Month: May 2011

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The Turkey Tail Mushroom

The Turkey Tail Mushroom (Trametes versicolor), aka Yun Zhi, Kawaratake, Coriolus versicolor

Turkey Tail Close Up

Turkey Tail mushrooms are one of the most researched and respected of the medicinal mushrooms. They are also one of the most common in the northern forests of world, from Europe to China and Japan, from Siberia to the US and Canada.

This member of the polypore family has longest history of medicinal use in China and Japan, where it is known as Yun Zhi and Kawaratake, respectively.

Turkey Tails are tough and chewy, so they are generally consumed by drinking the tea made by boiling them for a prolonged period. However, the eminent herbalogist Christopher Hobbs likes to chew the fresh fruitbodies like gum when walking in the woods.

Turkey Tail mushrooms are medically significant for many reasons (as the monograph below details) but they are most popularly known as being the natural source of the anti-cancer polysaccharide PSK. PSK (polysaccharide K) is a high molecular weight carbohydrate found in the fruitbodies and (in higher concentrations) in the mycelium of Turkey Tails. (See Spawn for a description of mycelium.) Check out this link, for more information on PSK as a cancer treatment.

Bastyr University has been involved in a recent clinical study using Turkey Tail extracts in conjuction with chemotherapy and radiation. Click here (and here) to read an article about the study and go here to read Bastyr’s complete monograph of Turkey Tails, which they primarily call Coriolus versicolor. (I have no idea why some scientists call it Trametes versicolor and others call it Coriolus versicolor. You would think they could all agree on one name.) Here are the highlights:

Constituents
β-glucan-proteins (Coriolan, PSK): anti-tumor, antiviral, immunomodulating.
– Polysaccharide K (PSK) is 30% polysaccharides, 6% nitrogen, and 15% protein (3).
Ergosterol (provitamin D2) derivatives: antitumor
Polysaccharopeptide (PSP): antiviral

Actions
Anti-tumor, Anti-microbial, Immunomodulating, Anti-oxidant.
Also recently discovered to be anti-malarial (6).

Indications and Effects
Cancer (cervical, breast, lung, gastric, colon, sarcoma, carcinoma, esophageal, etc.) (4), Immunodeficiency (4), Hepatitis B and C (2), and Malaria (6).

Turkey Tails on Birch

Pharmacodynamics
PSK fights cancers and tumors by inhibiting the growth of cancer cells and
by “stimulating a host mediated response.” Natural Killer cells are
also promoted to enhance the immune system. It is often used in
conjunction with chemotherapy to increase cancer survival rates. PSP is
being proposed as an inhibitor of HIV replication based on an in vitro study (4).

PSK has also demonstrated itself to activate interferon production (2). Coriolus has also been found to regenerate damaged bone marrow, increase energy levels and offer pain relief in cancer patients (1).

Some highlights:

“In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Turkey Tail is used to clear dampness,
reduce phlegm, heal pulmonary disorders, strengthen the physique,
increase energy and benefit people with chronic diseases (Yang &
Yong, 1989, Ying et al., 1987). Chinese medical doctors consider it a
useful treatment for infection and/or inflammation of the upper
respiratory, urinary and digestive tracts. Turkey Tail is also regarded
as curative to liver ailments (including hepatitis B and chronic active
hepatitis) and is used to treat general weakness of the immune system
(Ying et al., 1987)

Krestin (PSK), a proprietary anticancer drug approved in
Japan, is extracted from the Turkey Tail mushroom and accounted for
25.2% of the total Japanese national expenditure for anticancer agents.
Nakazato et al. (1994), reported that 262 gastric cancer patients
treated with PSK as an adjunct to chemotherapy showed a decrease in
cancer reoccurrence and a significant increase in disease-free survival
rate. Kobayashi et al. (1995) reported that the protein-bound
polysaccharide PSK reduced cancer metastasis. Sakagami et al. (1993)
reported that PSK stimluted interleukin-1 and interferon production in
human cells. Other researchers have reported that PSK appears to be a
scavenger of free-radical oxidizing compounds. Unlike many conventional
anticancer drugs, PSK produces few, if any, side effects and shows no
immunosuppressive activity.”

Source: Wildbranchmushrooms.com

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“Wildman” Steve Brill Releases Wild Edible App

Naturalist, author, and environmental educator “Wildman” Steve Brill, America’s go-to guy for foraging, has just released a master series of foraging apps, WildEdibles, that will give iPhone users the in-depth information they need to identify, ecologically harvest, and use 165 of the best wild edible and medicinal plants of North America, plus essential details of 52 look-alikes. The focus will be on eastern species, but half the plants and many more very similar close relatives that are also edible grow across the country.

