Although this may be your first exposure to turkey tail, historically known in China as yun zhi and in Japan as kawaratake, it may just be the most studied medicinal mushroom of all.  Polysaccharide kureha (PSK, also called krestin) was extracted from turkey tail in Japan in 1965 and polysaccharide peptide (PSP) in China in 1984.  In Japanese trials, PSK significantly extended the survival rates of those with cancer of the stomach, colon-rectum, esophagus, nasopharynx, and lung.  In 1977, PSK was the first polysaccharide anti tumor drug derived from a mushroom to be approved by the Japanese Ministry of Health and Welfare for use as a cancer treatment.  Not only did PSP show anti tumor effects, but its significant anti-virus and anti-inflammatory properties have proved effective in treating hepatitis B and chronic active hepatitis.

Have you ever tried Turkey Tail?