Chaga Mushrooms

INTRODUCTION TO CHAGA MUSHROOM Did you know that there’s a mushroom that can boost your immune system, help with cancer treatment, and has anti-inflammatory properties? It’s called Chaga mushroom, and it’s a potent natural remedy …

Chaga Mushrooms

INTRODUCTION TO CHAGA MUSHROOM

Did you know that there’s a mushroom that can boost your immune system, help with cancer treatment, and has anti-inflammatory properties? It’s called Chaga mushroom, and it’s a potent natural remedy worth looking into. 

If you’re unaware, there has been a lot of buzz about the magic of Chaga mushrooms. Their health benefits are advertised everywhere, from health food stores to organic tea shops, but is that hype warranted?

For several years, Chaga has been used in traditional Chinese medicine as a medicinal herb with anti-aging benefits, such as increasing stamina and vitality, reducing inflammation, and promoting longevity. The fungus is believed to have been used to prolong life and treat various illnesses.

A mushroom that treats everything from cancer to the common cold? See for yourself the health benefits and everything you need to know regarding Chaga mushrooms in this article.

What Are Chaga Mushrooms?

birch trunk chaga mushroom
Chaga mushroom on the birch trunk outdoors.

Scientific And Common Names

Chaga mushroom, Latin name Inonotus obliquus, is a member of the genus Inonotus and the family Hymenochaetacea. The mushroom’s name is derived from the Russian name of the fungus — чага. Rumor has it that the name comes from the Komi-Permyak word for the fungus, spoken by natives in the Kama River Basin west of the Ural Mountains. 

In Norway, Chaga is known as kreftkjuke — which translates to cancer polypore — and in Russia as Black Gold. Both names refer to the fungus’ appearance and purported healing abilities. In both England and Canada, the mushroom is referred to as sterile conk trunk rot (of birch).

Chaga is known by several other names, such as birch fungus, birch canker polypore, cinder conk, black mass, and clinker polypore — based on the resemblance of Chaga to the slag left over from a coal fire, commonly referred to as “clinker.” The mushroom is well-known for its charred exterior.

History Of Chaga Mushroom

chaga powder and pieces for making tea and coffee
Side view of wild natural chaga mushroom, Inonotus obliquus powder and pieces for making tea and coffee on light blue background. Healthy herbal plant based medicinal food supplement concept.

Discovery Of Chaga Mushroom

Chaga was found in the pouch of the iceman Otzi, who scientists believe lived in the region around 3400 B.C. Since Otzi does not appear to be a member of any known indigenous peoples, the earliest documented use of Chaga was likely made by the Khanty people of Western Siberia sometime in the 12th century.

The Chaga mushroom has been held in high regard for thousands of years. Shen Nung 神農 Known as the “Father of Chinese Medicine,” was said to have sampled hundreds of herbs for their healing properties. Chaga mushroom, which he included and crowned “King of the Herbs,” was one of the things he recommended. The Chaga mushroom even received the “Gift from God” title.

Traditional Use Of Chaga 

It was common practice among Khanty people to use Chaga as a postpartum genital hygiene ritual. After giving birth or having their periods, Khanty women would use Chaga to disinfect and cleanse their genitalia. The Khanty people also took Chaga as a tea to aid digestion, increase satiety, and cleanse the body as needed. Smoking Chaga mushrooms to improve lung health —not advised— was also common among the Khanty people. They also soothed sore skin with an anti-inflammatory soap made from Chaga, lard, and ash.

Man survivalists and gatherers with hands gathering Chaga mushroom growing on the birch tree trunk
man survivalists and gatherer with hands gathering chaga mushroom growing on the birch tree trunk on summer forest. wild raw food chaga parasitic fungus or fungi it is used in alternative medicine

The Khanty weren’t the only ones who knew about Chaga’s therapeutic properties. Traditional healers from indigenous communities, including the Cree, used Moxibustion to open up the Chaga mushroom’s ethereal potential by balancing the body’s energy meridians. Because of its pleasant aroma, the incense made from Chaga was commonly used in rituals involving smoking pipes. The traditional Cree medicine practitioners gave Chaga the names Poashkan and Wiskakecakomikih.

Even the Gitksan people of British Columbia traditionally treated rheumatic discomfort by heating black coals made from Chaga. The Tanaina people of south-central Alaska also traditionally used Chaga to alleviate tooth pain.

