Anyone using Coriolus versicolor (Yun Zhi or PSK)
I read several articles on the effect of using corious versicor (PSK) as supplements. It has been shown that it is an effective anti-cancer agent. I wonder anybody has used this or have talked to your doctor about using this?
Thanks.
Comments
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Kelty: Yes I have found and used corious versicor as a supplement after finding that it is used in Japan. Does it help, well there stats on it are good and they use it for all cancer patients to boost the immune system. I wasn't aware of anything dramatic happening when I took it (no increase in energy, better sleep etc), but then we often do not "see" our immune systems working UNLESS there is some sort of breakdown. IT is available in the US and from a particular health mag I receive apparently it is very important HOW it is prepared.. if you want my source of supplement just drop me a PM. Also I did not say anything to my doc, who is very conservative when it comes to medicine, just that I was taking all sort of supplements - he had no comment pro or con.
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In your link note the following:
Human Trials of PSK and PSP
All trials of PSK have been in combination or supplemental to chemotherapy and/or radiation. These trials have included numerous randomized, but non-blinded, clinical trials in Japan where it has been approved as an adjuvant (supplementary) treatment for digestive system, lung and nasopharyngeal cancers10. PSP has had fewer trials, all of them in China3. Designs and results of these human trials are reviewed in the Summary of Research.There is no evidence of efficacy in breast cancer.
I think a lot more study is needed to know if it does anything for anyone with breast cancer.
Still, it's always good to see new potential treatments out there in some sort of pipeline.
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Ladies do your own research to make your decisions.
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Personally, I would be very leery of anything medicinal that came out of China. Japanese sources would be a lot safer. I think it might be wise to stick with those.
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Amen anianiau. I try to avoid anything coming out of China PERIOD. The anarchy of their regulatory processes is frightening.
I spent 6 weeks looking for a whisk made in the USA. I've given away my plastic bottles made in China, and if there is any chance of finding a product that's not made there, I will pay more and search until it is obvious that there simply is no alternative to a China-made product.
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Yes, Japanese sources are a great deal safer and very available especially on Coriolus.. Good luck!
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I did try it, with the hope of boosting a lagging WBC. I did not see any change (tested weekly), I used it for 2 months, and then decided to save my money.
My Dr. was not against, but he didnt expect to see any impact either.
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According to one of the articles I found, only US sourced coriolus versicolor is allowed to be sold is US. But different companies have different ways of extracting the active ingredients. THe Japanese method leads to PSK and the chinese method leads to PSP. PSK has a lot more positive data on its anticancer effect than PSP which was discovered and researched exclusively in China.
THere is a clinical trial (only phase I though) sponsored by National cancer institute to look at the safety and effect of coriolus versicolor. Univ of Minnesota is conducting the trial. Anyone lives in Minneapolis can check into this.
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Coriolus Versicolor
What does coriolus versicolor treatment involve? Coriolus versicolor is a mushroom used in Asian cultures to treat cancer. Its active ingredient can be administered as a tea or in capsules.
How is coriolus versicolor thought to treat cancer? The coriolus versicolor mushroom has shown antimicrobial, antiviral and antitumor properties, which have been attributed to a protein-bound polysaccharide called Polysaccharide K (PSK), also known as Krestin. In Japan, PSK is currently used as a cancer treatment, in conjunction with surgery, chemotherapy and/or radiation.
What has been proven about the benefit of coriolus versicolor? Animal studies have reported that PSK prevents the induction of tumors by chemicals, radiation and other mutagens. The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center performed an extensive human studies literature review of coriolus versicolor and found twenty-four studies relevant to cancer. After an in-depth review of the available literature, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center reported that PSK is a "promising candidate for chemoprevention due to the multiple effects on the malignant process, limited side effects and safety of daily oral doses for extended periods of time."
What is the potential risk or harm of coriolus versicolor treatment? Side effects of coriolus versicolor treatment are not expected. However, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, skin pigmentation, anorexia, anemia, liver dysfunction, leukopenia and thrombocytopenia have been reported.
How much does coriolus versicolor treatment cost? Retail cost of PSK is from $120 to $160 for a 30 day supply of 150 capsules.
