Trametes versicolor is a powerful antiviral, anti-candida, as well as immunomodulating mushroom. Its also getting profound notoriety from Bastyr Universities research with cancer treatment, specifically with breast cancer. Yet, there are a few mushrooms that look somewhat similar to the untrained eye.
Top of Trametes (L) and Stereum (R)
Underside of Trametes (L) and Stereum (R)
Here’s a look at two pics showing the true turkey tail (trametes versicolor) on the left, and it’s look similar, the “false” turkey tail (stereum ostrea) to the right. Notice that trametes versicolor has a white underside shown in the second pic below, otherwise they look very similar and can easily be confused. Although it is not known that false turkey tail is toxic, there are still questions and concerns for working with it as a medicinal.
With all of the research I’ve scoured and all the people I’ve asked I have found several people tell me that they consume stereum ostrea, although no research has confirmed that it is indeed “ingestible”. There is, however, one research article which shows “Antibacterial and Antifungal Activities of Stereum ostrea, an Inedible Wild
Mushroom“, but nowhere in the article does it mention human ingestion. Can that mean we can extrapolate from that; only you can judge, but always exercise caution.
For a better look at the living discernment of these and a few other similar mushrooms check out my youtube video:
Dandelion
Further Suggested Reading: Foraging Articles
Foraging Videos: Click Here
Other Links:
Mycomedicinals by Paul Stamets
Medicinal Mushrooms – Christopher Hobbs
Anticancer effects and mechanisms of polysaccharide-K (PSK): implications of cancer immunotherapy.
Induction of immunopotentiation activity by a protein-bound polysaccharide, PSK