Chaga Gains More Popularity

Chaga has been used as folk and botanical medicine in Eastern Europe since the 16th and 17th centuries. The Russians used Chaga for many types of cancer, including angiogenesis-related tumors. In Siberia, Chaga was used for treating various ailments, including tuberculosis, liver disease, and stomach conditions like gastritis and ulcers.

With time, Chaga’s healing potential became more formally acknowledged in medical texts. Multiple references to Chaga can be found in the Old Russian and Northern European medical books. 

Chaga mushrooms rapidly gained popularity and were used by many people across Asia. In 1950, researchers conducted the first clinical trial on the Chaga mushroom, confirming its ability to help improve immune function. Chaga mushrooms were officially recognized as a medical treatment in Russia in 1955.

That’s not all!

While doing research for his novel Cancer Ward, the renowned Russian author and Nobel laureate, Alexander Solzhenitsyn, became fascinated with Chaga’s many benefits that he wrote about them.

Morphology

The Chaga mushroom looks very different from other types of mushrooms. In appearance, Chaga resembles a burnt fungal growth or, as described in the Cree legend, a scab, which develops on the trunk of the birch tree. In many cases, people mistake tree burls for Chaga. 

Burls form on trees as a result of damage from things like insects, fungi, pollutants, and other organisms in the environment. They show up as prominent bumps on tree trunks. Tree burls may appear virtually identical to Chaga, especially when viewed from afar. 

Wild Chaga Mushroom growing on a Birch tree
This is a highly sought after medicinal mushroom used to make herbal teas and tinctures.

On the other hand, Chaga can be easily recognized because there aren’t many mushrooms that resemble it. Chaga looks like an irregular mass with a cracked surface. Its form has no specific shape and is determined by where it has grown on a tree trunk. 

The texture of a Chaga mushroom can be compared to either porous, crumbly rock or coarse, rubbery wood. It takes some effort to pry it from the tree with a knife. Harvested Chaga has a cork-like, golden-brown interior spotted with whitish veins or cream tone and a brittle, coal-black exterior crust (called sclerotia). The brown interior will predominate unless it is very young.

If you want to be certain that you are harvesting Chaga, you can break off a piece and inspect its interior. The golden brown interior is a unique feature of Chaga.

Where Does Chaga Grow In The Wild?

Chaga mushrooms thrive under harsh weather conditions such as snowfall and extreme temperatures, essential for keeping their healing properties intact. Chaga mushrooms grow in the cold temperate regions of the northern hemisphere. They are especially common in Siberia, especially around Lake Baikal. You can also find them in the northern parts of Europe, Asia, and North America. Even though you can find this mushroom as far south as Turkey, its high temperatures destroy much of its nutritional value. Therefore, Chaga, collected from locations other than the Arctic, has very little nutritional value.

How Does Chaga Grow In The Wild?

Chagas are parasitic fungi. To most researchers, Chaga is like an infection that could spread through a tree’s broken branches. Through these openings, the spores of this mushroom can enter the tree and eventually cause it to decay. The host tree might remain alive for a while with the mushroom, but eventually, it will rot.

Birch trees serve as the primary host. Fossilized birch trees have been traced back to the Cretaceous era. As of yet, it is unknown whether Chaga was growing on birch trees during this period.

Chaga fungus
A chaga fungus on the trunk of a birch tree.

Growth Of Chaga Mushroom:

Chaga mushrooms take three to five years to mature after they begin drawing nutrients from their birch tree host. If you leave some of the mushroom’s body behind after the harvest, it will continue to produce fruit for as long as the birch tree is alive. Once the host tree dies, the Chaga mushroom can continue to survive for another six years.

On the other hand, Chaga mushrooms can also feed off various other trees. Alder, Beech, Maple, Rowan, Hornbeam, Oak, Poplar, and ash trees have all been confirmed to host this fungus, though sightings are extremely rare. The fungus looks like a charcoal-like mass on birch trees, but it manifests as a buried stem canker on other species. 

The fact is that only birch trees contain Chaga in quantities that are economically viable to harvest. Further, the benefits of Chaga come primarily from concentrating the betulinic acid found in birch bark, so Chaga harvested from other types of trees or grown in labs will have inferior properties and taste.