For additional information:
The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
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Excuse me...it in first stage of trials. They are not testing all areas of this protocol but this shows it has promise. Guess what? It started in the alternative community first!
Treating Women With Stage I, Stage II, or Stage III Breast Cancer Who Have Finished Radiation Therapy This study is currently recruiting participants. Verified by National Cancer Institute (NCI), December 2008
Sponsors and Collaborators: Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota
National Cancer Institute (NCI)Information provided by: National Cancer Institute (NCI) ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00680667 
Purpose RATIONALE: Coriolus versicolor mushroom extract may slow the growth of cancer cells and may be an effective treatment for breast cancer.
PURPOSE: This phase I trial is studying the side effects and best dose of coriolus versicolor extract in treating women with stage I, stage II, or stage III breast cancer who have finished radiation therapy.
Genetics Home Reference related topics: breast cancer MedlinePlus related topics: Breast Cancer Cancer Radiation Therapy U.S. FDA ResourcesCondition Intervention Phase Breast Cancer Dietary Supplement: Coriolus versicolor extract
Other: flow cytometry
Other: immunoenzyme technique
Other: laboratory biomarker analysisPhase I
Further study details as provided by National Cancer Institute (NCI):Study Type: Interventional Study Design: Treatment Official Title: Phase I Clinical Trial of Trametes Versicolor in Women With Breast Cancer
Primary Outcome Measures:- Maximum tolerated dose [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]
- Quality of life as measured by the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-for Patients With Breast Cancer v4.0 [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
- Fatigue as measured by the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue v4.0 and [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
- Toxicity as assessed by the NCI CTCAE v3.0 and the Symptom Assessment questionnaire completed weekly during study and once at the 3-week follow-up visit [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
- Percent change in NK cell activity associated with coriolus versicolor extract [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
- Preliminary data that compare baseline and post-treatment immunologic measures including differential blood counts, natural killer cell activity, phagocytic index, regulatory cell assay, T/B/NK cell population subset assays, and PBMC production of l ... [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
Detailed Description:Estimated Enrollment: 24 Study Start Date: April 2007 Estimated Primary Completion Date: April 2010 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure) OBJECTIVES:
Primary
- To determine the maximum tolerated dose of oral coriolus versicolor extract in women with stage I-III, estrogen receptor- and progesterone receptor-negative, infiltrating ductal adenocarcinoma of the breast who have recently completed standard post-surgery radiotherapy.
Secondary
- To determine the feasibility of measuring changes in fatigue and quality of life of patients treated with this drug.
- To characterize the toxicity of this drug in these patients.
- To gather preliminary data that compare baseline and post-treatment immunologic measures, including differential blood counts (i.e., WBC), natural killer cell activity, phagocytic index, regulatory cell assay, T/B/NK cell population subset assays, peripheral blood mononuclear cell production of levels of interferon gamma, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in these patients.
- Maximum tolerated dose [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]
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"Guess what? It started in the alternative community first!"
Hmmm, I think it started in Japan first. I doubt they would like being referred to as "the alternative community."
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I think this mushroom is also called the "Turkey Tail" mushroom/fungus.
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Wrong as usual... but the Japaneses community are always at the forefront on alternative medicine. Only for about the last 3,000 years.
Flalady
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Hi One & All,
My first visit here! I took PSK for about a year, with no obvious benefit. But my own research has led me to a protocol of 20 or so vitamins/supplements, that have kept the status quo for over three years now, (extensive bone mets discovered two weeks after primary dx-(Nov 05) and surgery).
I found info on PSK trials. If you carry the HLA-B40 antigen, in your blood, PSK can have great benefit particularly when combined with chemo. Also for colorectal cancers, highly recommended. I had a blood test for the antigen, and I don't have it so I gave it up, was costing $300 aus dollars a month. I think the Japanese study mentioned that recipients of PSK+chemo ALL lived at least ten years, it was quite impressive. Google about and you'll find it.
I take various mushroom supps, reishi;shiitake;ganoderma,etc. Some are also included in the astragalus formula I take.
