Used for Today? | Safety Issues is a common tree fungus, often
seen by hikers as a stiff, rounded, horizontal protuberance from
tree trunks, with concentric lines of varying color. In
traditional Chinese herbal medicine , this fungus is used to
strengthen overall vitality and treat lung and liver problems as
well as other conditions. Used for Today? Currently, extracts of
called polysaccharide-K (PSK) and polysaccharopeptide (PSP) are
under study as immune stimulants for use alongside in the
treatment of cancer. These two related substances, made from
slightly different strains of the fungus, are thought to act as
“biological response modifiers,” meaning that they affect the
body’s response to cancer. According to most but not all
reported trials, most of which were performed in Asia, both PSK
and PSP can enhance the effects of various forms of standard
cancer treatment. For example, in a 28-day , placebo-controlled
study of 34 people with advanced non–small-cell lung cancer, use
of extracts along with conven