The Chaga mushroom is unique because the benefits are located in the mycelial mass, and the fruiting body is normally out of view. The fruiting body forms beneath the bark instead of growing out. With time the mycelium (the root system) develops into a charcoal clump on the tree’s bark. The high concentration of melanin near the skin’s surface makes the mushroom appear dark.

Summary

  • Chaga mushroom is known scientifically as inonotus obliquus.
  • The mushroom’s name is derived from the Russian name of the fungus — чaгa.
  • In Norway, Chaga is known as kreftkjuke and in Russia as Black Gold.
  • Chaga is known as a clinker polypore based on the resemblance of Chaga to the slag left over from a coal fire, commonly referred to as “clinker.”
  • The iceman Otzi had a pouch containing Chaga.
  • The earliest documented use of Chaga was by the Khanty people of Western Siberia sometime in the 12th century.
  • Shen Nung 神農 crowned Chaga “King of the Herbs.” 
  • The Khanty people use Chaga as a postpartum genital hygiene ritual.
  • East Europeans have used Chaga in folk and botanical medicine since the 16th and 17th centuries.
  • The Russians used Chaga for many types of cancer, including angiogenesis-related tumors.
  • In Siberia, Chaga was used for treating various ailments, including tuberculosis, liver disease, and stomach conditions.
  • A medical treatment involving Chaga mushrooms was recognized in Russia in 1955.
  • In many cases, people mistake tree burls for Chaga.
  • The golden brown interior of Chaga is a unique feature of Chaga.
  • Chaga mushrooms thrive under cold weather conditions.
  • High temperatures destroy much of Chaga’s nutritional value.
  • Chaga is a parasitic fungus.
  • Birch trees serve as the primary host for Chaga.

Nutritional Information On Chaga Mushroom

Chaga mushroom nutrition
Chaga tea – a strong antioxidant, boosts immune system, has detox quality, improves digestive.

Nutrient Composition

Chaga mushrooms are a nutritional powerhouse. They contain calcium, iron, B-complex vitamins, zinc, vitamin D, manganese, copper, potassium, magnesium, and amino acids.

These vitamins and minerals have anti-aging effects and are useful for various health benefits, including relieving the symptoms of high blood pressure and cholesterol, bolstering the immune system, and lowering inflammation.

The Chaga mushroom is also low in calories and fat, has no sugar, and is exceptionally high in fiber.

The Orac Value Of Chaga Mushroom

What Is Orac?

ORAC stands for Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity and measures the ability of a substance to inhibit oxidants. In other words, it measures how well a food can reduce the level of free radicals in the body. 

The National Institutes of Health and Aging developed this method (NIH). They wanted to measure a food’s ability to inhibit free radical activity in vitro (outside of living cells). 

A high ORAC score means that a food is very high in antioxidants — the higher the ORAC value, the more antioxidants the food contains — which can help reduce the risk for cancer, heart disease, and other health conditions.

A single gram of ORAC is equivalent to 100 grams of Trolox equivalent (TE/100g)

What Are Free Radicals?

Free radicals are atoms or groups of atoms with an unpaired electron. They are unstable because they want to pair up with another electron, which causes them to react with other molecules in the body that just so happen to have an extra electron. Oxidation can damage cells, react with DNA, and damage DNA.

The body produces free radicals from normal metabolism. There are also other factors that can cause them to form in large numbers, such as tobacco smoke, alcohol consumption, high sugar diets, fats, drugs, and ultraviolet rays. If free radicals run amok in your body for too long, it can lead to serious health problems such as cancer and heart disease.

Antioxidants bind with free radicals before they can do this damage, stopping them from reacting with other cells. 

How Do Antioxidants Work?

Antioxidants are substances that protect the body against the damage caused by free radical molecules. The antioxidant activity of a molecule depends on its redox potential, which is the ability of a compound to accept electrons. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals by donating an electron to them. This action stabilizes free radicals and stops the chain reaction that would otherwise occur.

The body makes its antioxidants to protect against free radicals, but not enough to ward off all damage they cause. Several foods contain antioxidants, including fruits, vegetables, nuts, grains, and seeds. Eating antioxidant-rich foods gives your body more antioxidant reserves than it could make by itself. 

The Orac Value Of Chaga

The ORAC value of Chaga is 52,000, making it the most antioxidant-rich food on earth. This number is based on the ORAC scale for measuring antioxidant activity. 

However, it’s important to note that ORAC values do not indicate how much antioxidants a food or supplement has. It is simply a measure of its antioxidant power.

