Using a dietary supplement to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA) seems appealing. Natural anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic treatment? Fewer drugs to take daily?
What if we told you mushrooms could help you too? While many dietary supplements marketed for RA therapy may potentially be harmful, mushrooms are an exception. Aside from their nutritional benefits, medicinal mushrooms contain anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory qualities, making them a great natural supplement for RA.
One of the best mushrooms for rheumatoid arthritis is the striking Turkey tail mushroom. With its multi-colored bands, the mushroom is not just a visual treat but a fantastic addition to your RA diet too!
Let’s explore Turkey tail mushroom rheumatoid arthritis benefits and how this mushroom can be a part of your wellness routine to battle the condition.
Understanding Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune and inflammatory disease in which your immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells, causing inflammation in the affected areas.
RA primarily affects the joints, often attacking multiple joints simultaneously. The wrists, hands, and knees are the most typically affected joints by RA. The joint's lining becomes inflamed in RA joints, causing joint tissue destruction.
RA can also affect other organs, like the heart, lungs, and eyes. Pain, aching, swelling, weariness, or stiffness in multiple joints are signs and symptoms of RA. Other symptoms are fever and weight loss.
How is RA treated?
The typical treatment approach for rheumatoid arthritis focuses primarily on symptom reduction, including joint pain and swelling, and preventing chronic joint damage. Medications for rheumatoid arthritis can reduce pain and swelling, but they do not treat the underlying causes of the disease, such as nutrition and chronic stress. Furthermore, long-term usage of these drugs can have various adverse side effects.
While rheumatoid arthritis therapy should be left to your doctor, you can explore holistic approaches to manage your quality of life with the disease. A comprehensive approach can assist you in managing the disease, reducing symptoms, and improving your daily life.
Exploring The Benefits Of Turkey Tail Mushrooms
Trametes Versicolor, also known as Coriolus Versicolor, is a notable polypore fungus widely employed in traditional Eastern medicine. The mushroom is one of the most extensively researched mushrooms, having several health advantages, including inflammation reduction, immune system strengthening, and gut health maintenance.
Science has deconstructed it and placed it in several clinical trials today. So, has any research been done on the benefits of Turkey tail for joint inflammation?
Turkey tail combats inflammation
A study published in 2020(1) looked into the influence of PSK on the production of matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3), an enzyme involved in the development of rheumatoid arthritis. The rats in the study were separated into two groups: treatment and control.
Calipers were used to measure MMP3 expression and foot diameter (which indicates the degree of swelling). PSK was administered to the rats, and the results revealed that it could inhibit MMP3 expression. Similarly, rats given the mushroom compound had reduced foot thickness.
In conclusion, this work provides scientific evidence of PSK's anti-arthritic action in an arthritis-affected rat. This was most likely performed by reducing MMP3 levels and foot diameter, accomplished through PSK-activated glycan activation. PSK's positive benefits in rheumatoid arthritis-infected rats may be helpful in future arthritis treatments.
Another interesting study looked at arthritic rats(2) with morphine tolerance. Morphine dosages must be increased in these animals to provide adequate pain relief. Using PSP derived from Turkey tail mushrooms reduced the need for painkillers. In rats, it also lowered the severity of withdrawal symptoms.
Turkey tail seems to boost beta-endorphin levels while activating a specific cannabinoid receptor. These influences, when combined, have the potential to affect how the body perceives pain. In addition, there was a decrease in pro-inflammatory molecules (which led to inflammation).
Turkey tail reduces oxidative stress
Turkey tail mushrooms are rich in antioxidants, which help to protect cells from damage. This helps to minimize oxidative stress. The immunomodulating activities of PSK extracted from Turkey tail mushrooms were investigated in a 2021 study(3). The 66 male white rats with arthritis were divided into six groups: three control and three treatment groups. Daily injections of polysaccharides were given to all treatment groups. Blood tests were also used to evaluate inflammatory markers.
PSK from Turkey tail mushrooms considerably reduced inflammation and severe joint damage in arthritic rats, according to the study.
A 2020 study(4) examined Turkey tail mushrooms' bioactive characteristics and antioxidant capacity. The study's findings backed up its antioxidant qualities, making it a suitable source for use in oxidative stress-induced arthritis.
Turkey tail improves gut health
An increasing amount of evidence suggests a link between gut flora and autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis. Dysbiosis, a balance of good and harmful microbes in the gut, may cause inflammation, impacting disease activity. RA
Turkey tail may be beneficial in maintaining gut bacteria balance, enhancing general health. According to one study(5), PSP from turkey tail contains prebiotic properties and helps the intestine control its bacterial balance. Prebiotics are a form of fiber that serves as a food source for beneficial gut bacteria.
