If you're looking for support for a healthy immune system.
Scientific research has shown that a number of the active components of this fungus exert influence on the immune system in a synergistic manner. This action is both normalizing and balancing. In this way, infections, inflammations, and immune-related diseases are prevented and combated.
For hundreds of years, properties have also been attributed to Chaga that are healing and even anticancer.
Our Chaga capsules are easy to take daily.
If you prefer not to take capsules, Chaga tincture is convenient to drop on your tongue.
You can mix Chaga powder into a smoothie or your tea for a powerful antioxidant boost.
Did you know that Chaga isn't actually a mushroom at all? The Birch Polypore is actually a sclerotium. A sclerotium is a compact mass of mycelium threads, while a mushroom is the fruiting body. Sclerotia can be formed by various fungi and are often used for reproduction or as a survival mechanism in unfavorable conditions. The fruiting body, the mushroom, of Chaga is almost never observed.
The dimensions of the Birch Polypore sclerotium can vary greatly; from 4 to 40 centimeters in diameter and they can become between 10 and 15 centimeters thick. The texture inside resembles cork with a yellow-brown color.
Something else that few people realize is that Chaga is also a parasite! Old birch trees nearing the end of their lives or birches that are sick or damaged are often targeted by the Birch Polypore.
Chaga can parasitize these trees for years, ultimately leading to their demise.
Interestingly, this fungus cannot be cultivated. For this reason, it is only harvested in the wild.
It seems that Chaga has been used as a medicine since the Middle Ages for treating patients with tumors and other diseases. All this without undesired side effects. Let's be clear, science hasn't reached a consensus on that matter yet.
However, it has been scientifically proven that the Birch Polypore has antioxidant and antiviral properties, thanks to the numerous active components it contains.
Some of the key active components include:
The following sterols are the most important:
In the bark of birch trees, there is a chemical compound called betulin. Betulin is an organic acid. When Chaga parasitizes a birch, it extracts this betulin from the tree. Afterwards, the fungus transforms the betulin into betulinic acid before storing it.
Currently, science is extensively researching and testing the potential cancer-killing and inhibitory effects of this betulin. It is hoped that it may become part of chemotherapy. Additionally, it appears that betulin may be able to break down cholesterol present in the bloodstream.
Because the cell walls of Chaga are indigestible, consuming Chaga in its natural form is not effective. An extract must be made to obtain the active ingredients from Chaga.
The two most common methods of making an extract at home are as follows:
The other important components, the polysaccharides, seem to have anti-inflammatory properties and improve the immune system. Thanks to scientific research in Asia, we can assume this.
For almost half a century, since the early 1980s, extracts based on these polysaccharides have been on the market as anticancer drugs. Examples of these are the brands Lentinan and Krestin.
In Russia, there is also medication based on Chaga. Since 1955, the drug Befungin has been on the market there.
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Phylum: | Basidiomycota |
| Subphylum: | Agaricomycotina |
| Class: | Agaricomycetes |
| Order: | Hymenochaetales |
| Family: | Hymenochaetaceae |
| Genus: | Inonotus |
| Species: | Inonotus obliquus |
| Habitat: | Russia (Siberia) |
| Korea | |
| Northern Europe | |
| Northern United States | |
| Canada | |
| Climate: | Cold regions |