Bioactive Compounds In Chaga Mushroom

a potent antioxidant boosts the immune system Wild Chaga Mushroom, making tea, coffee
Chaga tea – a strong antioxidant, boosts immune system. Healthy pure natural. Wild Chaga Mushroom, making tea, coffee and herbal remedy. from birch tree trunk in fores

Triterpenoids 

An anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compound found in Chaga is triterpenoids.

Betulinic acid is a naturally occurring plant derivative and a pentacyclic triterpenoid. Betulin is a pentacyclic triterpene and a plant pentacyclic triterpene metabolite. Birch bark contains large amounts of these two compounds.

The presence of betulin and betulinic acid in Chaga extracts demonstrates a linked relationship between the parasite fungus and the host plant. As Chaga mushrooms develop, they take up these chemicals from the tree bark.

There has been evidence that both betulinic acid and betulin have anticancer properties, which may explain the similar effects of Chaga mushrooms.

Melanins

Chaga is rich in melanin, a complex chemical compound (a polymer), that absorbs light, giving it its dark color. The high concentration of melanin in Chaga mushrooms is generally thought to protect them from the harsh conditions in which it grows.

Melanins have a role in DNA repair, mitochondrial health, cell metabolism, and protection from light and radiation. In particular, melanin from mushrooms exhibits a strong anti-inflammatory effect based on its antioxidant and gene-protecting properties. Melanins can decrease the oxidation of fatty acids and damage membranes, creating lots of potential for skin health.

Because Chaga contains melanin, which is thought to promote healthy skin, Chaga may help ward off aging-related health problems such as spots and wrinkles.

Polysaccharides

As a result of its polysaccharides, Chaga extract has many health benefits, such as lowering blood sugar levels, improving liver, heart, and intestine function, among other things. Antioxidant activity of the polysaccharide suggests it may protect cells from damage caused by free radicals and slow down the aging process.

Woman With White Sunvisor Running

The main active ingredient in Chaga is the polysaccharide beta-glucan. Beta-glucans can potentially improve immunological function, lipid profiles, and glucose homeostasis.

Polyphenols 

The sclerotium —the outer portion of the Chaga mushroom— of the Chaga mushroom contains high amounts of polyphenols which are natural antioxidants. When consumed, they aid in the body’s defense against free radicals. Furthermore, they are anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer.

Flavans 

Chaga mushroom is rich in flavanols, the same compounds in green tea. Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of these compounds support cardiovascular health and immune function. Flavanols have also increased blood flow to the brain and improved memory and cognition. 

Summary

  • There are many nutrients in Chaga mushrooms
  • The Chaga mushroom is also low in calories and fat, has no sugar, and is exceptionally high in fiber.
  • ORAC measures how well a food can reduce the level of free radicals in the body.
  • A single gram of ORAC is equivalent to 100 grams of Trolox equivalent (TE/100g)
  • Free radicals are atoms or groups of atoms with an unpaired electron.
  • Antioxidants are substances that protect the body against the damage caused by free radical molecules.
  • Antioxidants neutralize free radicals by donating an electron to them.
  • The ORAC value of Chaga is 52,000, making it the most antioxidant-rich food on earth.
  • In addition to their anti-inflammatory properties, triterpenoids are antioxidants.
  • The presence of betulin and betulinic acid in Chaga extracts demonstrates a linked relationship between the parasite fungus and the host plant.
  • Chaga is rich in melanin which gives it its dark color.
  • Melanins can decrease the oxidation of fatty acids and damage membranes, creating lots of potential for skin health.
  • Chaga extract contains polysaccharides that may have some health benefits. 
  • The main active ingredient in Chaga is the polysaccharide beta-glucan.
  • The outer portion of the Chaga contains high amounts of polyphenols and natural antioxidants.
  • Chaga mushroom is rich in flavanols, the same compounds in green tea.
  • The benefits of flavanols include increased blood flow to the brain and improved memory and cognition.

Chaga Mushroom’s Health Benefits

Despite its ugly exterior, Chaga’s wide-ranging health benefits are more than makeup for its lack of aesthetic beauty. In addition to supporting a strong immune system, chaga has anti-inflammatory properties, supports heart health, promotes digestion, and could help prevent cancer. One interesting theory is that Chaga’s many beneficial compounds may result from its natural defense mechanisms to withstand the cold, harsh climate it grows. 