“This takes foraging beyond what’s in any book or other app,” said the popular freelance naturalist, author, and environmental educator. “Taking full advantage of this newly developing media technology, I pair each plant with up to eight detailed pictures. My 718 photos, paintings, and drawings present all aspects of these tasty, nutritious, in-demand renewable resources in all their seasonal forms, something simply not cost-effective with print media.”

Plants are easily searchable by a number of different criteria (season, habitat, etc.) and arranged alphabetically for quick access in the field. Each herb, green, shoot, fruit, berry, nut, seed, root, or seaweed listed contains detailed identification info, a checklist of critical features, how to spot it, scientific and common names, parts used, food uses, seasons, range, habitats, poisonous and non-poisonous look-alikes, related species, cautions, and clarification of anything that may cause confusion.

“Wildman” provides his practical tips (and quips) for harvesting and using the plants (“Never pull out a cattail if there’s an animal rights activist watching!”), as well as details about preparing them. 162 scrumptious, healthful, vegan recipes, from simple ones such as Garlicky Chickweed with Penne to elaborate creations such as Black Forest Cake with Wild Cherries, grace this app’s electrons. “Wildman” has been recognized as America’s top foraging expert for decades, and his Brill-iant innovations with wild and vegan whole food dishes will be appreciated as soon as you try his Wild American Persimmon Ice Cream, or his unbelievably realistic Cow Parsnip Meatless Loaf (but not if you taste them both at the same time!).

The medicinal uses of the wild plants also get full coverage, from practical home remedies in use for centuries, to explanations of the latest cutting-edge pharmacological and nutritional research.

A big advantage of having this massive amount of information in an app is that you can use it whatever way works best for you. You can look up plants alphabetically, by season, or by habitat, or find the best toxic species to gather in case the boss drops over for dinner. WildEdibles is completely interactive, so you can switch around or find anything in it whenever you choose.

You can use the app as a cutting-edge vegan cookbook for wild foods or store-bought alternatives, or just sit back and browse through the modern botanical paintings and drawings that rival anything created by 19th-century naturalists. And there’s also a detailed introductory section, plus a glossary of botanical terms as close as a tap of the finger.

If you’re a beginner who finds the huge number of plants a little too imposing, a variety of smaller versions, including a flashcard-style studying tool, should suit your needs. A lite version with the most common, widespread, edible lawn “weeds” is free; the full app costs $7.99; and other smaller versions run from $0.99 to $3.99 each. Upgrades will become available as the app continues to blossom and grow.

This app series, created as a collaborative project, was crafted by skilled designers and programmers from the Detroit-based group WinterRoot.

WildEdibles, “Wildman” Steve Brill’s master foraging app series, is now available for all iOS 4.2 devices, with a customized iPad version soon to follow. Android and other smartphones will also be supported by future releases. Please contact “Wildman” at (914) 835-2153 for further information, and visit him at http://www.wildmanstevebrill.com.

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Contact: “Wildman” Steve Brill, (914) 835-2153
wildman@wildmanstevebrill.com
http://www.wildmanstevebrill.com

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Chicken, Nettle & Maitake Soup

Chicken, Nettle & Maitake Soup from wildmushroomrecipes.org
Description

Good, and good for you. The strong green flavor is well balanced by the smoky umami of the maitake.

2 C. packed nettle tops
2 oz. dried maitake
2 T. olive oil
1 carrot, diced
1 stalk celery, diced
1 small onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
4 C. russet potato, peeled & cubed
2 chicken breasts, diced
4 C. chicken stock
Salt & fresh ground pepper

Methods/steps

Cook the nettle tops in a covered skillet with a little water for 1 minute. Let cool and chop, reserving any liquid.
Soak the maitake in warm water until soft. Remove and squeeze dry reserving the liquid. Remove any tough woody
parts and chop the rest.
Sweat the carrot, celery and onion in a large pot with the oil and a little salt for 3-4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook
another 2 minutes.
Add the nettles, maitake and their liquids, potato, chicken, broth, salt and pepper to the pot. Add water if needed to
just cover.
Bring to a simmer, cover and cook ~15 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Adjust seasonings.


Additional Tips

Serve with ale, crusty bread and cheese.

for more recipes visit wildmushroomrecipes.org