Chaga mushroom
Chaga mushroom
Scientific names: Inonotus obliquus
Other common names: Cinder Conk, Black Mass
TRADITIONAL HEALTH BENEFITS OF CHAGA MUSHROOM
Immune Support, Energy support, Stress Support, Brain & Cognitive support, Heart & Vascular support, Men, Women
WHAT IS Chaga mushroom USED FOR?
Chaga mushroom (Inonotus obliquus) is a type of fungus that grows mainly on the bark of birch trees in cold climates, such as Northern Europe, Siberia, Russia, Korea, Northern Canada and Alaska.
Chaga is also known by other names, such as black mass, clinker polypore, birch canker polypore, cinder conk and the sterile conk trunk rot (of birch).
For centuries, chaga has been used as a traditional medicine in Russia and other Northern European countries, mainly to boost immunity and overall health.
Inflammation is a natural response of your immune system that can protect against disease. However, long-term inflammation is linked to conditions like heart disease and rheumatoid arthritis.
Animal and test-tube studies suggest that chaga extract can positively impact immunity by reducing long-term inflammation and fighting harmful bacteria and viruses.
By promoting the formation of beneficial cytokines — specialized proteins that regulate the immune system — chaga stimulates white blood cells, which are essential for fighting off harmful bacteria or viruses (1)
Chaga extract may also benefit cholesterol levels, reducing your risk of heart disease.
In an eight-week study in rats with high cholesterol, chaga extract reduced “bad” LDL cholesterol, total cholesterol and triglycerides while increasing antioxidant levels (2).
Similar studies gave the same results and observed that — in addition to reducing “bad” LDL cholesterol — chaga increases “good” HDL cholesterol (3).
Researchers believe that the antioxidants present in chaga are responsible for its effects on cholesterol.
Chemistry:
The principle chemical constituents consist of:
polysaccharides, triterpenes, and polyphenols
Parts Used
fruiting body, mycelium
Additional Resources
- (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3774877/, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21820502).
- https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/5305591
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18434051, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28954386
Important Precautions
Not for use during pregnancy or lactation. If you have a medical condition or take pharmaceutical drugs please consult your doctor prior to use.
Disclaimer
This information in our Herbal Reference Guide is intended only as a general reference for further exploration, and is not a replacement for professional health advice. This content does not provide dosage information, format recommendations, toxicity levels, or possible interactions with prescription drugs. Accordingly, this information should be used only under the direct supervision of a qualified health practitioner such as a naturopathic physician.