Man and Woman Running Near Green Leaf Trees

Immune Function 

Chaga mushroom has many benefits for the immune system and is a powerful ally in reducing inflammation and fighting disease.

Inflammation is a natural response of your immune system that can protect against disease. A healthy immune system must be able to identify foreign invaders like bacteria or viruses which cause disease. It is these pathogens that cause illnesses such as colds, influenza, diarrhea, and many others. Through a web of interactions between white blood cells and substances produced by cells in the body, the immune system mounts a defense against these invaders. It also must distinguish between harmful invaders and harmless substances in our bodies. However, long-term inflammation can lead to heart disease and rheumatoid arthritis.

A healthy diet with Chaga mushroom

Chaga’s strong beta-glucan content is what gives it its immune-boosting properties. Beta-glucans have modulatory effects on the innate and adaptive immune systems due to their action on many immunological receptors that increase immune cell activation.

Animal and In-vitro research shows that Chaga extract can significantly affect immunity by regulating long-term inflammation. Chaga mushrooms’ anti-inflammatory qualities can also help lessen symptoms of allergies.

Anti-cancer Function

Researchers have studied anticancer properties of the polysaccharides found in some mushrooms, including Chaga, and found the effects comparable to chemotherapy and radiation, only without side effects. 

Among the many beneficial properties of Chaga, the polysaccharides have been shown to have strong anti-inflammatory and immune balancing properties which may stimulate the body to produce natural killer (NK) cells. NK cells fight infections and battle tumor growth. Tumors in mice with cancer were shrunk by 60% when the mice were given Chaga supplements.

Function Of Chaga Mushroom:

Chaga also helps our bodies repair damage caused by free radicals, by stimulating growth factors and releasing stem cells from our bone marrow. In particular, Chaga contains the antioxidant triterpene. Test-tube studies reveal that very concentrated triterpene extract can help kill cancer cells. This makes Chaga useful for treating cancer and other diseases worsened by oxidative stress, like rheumatoid arthritis and heart disease.

A laboratory investigation found that Chaga extract inhibited liver cancer progression in human cells. The findings were consistent with those seen in colon, lung, and breast cancer cells.

Human research is necessary to draw firm conclusions about Chaga’s anticancer potential.

Reduces Blood Sugar

Studies have indicated that the beta-D-glucans in Chaga can effectively reduce blood sugar levels.

Results from a study conducted in 2017 on diabetic mice that were both overweight and diabetic indicated that Chaga extract was effective at lowering blood sugar levels and insulin resistance. A similar study showed that Chaga supplementation reduced blood sugar in diabetic rats by 31% during three weeks.

Chaga mushroom reduces blood sugar

While more research needs to be done on humans, animal studies indicate that Chaga can lower blood sugar levels.

Lowers Cholesterol

The antioxidants and chemicals found in Chaga mushrooms can lower LDL levels —bad cholesterol— lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Heart disease can be fatal when LDL cholesterol is high. Among rats, researchers found that those who consumed Chaga saw a significant drop in their levels of bad cholesterol (LDL). Chaga also acts as a cholesterol-lowering agent due to the antioxidants it contains. In addition, Chaga mushrooms have been shown to potentially elevate High Density Lipoprotein —bad cholesterol levels.

The effects of Chaga on cholesterol require more human studies.

Intestinal Function

Chaga provides a natural means of defending and promoting healthy digestion. Its anti-inflammatory properties are important for assisting in reducing intestinal or gastric inflammation, which otherwise may hinder digestion and impair nutritional absorption. It also aids in stimulating the liver, causing it to produce digesting bile. This facilitates the digestive system’s greater breakdown of food, particularly proteins. 

Chaga is also a natural dietary fiber source and contains nutrients that are good for digestion, such as manganese, thiamin, and digestive enzymes.

Hepatic Protection

Compounds in Chaga mushrooms protect the liver. Particularly, the liver damage brought on by oxidative stress may benefit from Chaga’s antioxidant capabilities.

According to a study, results showed that Chaga extract can shield liver tissue from the actions of tetra-butyl hydroperoxide, a substance known to harm the liver. However, whether Chaga extract would have the same impact in human trials is still unknown.