Furthermore, recent research(6) suggests that PSP maintains the gut microbiota by balancing the amounts of beneficial bacteria in the intestines.
Key Compounds And Mechanisms
Turkey tail’s medicinal properties are due to the following five beneficial nutritional and bioactive chemical compounds:
- Polyphenols: Polyphenols are well-known for their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant capabilities.
- Polysaccharides: Polysaccharides, such as beta-glucans, are recognized as immunomodulators due to their immune system stabilizing effects.
- Vitamins and minerals: Turkey tail mushrooms contain a variety of critical nutrients, including selenium, vitamin B3, and vitamin D. Selenium may diminish inflammation markers in your body, while vitamin B3 may minimize your need for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs) by decreasing inflammation.
- Sterols: These are hormone precursors such as ergosterol and fungisterol. Ergosterol is converted to vitamin D2 when exposed to sunlight.
- Triterpenes: Turkey tail mushrooms contain triterpenoids, which have antioxidant effects and can help balance inflammatory reactions in the body.
Incorporating Turkey Tail Mushrooms Into A Wellness Routine
The texture of Turkey tail is chewy, and the flavor is powerful. Some people like to cut dried turkey tail mushrooms and steep them in tea, while others cook with them.
Turkey tail extract is available as a powder, tea, or tincture. The recommended dosage for enhancing joint health is two grams (or 2,000 mg) of Turkey tail mushrooms daily. Look for a reputable source of pure Turkey tail supplements or the mushrooms.
Holistic Wellness for Rheumatoid Arthritis
Many dietary and lifestyle factors can cause chronic inflammation, influencing autoantibody development and disease activity in RA. A comprehensive strategy focusing on diet, stress management, gut health, and exercise may reduce inflammation, improve RA symptoms, and help you restore your health and vigor!
An anti-inflammatory diet can be a great place to start when lowering symptoms and enhancing the quality of life with RA.
Several studies, for example, have demonstrated that a gluten-free, vegan diet, a Mediterranean diet, or a diet free of lactose, pork, and gluten may all reduce disease activity markers and improve symptoms in RA. Similarly, Turkey tail is a fantastic place to start because it is a mushroom with nutrients that can help reduce inflammation.
Consultation And Collaboration
It is critical to consult with a healthcare practitioner before including turkey tail mushrooms in your wellness routine, especially if you are already receiving medication for rheumatoid arthritis. To guarantee a complete approach to joint health, you should discuss it honestly with your doctor.
FAQs About Turkey Tail Mushroom Rheumatoid Arthritis
Is Turkey Tail Good For Autoimmune Disease?
Modern study reveals that chemicals contained in Turkey tail mushrooms have an immune-boosting impact. They function as immunological modulators, to be more specific.
Who Should Not Take Turkey Tail Mushroom?
If you have a known allergy to any other mushroom species, PSK, or other components of turkey tail, you should avoid taking it. People with diabetes should also avoid consuming Turkey tail mushrooms because combining them with anti-diabetic drugs may cause blood sugar levels to drop dangerously low.
Can I Take Turkey Tail Every Day?
You certainly can. To see the health benefits, consume the recommended turkey tail mushroom dosage of 2,000 mg daily.
Key Takeaways
What you eat has a significant impact on the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. If you have the condition, an anti-inflammatory diet rich in antioxidants can improve your quality of life. This anti-inflammatory fungus is hailed as the best mushroom for rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune disorders.
Turkey tail mushroom rheumatoid arthritis benefits include reduced systemic inflammation. Fungi also modulate the immune system, which is especially relevant in the case of autoimmunity.
References
- Effect of Polysaccharide Krestin on MMP3 Expression and Foot Diameter in Rheumatoid Arthritis in Rat, (1)https://www.researchgate.net/publication/339140201
- Polysaccharopeptide from Trametes versicolor blocks inflammatory osteoarthritis pain-morphine tolerance effects via activating cannabinoid type 2 receptor, (2)https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30584942/
- Immunomodulating effect of Polysaccharide Krestin from Cariolus versicolor grown in Indonesia against Rheumatoid arthritis in Rat, (3)https://rjptonline.org/AbstractView.aspx?PID=2021-14-3-30
- Assessment of Bioactive Compounds and Antioxidant Activity of Turkey Tail Medicinal Mushroom Trametes versicolor (Agaricomycetes), (4)https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32865897/
- Effects of polysaccharopeptide from Trametes versicolor and amoxicillin on the gut microbiome of healthy volunteers: a randomized clinical trial, (5)https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25006989/
- A Critical Review on Health Promoting Benefits of Edible Mushrooms through Gut Microbiota, (6)https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5618583
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