Cheers, XXGGC
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I also use the mushrooms, especially the ganoderma, which appears to have the most extensive clinical trials supporting it's use during chemo, and afterward. I'm going through TCH with kidney failure, but my white cell counts (and red cells, platelets, and Hemoglobin) are holding strong. The ganoderma is partly responsible for the robust white cell counts.
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Groobygirlcool,
Great information! Thanks for sharing!
this website and wikipedia have the information on the HLS-B40 study.
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Trametes versicolor!
I initially did not look at this topic because I did not realize that you were talking about Trametes versicolor. This mushroom, also called the turkey tail mushroom, is being tested in an NIH funded breast cancer study through University of Minnesota. I did not qualify for the study because they wanted to enter subjects before they had their radiation.
SInce I am an amateur mushroom hunter, I just went out and gathered my own turkey tails--you can even find them in the winter in Maryland- and made them into tea. I pull them off logs, wash them and grind them up in a Vita Mixer. To make the tea, I put them in boiling water and let them steep. I usually add spearmint leaves to improve the flavor.
I also gather hen of the woods Grifola frondosa chicken of the woods Laetiporus sulphureus, and other mushrooms in season and dry or freeze them. I have started to grow them in my basement. I also have started to cultivate them on stumps and logs in my backyard. I can do this because I live out in the country on 6 acres and recently had to cut down six large trees. I have been out with a power drill making holes in the logs so I can innoculate the logs with mushroom mycelia.
I also have stored on my GPS the location of a lot of hen of the woods mushrooms. They fruit in September to November in our area. If any of you live near Baltimore County MD or York County PA, I may have some extra hen of the woods this fall.
Turkey tails, are everywhere on old logs. If yoy join a mycology club, they will tell you how to identify them. They are fairly easy.
If you want turkey tails already made into pill form or if you want the tea, you can purchase it from Fungi Perfecti. They are the ones who are supplying the capsules to the Univeristy of Minnesota breast cancer study. Their website is http://www.fungi.com/. It is way cheaper to gather the mushrooms on your own, but there is a learning curve.
If you are not interested in really learning how to identify mushrooms in the wild, buy them from Fungi Perfecti. They one of the best and most reliable sources of mushroom products.
If you live in the northern central Maryland area or in southern York County, contact me and I can take you on some mushroom walks later this year.
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I did just find this is in clinical trials right now.
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Sweetlaydy2,
Thanks for the information!
I was thinking about attending University of Minnesota trial too, but my platelet is too low to qualify.
Do you know how much to take per day? I read from www. pskmushroom.info 3g of PSK is used daily in Japan as the standard dosage. But the capsule from the Fungi Perfecti is freeze dried mushroom itself, not PSK extract. I' m a bit worried about the effectiveness of this because my understanding is that all the medicine mushroom needs to be extracted by hot water to be effective. I wonder how it is done with the UMN study.
The other thing I found is that it is typically recommended to use these products or drink tea with an empty stomach.
BTW, I brought the abstract of the original Japanese study to my ONC. He agrees that PSK seems to be safe to take, but he said it wasn't enough clinical evidence to order a HLA-B40 test for me. But I diecided to go ahead with PSK even without the HLA test result. Right now I'm taking 3g of PSK extract (using the Japanese method) every day with Chemo, costs about $100 per month.
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Check out:
http://www.worldscinet.com/ajcm/33/3303/S0192415X05002990.html
Wherein Yun Zhi extract is used, the doctor is saying in the article that 100% polysaccharides is used, after some research I found out it was PSP. Note that PSK is old technology PSP is the advanced treatment.
I take PSP daily as per the dosage indicated in the above article as well as Danshen.
Beware of American suppliers of PSP as the extraction process is very sophisticated and costly to do. I pay $414 for 300 caps and take 12 caps a day, if you are serious about your health email me and I will give you the source.
Also Lactobacillus Rasmosus GG (LGG) is necessary to reestablish the flora in the GI tract before during and after chemo. SEE:
http://dcp.cancer.gov/Files/news-events/20050323e.pdf
I do not take the antibiotics which are prescribed after chemo as they will destroy the pro-biotic efficacy of the LGG. After chemo we all know the GI tract is inflamed and uncomfortable, regularity is effected etc. Taking the LGG eliminates this problem, how do I know because I have been using it for months and have excellent results. LGG is available at Target and Walmart under the brand name Culturelle.