Endurance And Muscle Fatigue

In a study with animals, Chaga was found to improve exercise tolerance. For 14 days, mice were fed Chaga extracts and compared to mice given distilled water to see which group could swim the longest. The research also showed that Chaga-treated mice had much higher levels of glycogen —the primary glucose storage form used for energy production— in their livers and muscles.

woman covering face with hand

This study suggests that Chaga may improve exercise endurance by prolonging the time before glycogen depletes.

In addition to lowering lactate levels in the mice’s blood, Chaga polysaccharides also lowered uric acid levels. During intense activity, high lactate levels increase fatigue. Therefore, it’s helpful to get rid of lactate rapidly to avoid or delay weariness.

Skin Health

The chaga mushroom contains high amounts of vitamin B, C, and E, as well as copper, zinc, and selenium, which make it an ideal ingredient for cosmetics.

As you get older, your body produces fewer antioxidants than when you were younger – why exactly is still unknown – so it becomes harder to fight off free radicals that cause damage to your cells and make you age.

chaga mushroom contains high amounts of vitamin

Chaga contains melanin (the pigment responsible for skin color) which can help improve your complexion by boosting your body’s antioxidant defense system against free radicals that cause premature aging.

Anti-inflammatory agents in Chaga can help reduce redness and swelling. This makes it an excellent treatment for acne, rosacea, eczema, psoriasis, or other skin conditions that cause inflammation.

Chaga also contains vitamin C, which helps build collagen and elastin fibers in your skin – two proteins responsible for maintaining its elasticity and youthful appearance.

Summary

  • Chaga mushroom has many benefits for the immune system and is a powerful ally in reducing inflammation and fighting disease.
  • Chaga’s strong beta-glucan content is what gives it its immune-boosting properties.
  • Chaga mushrooms’ anti-inflammatory qualities can also help lessen symptoms of allergies.
  • Chaga contains the antioxidant triterpene.
  • Beta-D-glucans in Chaga can effectively reduce blood sugar levels.
  • The antioxidants and chemicals found in Chaga mushrooms can lower LDL —bad cholesterol levels.
  • Researchers have shown that chaga mushrooms may boost high-density lipoprotein – bad cholesterol.
  • Chaga provides a natural means of defending and promoting healthy digestion.
  • Chaga contains melanin which can help improve your complexion and prevent premature aging.

Safety And Side Effects

Drug Interactions 

Blood Thinners

Some research suggests that Chaga may prevent blood from clotting. As a result, blood-thinning medications may work better with them. Therefore, people prone to excessive bleeding should stay away from it, and those taking blood-thinning drugs like warfarin or heparin should use Chaga with caution.

Diabetic Medication 

If you take insulin or another medication to control your blood sugar, such as an alpha-glucosidase inhibitor(acarbose and miglitol), consuming Chaga mushrooms may put your health at risk. 

Whenever you use Chaga with any of these medications, you may experience an even more dramatic drop in blood sugar —hypoglycemia— than you would have otherwise. If you’re on any of these drugs for diabetes management, you should talk to your doctor before taking any Chaga.

Surgical Complication

Chaga may cause surgical problems due to its potential to slow down blood clotting. This can lead to a higher risk of surgery complications and a longer recovery time.

Chaga users should postpone surgery for at least two weeks.

People With Certain Conditions

Auto-immune Diseases

Autoimmune disease sufferers should use caution when consuming Chaga because of the extract’s immune-boosting properties, triggering increased immune system activity and aggravating symptoms.

Kidney Disease

A diet heavy in oxalates, like that found in Chaga mushrooms, can increase the likelihood of developing kidney stones. Anyone who has kidney disease, a history of kidney stones, or is at risk of developing kidney stones should avoid chaga.

kidney disease written on the carpet
Shot of random block letter

According to a 2020 review, a Korean man who used Chaga for five years reported feeling sick and throwing up. An emergency room visit revealed his renal function had deteriorated. 

Another Japanese cancer patient who took five tablespoons of Chaga daily for treatment ended up with kidney problems. According to her diagnosis, she consumed chaga mushrooms that caused renal failure.

Despite the anecdotal evidence, there is a need for further studies on these topics. However, before using any Chaga or herbal supplement, it is important to consult with your doctor.

Osteoporosis

As calcium chelators, the oxalates in Chaga mushrooms help rid the body of excess calcium.

This is discouraging news for anyone suffering from the bone-weakening condition of osteoporosis. Bone health depends on calcium, an essential mineral. Osteoporosis patients should avoid oxalates because they reduce bioavailable calcium.

