Tis the season! It’s time to get it and start collecting Turkey Tail. While there are a few things you might confuse with this medicinal powerhouse, they are easy to tell apart once you know!

The two semi look alikes are: Stereum hirsutum and Chondrostereum purpureum. You can look those up and you will see that neither has a pure white pore surface. That really is all you need to know! The false turkey tail (Stereum hirsutum) has an orange pore surface. While Silverleaf fungus (Chondrostereum purpureum) has a purple-ish pore surface. Purpureum is the latin for purple so that one should be easy to remember.

So go out there with confidence! Feel free to contact me with clarifications or questions you might have!

(last year’s post, still relevant as far as the medical field is concerned) recently learned that, yet another female friend has been diagnosed with breast cancer only this time it’s in 25 out of 28 of the surrounding lymph nodes. My brain instantly jumped to Turkey Tail. Having heard the stories from Paul Stamets about his mom and treating her with Turkey Tail while she was also undergoing standard medical treatment, I thought… oh there’s help for this. I dug up studies, I provided resources, I even offered to buy the fungus to work into her daily regimen. However, like in a lot of cases, people are instantly scared away by their oncologists or gps, etc. when they say things like “I don’t think I would mix that with your treatment”. I think what perhaps people fail to recognize is that the Dr.’s MUST say that. There are VERY few who will go out on a limb to say something even as benign as “it probably won’t hurt”. This makes me incredibly sad. In a healthy person, we would have no qualms about starting a routine of incorporating various supplements to our diet based on nothing more than an article or YouTube video or even a friend’s sworn results story. However, when someone gets sick and needs the support for their immune system the MOST, it gets shut down. Sigh. I wonder when or if we will ever get to a place as a society where we don’t fear monger based on risk to the provider. Probably not, because we as a society have taught them that they will be punished if they get it wrong. It’s a full-on conundrum.

Now that I have that just slightly out of my system, let’s talk Turkeys!

Turkey tail (Trametes versicolor), also known as Yunzhi in Chinese, has a long history of traditional use in Chinese medicine. In Chinese herbalism, turkey tail is considered a medicinal mushroom and is used for various purposes. Here are some traditional uses of turkey tail in Chinese medicine:

1. Immune Support: Turkey tail is believed to have immunomodulatory properties, meaning it can help regulate and strengthen the immune system. It is commonly used as a tonic to support overall immune health and to enhance the body’s ability to defend against infections and diseases.
2. Qi Tonic: In Chinese medicine, turkey tail is thought to tonify Qi, which is considered the vital energy that flows through the body. It is believed to improve energy levels, vitality, and overall well-being. Turkey tail is often used as a general health tonic.
3. Digestive Health: Turkey tail is sometimes used to support digestive health. It is believed to have a gentle soothing effect on the digestive system and may be used to alleviate symptoms such as poor appetite, indigestion, and diarrhea.
4. Respiratory Health: Turkey tail is also used to support respiratory health. It is believed to have expectorant properties and may be used to help alleviate coughs, phlegm, and other respiratory conditions.
5. Liver Health: In Chinese medicine, turkey tail is sometimes used to support liver health and detoxification. It is believed to help strengthen and protect the liver, which is considered an important organ for overall health and vitality.

It’s important to note that traditional uses of turkey tail in Chinese medicine are based on historical practices and cultural beliefs. While turkey tail is generally considered safe, it’s always advisable to consult with a qualified healthcare professional or a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner before using it for any specific health condition. When specifics are the topic, it really does warrant a healthy conversation with a knowing person. I know for me, I take a supplement of Turkey tail every other day in capsule form. I have noticed less lung congestion and that’s been amazing! Sure, this might not be the case for everyone, but I also doubt its dangerous for most people so there might be something to conducting an experiment. Talk to a naturopath and see if it can be super awesome for you.