If any of you wish to contact me with interest in these procedures please do so and I will send you extensive study which I have done.
BTW: Using the hot water extraction of any mushroom is not the way to go, the highest concentration of polysaccharides is in the mycelia not the fruiting body. Messing around with teas is fine if you are not sick, it is in the molecule extraction method which is best and requires a lab of great technical extraction processes. Fungi perfecti does not supply such products.
R.W.
email: designfab@earthlink.net
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I am taking Yunzhi from Singapore Eu Yan Sang who sent the tribal people to the deep forest in China to harvest the organic cloud mushrooms!
The extract is from the spores of the mushrooms! The hard shells of the spores need to be cracked and extract the powder!
Such process needs high technology and lab sterilisation therefore the price is very high, much higher than quoted by the above ladies
When taken before bedtime, it helps to have quality sleep and reduce fatigue but cause dry throat which is resolved by drinking more water with brisk walking!
This miracle drug was taken by the ancient emperors about 2000 years ago for longevity and well being! No side effects as all western drugs have barbaric side effects that harm other parts of our body! This wonder herbs is a holistic medicines! The synthesised yunzhi is cheaper!
Lingzhi is effective for ER+ breast cancer! You can research from NIH website!
Those with HER+ should not waste money on this herbs as it can cure those with ER+ cancer cells
Can cure breast, prostate and ovary cancer with ER+ cells -
RogerWorldie About the Turkey Tail mushroom; you are right when you say PSP is more advanced than PSK (Krestin).
Both have a reputation as an anti-cancer adjuvant mostly, not as a direct anti-cancer agent, although there are some success stories. You are also right with your warning regarding good sources of PSP - indeed, the majority of sellers are selling non-extracted powder or fruiting body-derived products - both are either in-effective (bio-availability is poor) or less effective (fruiting bodies are not used in the original PSK and PSP protocols - everything has been derived from specific cultivated strains of the mushrooms mycelia, and have to be extracted and isolated using specific extraction protocols).
Read this blog post outlining the background of both PSK and PSP and the differences between those two. It includes the information I gave above. Very informative, also has some links to clinical trials.
RogerWorldie and @Kheng: both of you are wrong if you state good PSP products are always expensive. You are mixing up price and value. In another thread I already gave the hint to look at the supplement facts label to find out how good an extract really is and how to judge it. It is against the law to exaggerate or lie on that label, so it is reliable as a source of information. Often the properties described in the website are missing from that label - food for thought...
I also recommended the Oriveda PSP extract in that thread - that one is not really cheap either but also not as expensive as what you are describing, plus it was prepared using the original protocols.
@Kheng: you are describing Reishi (Ling Zhi, not Yun Zhi) broken spore products, that is a completely different subject.
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http://www.naturalmedicinejournal.com/article_content.asp?edition=1§ion=3&article=390
A brief summary of human clinical trials done with Turkey Tail, including but not limited to breast cancer patients. It is obvious, as said before, that this mushroom can be an excellent adjuvant in anti-cancer therapy
I noticed my previous post was deleted. No clue why, as it was mainly pointing to other posts I did before.
?
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Don't take it personally David. It happens all the time. Perhaps the mods could have a look and re-instate it if it didn't break any rules.
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David, could be because all your links was to a commercial site, and your posts therefore were considered spam. Do you have breast cancer? If so, maybe take it up with the mods.
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I appreciate all the info on alternatives that I can get! People with bc are not the only ones who have knowledge in this area so I have no problem with it. I think we should all decide for ourselves if something looks like a scam. I don't like when any post is deleted before I get to see it and decide for myself. We all do a lot of research and are smart enough to weed things out for ourselves.
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So how would that post be any different than the one from March 12/2009, providing a link to a website? That's still up.
Fair is fair.
I get really pissed when posts are removed that could be potentially helpful that I don't get a chance to read....like I need to be protected from myself or something.
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Sorry HLB, kind of said the same thing, was typing while you posted.
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HLB, sure, but spam (not scam) is basically people using the site for free advertising. Most sites will try to root that sort of thing out.
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