Pregnancy

Experts are unsure whether or not pregnant women should take Chaga or its supplements because there is insufficient data to prove its safety. It’s advisable to talk to your OB/GYN before deciding to take charge if you are pregnant.

Summary

  • Chaga may work too well with blood-thinning medications.
  • Using Chaga together with diabetic medication may cause hypoglycemia.
  • Chaga may cause surgical problems due to its potential to slow down blood clotting.
  • Chaga may trigger increased immune system activity and aggravate autoimmune disease symptoms.
  • People with kidney illness should avoid chaga because it contains a high amount of oxalate
  • There is no evidence to support the safety of Chaga for pregnant women. 

How To Take Chaga Mushroom

Chaga mushroom powder on the table

Ways You Can Take Chaga Mushroom

So, how do you get this unusual mushroom in your diet with all these great benefits?

It is possible to take Chaga mushrooms in different ways, but you should not eat them raw or cooked like other mushrooms. Chaga is a hard, dense polypore mass that can be quite difficult to digest if eaten or cooked raw. For easy absorption, its properties should be extracted through brewing or tincturing. The extraction process must make at least some of the active components bioavailable. That’s why the most common way to take charge is in a tea or tincture form.

Before preparing the tea or tincture, raw fungus is usually chopped into small pieces. Chitin, an incredibly resilient substance, shields the nutrients within Chaga. Because of this, Chaga tea requires significantly longer brewing times than other teas before you can reap the full advantages of drinking it. Tea made with Chaga needs more time brewing if the chunks are larger.

Chaga Mushrooms As A Supplement:

It is also possible to take dried chaga mushrooms as a supplement. You can also purchase capsules containing ground Chaga at most health food stores and online retailers. Drying and powdering it also allows users to use it in teas and other liquids, including smoothies, or as an indirect addition to soups and stews.

It is also possible to make a salve from chaga mushrooms or to use them medicinally. Russian scientists have made a cream out of Chaga for aching joints and veins. They developed a microcapsules system, allowing Chaga mushroom ingredients to easily penetrate the skin and work directly in the joint (the focus of the disease).

How To Make Chaga Tea?

Herbal teas made using Chaga are traditionally made by grating it into a fine powder and brewing it. Nowadays, the tea may feature Chaga alone or in combination with other mushrooms, such as cordyceps.

Mug of Chaga tea on a wooden table in a rustic style
Mug of chaga tea on wooden table in a rustic style. Nearby are lied natural Chaga birch mushrooms. Healthy beverage is used in alternative medicine.

Using Chaga Powder

Use 1 to 2 teaspoons of finely ground Chaga powder per cup of hot water. 

  • Pour some Chaga powder into a tea bag.
  • Pour hot water into the cup with the Chaga powder tea bag.
  • Give it ten to fifteen minutes to steep.
  • Strain the tea and remove the tea bag to drink
  • If you like your tea sweeter, try adding raw honey or maple syrup.

Using Chaga Chunks

  • Pick out 4-5 Chaga pieces and drop them into a pot containing 4 cups (1 liter) of water.
  • Do not boil but instead simmer the Tea for at least 15 minutes.
  • To make a pot of tea for a large group with many Chaga pieces, set the pot to simmer for at least two or three hours.
  • Quickly pour the tea through a strainer to remove the Chaga pieces, and serve the tea while it’s still hot. 
  • Sweetener options include honey and maple syrup. You can use chaga tea instead of coffee in the morning by adding milk.
  • Keep unused tea in the fridge for up to 7 days. You can enjoy this brew hot or iced.

The advantage of this approach is you can use the mushroom chucks again and again to make more batches of tea and even freeze them after for the most potency between uses. The tea will only be a little weaker with each use.

Whatever approach you take in preparing your tea (Chaga powder or Chaga chunks), the secret is to take it slow and easy. If you want the most health benefits from your tea, you shouldn’t boil it but rather simmer it at 80°C (176F) for at least 15 minutes to bring out all the flavors and nutrients.

How To Make Chaga Tincture?

Tinctures are alcohol extracts that are usually made from vodka, but can also contain brandy or wine as well.

To make a Chaga tincture:

  • Fill a jar about halfway full with dried Chaga mushrooms, then cover them completely with vodka.
  • Seal it tightly and let it sit in a cool place for two weeks, so that the alcohol dissolves as much of the active compounds from the mushroom as possible.
  • Strain out all of the dried mushroom material.
  • Shake well before ingesting the tincture to ensure sediment doesn’t remain at the bottom of the container.

