What Is The Turkey Tail Mushroom
The use of functional mushrooms to treat various ailments dates back to thousands of years in Eastern medicine, and Turkey Tail, also known as Trametes Versicolor, isnt any different. This reddish-brown fungus has been studied for its benefits regarding fatigue, immunity, blood sugar management, healthy ageing, and its anti-tumor activity.
In fact, some of the earliest recorded use of turkey tail in Eastern Asia dates back to the 1700s when it was used for cancer treatment by people in China, Japan, and Korea.
Modern scientists began studying this unique fungus decades ago, but its benefits are only now gaining popularity in the western world.
According to the latest findings, it appears this fungus has more to offer than initially thought. Studies show that turkey tail may have therapeutic effects against various types of cancers, including lung cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer, and melanoma.
There are several mechanisms by which turkey tail can confer cancer-protective effects :
-Turkey tail has anti-inflammatory effects
-It can help with the bodys detoxification efforts and elimination of free radicals
-Its been cited to reduce tumour cell division
-Turkey tail has been observed to promote antiangiogenesis or prevention of blood vessel growth toward tumours and
-Stimulation of immune system cells to help fight off cancer cells and direct anti-cancer activity.
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Reishi Mushrooms And Cancer
Reishi or Lingzhi, also known as Ganoderma lucidum, is a valuable superfood mushroom. The active ingredients in mushrooms have been shown in studies to have an action against tumor cells.
Adenomas, a precursor to colorectal cancers, has been shown to be suppressed by Reishi mushroom extracts. In this study, colorectal adenomas were present in two groups, one receiving Reishi mycelium treatment and the other not. After the 12-month study period, the adenomas underwent colonoscopy for evaluation. People who weren’t taking the mushroom supplement developed more adenomas.
Reishi was found to be the most effective of several mushrooms tested in a study for their capacity to inhibit the growth of tumors. The mushroom’s methanol extract had cytotoxic effects by stopping the cell division cycle in tumor cells. Additionally, it causes cancer cells to kill themselves.
Ganoderma lucidum has also been found to be an effective chemotherapeutic agent. Patients who received anticancer regimens containing Reishi extracts were 1.27 more likely than others to respond to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The mushroom also improves the effectiveness of radiotherapy.
Research Into Mushrooms As A Cancer Treatment
Research has looked at some particular mushrooms and their extracts. This includes:
Used for centuries in Eastern Ancient medicine, this extract is believed to refresh bodies and extend life.
Phellinus linteus is known as song gen in Chinese medicine, sang-hwang in Korean and meshimakobu in Japanese.
Studies have shown that this type of mushroom extract slows the growth of breast cancer cells in the laboratory. It has also been shown to have anti cancer effects on skin, lung and prostate cancer cells.
We have to be cautious about such early research. Substances that can kill cells in laboratory conditions dont necessarily turn out to be useful treatments in people.
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Cordyceps Mushrooms And Breast Cancer
Cordyceps militaris is also known for its antitumor activity, immunomodulatory and anti-cancer activities in human breast cancer cell lines. Cordyceps mushrooms have been known to induce apoptosis by activation of caspase-3 and alteration of mitochondrial permeability. Apoptosis caused by the mushroom extract was related to a time-dependent reduction of Akt activation. The findings revealed that cordyceps-induced apoptosis may be related to caspase-3 activation and mitochondrial instability, which are associated with Akt inactivation in human breast cancer cells MDA-MB-231. Moreover, solid-state fermented rice extracts from C. militaris have shown antioxidant, antiproliferative properties on MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines.
C.militaris has also shown apoptotic, immunogenic cell death, and antitumor effects in human breast cancer cells as well as mouse cell lines in a time and dose-dependent manner.
Turkey Tail Mushroom And Cancer
Theres emerging evidence that turkey tail mushrooms attack cancer from three different angles. First, the mushroom hasantioxidant properties which protect healthy cells from free radicals that can harm healthy cells and cause tumors to develop or multiply.In one study, turkey tail mushroom extract showed protective effects against DNA damage.
Second, scientists have found that PSK has anti-tumor effects. In test tube studies, PSK caused lung, skin, cervical, pancreatic and other tumor cellsto self-destruct. The Japanese governmenthas approved PSK itself as a cancer treatment.
Third, a strong immune system. Researchers were able to use turkey tail mushroom and its active compounds toincrease white blood cells in test tube studies. White blood cells, specificallymacrophages, fight infections and clean up cellular waste that could cause damaged cells to replicate.
On top of that, turkey tail is slowly crossing into the mainstream as a way to support your bodys natural defenses during chemotherapy, which knocks out your immune system with each treatment. In 2012, theFDA allowed a trial in cancer patients alongside chemotherapy to help counter some of the negative effects of chemo on the immune system.
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What Are Medicinal Mushrooms
Mushrooms are part of the fungus family and there are hundreds of different species. They have been a part of traditional chinese medicine for centuries and are used to treat illness. They are also known as medicinal mushrooms.
Some species of mushroom are not edible.
Research has looked at different types of mushroom and mushroom extracts or compounds to see if they can prevent or stop the growth of cancer cells.
Turkey Tail Diabetes Benefits And Reduced Risk Of Cancer Cells
Diabetes is a leading risk factor for developing cancer. This has been proven severally by research studies.
According to a report published in 2010 by the American Diabetes Association, type 2 diabetes increases the risk of developing several types of cancer, including:
- Pancreatic cancer
- Endometrium cancer
A research study conducted in 2018 determined that the turkey tail mushroom can reduce insulin resistance in users. The research study noted that the mushroom can aid in the reduction of the risk of cancer by the virtue of helping with diabetes treatment.
Just like Chaga offers diabetes benefits and Lion’s mane helps with diabetes treatment, the turkey tail mushroom is also useful in keeping blood sugar levels in check. This means that the mushroom has the potential to reduce the risk of cancer in diabetic men and women.
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