The turkey tail mushroom has been much appreciated in traditional Chinese medicine. Its main effects are the enhancement of the immune system, in particular by enhancing the functioning of one of the most critical cells, known as t helper cells. T cells tell all other cells of the immune system what to do and to what degree, and when to stop. In cancer, runaway cells often secrete compounds known as cytokines that give false signals to immune cells to stop working. This further increases the cancer's ability to survive. An unfortunate side effect of chemotherapy and radiotherapy is that they further enhance the immune system, partly by inadvertently killing the t helper cells. The Turkey Mushroom has been the subject of a large number of controlled clinical trials in Asia showing that it can help rebuild the immune system in people with a wide range of cancers.
Image Source: lance isackson