FDA Approves Clinical Trial for Cancer-Busting Turkey Tail Mushroom

In what may be the most significant health discovery for mycologists and health researchers since the invention of penicillin (which was derived from the fungus Penicillium), research continues to mount as to the amazing healing effects of Turkey Tail mushroom against Breast Cancer.

News about Turkey Tail

The news about Turkey Tail made headlines in 2012 when the FDA approved clinical trials to test the cancer-healing properties of Polysaccharide K (PSK), an extract that comes from Trametes versicolor, or Turkey Tail mushroom. Turkey Tail has been used medicinally all over Asia for thousands of years, usually in tea form. As of 2014, the clinical trial, sponsored by Bastyr University and head researchers Cynthia Wenner PhD and Masa Sasagawa, ND, was in Phase I/II with women who have Stage IV breast cancer.

One of the first study reports that Bastyr University researchers published, along with their partners from the University of Minnesota Medical School, showed that the Turkey Tail extract (PSK) was successful at restoring the immune systems and improving the health of women who had undergone traditional cancer therapy (radiation in particular). The study found that Turkey Tail mushroom extract was able to increase the level and activity of Natural Killer Cells as well as “cytotoxic T-cells.”

The job of NK cells in the body is to hunt down harmful pathogens, especially cancer cells, and destroy them. All the women in this part of the trial had raised lymphocyte as well as NK cell counts after a daily dose of 6 and 9 grams over a period of 4 weeks. Those women who were given the higher amounts (9 grams) showed higher levels of T cells. No negative side effects were discovered with any of the women.

Noted Researchers Speak Out About Turkey Tail

Famed mycologist and author Paul Stamets, whose mother healed from breast cancer with the use of Turkey Tail in 2009, has been one of the main providers of Turkey Tail mushrooms and has also served as director of research for many past studies.

“Cancer is notorious for its ability to evade immune detection,” says Stamets. “One theory is that when patients ingest our Turkey Tail mycelium, the immune system’s increased populations of NK cells and their associated CD8 glycoproteins are better able to discover and bind to receptor sites on the stroma of tumors, thus allowing NK invasion.”

Dr. Wenner of Bastyr University recently spoke about their findings to a group of over 100 clinical oncologists in Tokyo.

“The opportunity to present our findings to an international audience is quite important,” Dr. Wenner said in a statement. “Having worked as an investigator on the study since 2004, it felt like a fitting conclusion to bring back these positive findings to a group that has access to this mushroom extract and can apply our findings to treatment options in their oncology practices and in doing further research.”

FDA Approval Still Stalled

In previous studies, Turkey Tail has also been shown to help with upper respiratory tract infections, pulmonary disease, urinary tract infections, malaise and digestive tract issues. And it has shown to be effective against colorectal cancer and lymphoma.

PSK/ Turkey Tail extract is still not approved for medical use in the U.S. but perhaps the final results of the Bastyr University study, combined with the results of all the other Turkey Tail mushroom studies over the years, will finally push the envelope towards approval soon.

One thing is for sure: the positive evidence demonstrated so far by the Bastyr study as to how Turkey Tail has helped reinvigorate the immune systems of Stage IV Breast Cancer patients proves that with a little help from Nature, the body can– and does– heal from cancer.

Dr. Veronique Desaulniers, better known as Dr. V, is the founder of  The 7 Essentials System ™, a step-by-step guide that teaches you exactly how to prevent and heal Breast Cancer naturally. To get your FREE 7-Day Mini e-Course and to receive her weekly action steps and inspiring articles on the power of Natural Medicine, visit her at BreastCancerConqueror.com

FDA Approves Clinical Trial for Cancer-Busting Turkey Tail Mushroom

Bird flu outbreak confirmed at turkey farm in Lincolnshire

A bird flu outbreak has been confirmed at a turkey farm housing more than 5,000 birds in Lincolnshire.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said on Friday the H5N8 strain had been found at the farm near Louth. The virus has been circulating in mainland Europe.

All of the surviving animals will be culled and a protection zone has been placed around the facility. Officials said there was a low risk to the public and insisted there would be no impact on the Christmas turkey supply.

Most birds at the premises have died already, officials said, adding that a 3km (1.9 mile) protection zone and a 10km surveillance zone had been put in place around the farm to help stop the spread. Birds must be kept housed in the zones and the moving or gathering of them is banned.

An update on the Defra website said: “We are taking immediate and robust action and an investigation is under way to understand the origin of the disease and confirm that there are no further cases.”

Public Health England said the risk to public health from the virus was very low and the Food Standards Agency said bird flu did not pose a food safety risk. Thoroughly cooked poultry and poultry products, including eggs, were safe to eat, officials said.

The chief veterinary officer, Nigel Gibbens, said: “Avian flu has been confirmed on a turkey farm in Lincolnshire. This is the same strain that has been affecting poultry in Europe. Immediate steps have been taken to limit the risk of the disease spreading and all remaining poultry at the farm will be culled.

“Bird keepers should remain alert for any signs of disease, report suspected disease immediately and ensure they are maintaining good biosecurity on their premises. We are urgently looking for any evidence of disease spread associated with this farm to control and eliminate it.”

A PHE spokesperson said: “Avian flu (often called bird flu) is primarily a disease of birds. There have never been any recorded cases of H5N8 in humans and the risk to public health is considered very low. We continue to work closely with Defra throughout this investigation. Despite the risk being very low, we will offer health advice to those people who may have been exposed on the farm as a precaution.”

Defra said a detailed investigation was in progress to determine the most likely source of the outbreak, which is the first in the UK since January.

Since June, countries in Europe and Asia have detected A(H5N8) infections in wild birds and/or domestic poultry including Austria, Croatia, Denmark, Germany, Hungary, India, Israel, the Netherlands, Poland, Russia and Switzerland, according to the World Health Organisation, although most were associated with wild birds.

Bird flu outbreak confirmed at turkey farm in Lincolnshire