Mushrooms have been eaten as food and used as a healing aid since prehistory starting
in the Neolithic period. They were first found in in the prehistoric lake dwellings in
Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. Truffles were found in Greece and Rome where
they cultivated the small Agrocybe aegerita on pieces of poplar trunks. In China and
Japan, shitake mushrooms were grown on rotting logs. In 1678, a French botanist
demonstrated the cultivation of mushrooms by transplanting their mycelia.
Many medicinal mushrooms are also tasty food. Turkey tail mushrooms, however, are not in
this category. They’re too tough and chewy. But they’re great medicine as a strong tea,
liquid (alcohol) extract, or powdered extract. It’s common to prepare turkey tails as a
combination of strong tea (called a “decoction”) and alcohol extract. If you live in California,
you may find lots of turkey tails growing on logs and stumps. Turkey tails are harder to come
by in dry climates—though they’re not difficult to find with a little online foraging.
A traditional liver tonic, turkey tails have also captured the notice of modern researchers.
Turkey tails help protect the liver from damage by noxious chemicals—for instance, reducing
the damage that acetaminophen can do. (Acetaminophen is a common over-the-counter
pain reliever in the U.S., and acetaminophen overdosing is the reason for about 50% of the
liver transplants annually in the U.S.)
In Asia, certain extracts of turkey tails are given together with chemotherapy by doctors for a
variety of reasons, one of which is reduction of liver damage from these strong drugs. Turkey
tails were also found in a small study to improve the quality of life in folks dealing with liver
cancer. However, we don’t recommend combining mushroom or plant extracts on your own
with chemo drugs…the wrong combinations may interfere with treatment rather than help.
Work with a practitioner.
Turkey tails have traditionally been used for support with hepatitis. Hepatitis literally means
“liver inflammation.” This amazing mushroom also reduces the level of oxidative stress in the
liver. As mentioned, oxidative stress means a high level of free radicals. Free radicals
damage cells in a process quite similar to the way that rust damages metal.
Cortesía de Mushroom of medicine y Basmati.
Gracias.