Chaga’s Edibility And Taste 

The taste of Chaga is unlike that of other mushrooms. The flavor stems from the nutrients in birch trees that help them resist fungal infections. To some extent, it smells and tastes like tree bark, but in a pleasant way. It has a lovely, mellow, subtle sweetness with hints of earthiness, bitterness, and vanilla.

Tea made from high-quality Chaga mushrooms has a subtle flavor that is mildly sweet and even fruity.

Future Of Chaga

There has been an increase in demand for cultivated Chaga as its use has become more widespread. Unfortunately, the future of Chaga does not appear promising as only a limited amount of genuine wild Chaga remains available.

Many businesses cultivate Chaga as a preventive measure. However, cultivated Chaga may not be up to the same standards as Chaga collected from the wild.

Chaga mushroom with leaf
Chaga mushroom pieces with birch leaves isolated on white backgrounds.

In order to keep up with consumer demand, Chaga supplements and freeze-dried extracts of Chaga have been produced in large quantities, but their effectiveness will be diminished.

Summary

  • The most common way to take charge is in tea or tincture form.
  • A supplement made from dried chaga mushrooms is also available.
  • It is possible to make a salve or use chaga mushrooms as a medicinal ingredient.
  • Tea made from high-quality Chaga mushrooms has a subtle flavor that is mildly sweet and even fruity.
  • Cultivated Chaga may not be up to the same standards as Chaga collected from the wild.

FAQ

Is Chaga Mushroom Psychedelic?

Many people mistake Chaga mushrooms and other medicinal mushrooms for hallucinogenic or “magic” mushrooms. Consumption of Chaga mushrooms does not cause any harm and is perfectly legal. Since they lack the hallucinogenic ingredient psilocybin, also found in “shrooms”, they have no psychoactive effect. 

Does Chaga Have Quercetin?

Chaga has a lot of quercetin, which helps your heart and lungs and protects your cells from free radical damage.

How Rare Is Chaga?

Chaga is both uncommon and challenging to grow at home. According to conservative estimates, it only appears on one in every four thousand birch trees.

Is Lab Chaga Chaga?

Cultivated Chaga mushrooms can significantly alter their chemical makeup and medicinal benefits depending on the growing conditions (environmental conditions, different substrate types, etc.) Isolating canker or sclerotium from mycelium is not possible in a laboratory.

What Does Chaga Do To Your Brain?

When it comes to maintaining healthy brain function, the Chaga mushroom is among the most helpful medicinal mushrooms. It aids in preventing Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, as well as enhancing cognitive function, memory, mood, focus, and concentration.

What Happens If You Take Chaga Every Day?

The body excretes potassium and magnesium, two minerals found in abundance in Chaga. Consuming excessive Chaga nutrients regularly can overwork the kidneys, which could cause damage to or disease of the liver.

What Time Of The Day Should You Take Chaga?

You can enjoy a mug of Chaga tea whenever you choose. But if you’re going to sample Chaga in a coffee form for the first time, do so in the morning or early afternoon.

What Is The Best Chaga Dosage?

Chaga extracts should be taken daily between 200 and 500 milligrams, or around 2 grams, or one teaspoon of the complete powder. This dose is adequate to stimulate a host-mediated immunological response that can then improve and maintain immune system homeostasis.

Where Is The Best Place To Find Chaga?

Chaga grows on birch trees in the forests of central and northern Minnesota.

How Long Does It Take Chaga To Grow?

The Chaga mushroom can take up to 20 years to mature on its host tree. Injuries in a tree’s bark provide the entry point for airborne Chaga spores, which trigger the growth process.

Is The Black Part Of Chaga Good?

Chaga’s outer “sclerotium” layer is black because of its extremely high melanin content. Extracts containing this mushroom component are potent antioxidants, protecting cells from damage caused by free radicals.

Conclusion

You can now see that the Chaga mushroom is a remarkably powerful medicinal fungus. As more information spreads about Chaga’s profound benefits, health-conscious people around the globe are adding Chaga to their diets. Health supplements and culinary creations are now available with Chaga mushrooms. Testimonials are popping up everywhere, while research continues to support the user’s claims. 

Chaga is quickly becoming a widely respected superfood for a good reason!

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