I’m going to declare June as official “mushroom month” here at the Anti-Lyme Journal; our supplement of the month for June is a medicinal mushroom, and I have a few more mushroom blog posts planned for the next few weeks.
I have been obsessed with Coriolus Versicolor (aka Turkey Tail mushroom) lately. This mushroom seems to have a lot more value to Lyme sufferers than all the other medicinal mushrooms (like Shiitake & Maitake). Coriolus seems to be very useful when the immune system isn’t bouncing back from Lyme. There are more than 40 studies published by mainstream universities and institutions demonstrating the immune modulating and boosting effects of Coriolus.
Lyme doctors often use a test called the CD-57 test ▲ to measure an important marker in the immune system of Lyme sufferers. The higher the CD-57 results, the better.
Well, there aren’t many things that we know of which can raise this marker. Coriolus is one of the few treatments that accomplishes this.
According to Ginger Savely, a Lyme doctor, in the book Insights Into Lyme Disease Treatment,
For example, I sometimes recommend the mushroom Coriolus to my patients, because I notice that it raises CD-57 levels like crazy. Some of my patients take it and say, “I feel so much better on this!”, whereas it doesn’t seem to help others at all. It’s always interesting how people respond differently to things. As another example, I have patients who use an herbal treatment called burbur, and some will swear that it ameliorates their Herxheimer reactions, while others claim that it doesn’t do anything to improve their symptoms. For those that it helps, I don’t know how much of it is the placebo effect, but I’m never going to tell people not to try something if it makes them feel better. I have a few things that I would always say “No” to, such as intravenous hydrogen peroxide, but for the most part, if patients ask, “Should I try this?” I will tell them, “Sure, go ahead, try whatever works.”
Coriolus has benefits for many diseases, especially those involving the immune system. According to WebMd,
Coriolus mushroom is a fungus. People have used the fruiting body and other parts as folk medicine for a long time. Recently, researchers have started to isolate and identify substances in coriolus that might act like pharmaceutical drugs. Two of these substances are polysaccharide peptide (PSP) and polysaccharide krestin (PSK). Scientists think these chemicals might be able to fight cancer and boost the immune system.
Coriolus mushroom, PSP, and PSK are used for stimulating the immune system; treating herpes, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), hepatitis, and pulmonary disorders; reducing phlegm; improving bodybuilding results; increasing energy; curing ringworm and a skin condition called impetigo; treating upper respiratory, urinary, and digestive tract infections; curing liver disorders including hepatitis; reducing the toxic effects and pain of chemotherapy and radiation therapy; increasing the effectiveness of chemotherapy; prolonging life and raising the quality of life of cancer patients; and increasing appetite.
I strongly recommend everyone read this information on Coriolus. It is well-referenced and astounding just how broadly applicable this supplement really is. I’m especially impressed with this information from the article, on safety:
PSP or PSK have an extremely low level of toxicity. The no-effect dose level after oral administration of PSP to mice was 20g/kg/day. A dose of 1.5g/kg/day PSK in mice for 60 days, which is approximately 130 times of the therapeutic dose in humans, did not cause any toxic effect. PSP has shown no evidence of reproductive toxicity. [PSP & PSK are two primary active ingredients in Coriolus]
The more I’ve looked into Coriolus, the more I find that Lyme doctors are turning their patients around with this supplement. Of course, there are a lot of variables to consider, but for a good percentage of people, Coriolus may be just what they need. You can read several articles on the topic of Coriolus & Lyme here.
Several products containing multiple mushroom extracts, including Coriolus, seem to be relatively ineffective. The concentrated products which only contain Coriolus appear to be stronger and better.
The best thing about Coriolus is that it is over-the-counter and affordable, so picking some up and giving it a try isn’t very hard at all. Remember to consult your physician before beginning any new treatments.
The brand I’m most familiar with and which I recommend is:
Be careful with taking pharmaceutical drugs at the same time you are on Coriolus mushrooms; their effects can negate each other. Pharmaceuticals often suppress the immune system, while Coriolus boosts it.
Don’t be surprised if some dormant infections get stirred up while on Coriolus. This process can help you to dig deeper into layers of the onion of the disease, promoting a more complete recovery. Some Lyme sufferers notice that old therapies like rife machines and antibacterial herbs have renewed effect while taking Coriolus.
One very promising aspect of Coriolus is that its effects don’t seem to wear off like the effects of most anti-microbial herbs and drugs. The reason for this sustained benefit is that Coriolus acts on the immune system, not on the infections. Infections can become resistant to treatments and change their defense mechanisms, but if the body’s problem is a dysfunctional immune system, then fixing that immune system isn’t a benefit that will decrease over time. And this has been noticed in real life: the effects of Coriolus seem to be long-term, not short-lived.
Since Coriolus revs up the immune system, herx reactions and inflammation may become uncomfortable. Using anti-inflammatory and detox products can be very important. I especially like using low dose naltrexone (LDN) to quiet the immune system when taking Coriolus. It does so without suppressing the immune system. LDN does require a prescription, but it is very cheap – less than $30 for a bottle. I believe LDN and Coriolus make a good team – Coriolus increases immune activity and response, while LDN balances the immune system and quiets down excessive inflammation.
Something you may not know is that immune system health directly affects not only energy levels, but also emotional state, mood, memory, cognition, sleep, and many other psycho-emotional elements. Therefore, don’t be surprised if you notice these areas improving while taking Coriolus or similar products.
Please share your results with Coriolus in the comments section below.
In closing – Coriolus mushroom is a very exciting, affordable, over-the-counter treatment which has tremendous potential in Lyme treatment. Results have been very encouraging.
So, there you have it: June’s supplement of the month. I truly believe this is one of the most important supplements I’ve ever written about. This article is one reason why I’m so excited about the new Anti-Lyme Journal – I can bring new supplements and information to you in real-time. Thanks again for your support. Your support allows me to spend my time continuing to do research and bring the latest information to you!
If you still haven’t heard enough about Coriolus mushroom and you want a really in-depth and exhaustive, cool video, see:
▲ = When you see this green triangle, it represents an article or resource which normally requires purchase but which is included as a free benefit with your subscription to the Anti-Lyme Journal.
DISCLAIMER: Bryan Rosner is not a doctor. He is a Lyme survivor and health writer. This website is offered for informational and educational purposes only. Consult a licensed doctor for medical advice. Published by BioMed Publishing Group, LLC.
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