Chaga is a fungus that grows on birch trees with damaged bark in cold climates. This mushroom, which looks like burnt, can also be effective against cancer and inflammation. The healing effect of this mushroom, whose benefits are very few, surprises those who hear it.
WHAT MAKES CHAGA MUSHROOM SO SPECIAL?
An adaptogenic mushroom, chaga is thought to rebalance the body by helping it adapt to stress factors. For this reason, it is frequently used in medicinal teas, coffee alternatives, tinctures and powders.
The medicinal use of chaga mushroom is not new. Historians have traced its use back to the 12th century, making its way back to many places from Russia to Siberia and from Poland to Asia. Chaga’s medicinal properties have been used for centuries to treat digestive disorders, tumors, and diseases of the heart and liver.
BENEFITS OF CHAGA MUSHROOM
Research on medicinal mushrooms, including chaga, is still ongoing, but there’s a reason this type of mushroom is used for healing around the world. Here’s what we know so far about the health benefits of chaga mushroom.
1. PROTECTS AGAINST INFLAMMATION
You do not need to be afraid of a small inflammation. In fact, it is the body’s natural immune response to injury, infection, and other harmful stimuli. Without it, we wouldn’t be able to heal bruises or broken bones and fight colds. But chronic inflammation can be a problem because it causes damage that can be the source of serious health problems, from asthma to cardiovascular disease.
That’s where chaga comes in, which has well-documented anti-inflammatory properties, according to a study published in the journal Molecules in 2022. Research results show that chaga extracts made using water and alcohol can protect cells against inflammation. Other research also suggests that chaga has impressive anti-inflammatory properties, thanks to its phenolic compounds.
2. A VALUABLE SOURCE OF ANTIOXIDANTS
Antioxidants are an important part of a healthy diet because they fight unstable free radical molecules that wreak havoc between cells and contribute to disease. “Chaga is said to contain higher levels of antioxidants than other types of mushrooms. A previous study showed that cells pretreated with chaga can have about 40 percent less oxidative damage caused by free radicals. Chaga mushroom is one of the most powerful sources of antioxidants in the world.
3. STRENGTHENS IMMUNITY
According to 2021 research from the Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine, based on animal experiments and in vitro studies, chaga may support immune function primarily because it increases the number of white blood cells. According to previous studies, the mushroom species also increases the rate of cytokines. These signaling proteins are known to reduce inflammation, communicate with white blood cells and help regulate the immune response.
4. IMPROVES BOAT HEALTH
Since chaga has historically been used to treat digestive ailments, it’s not surprising that it plays a role in supporting a healthy gut. The polyphenols in chaga are antioxidants and prebiotics, meaning they encourage the growth of healthy, beneficial bacteria in the microbiome.
A 2017 study on mice also showed that the polysaccharides (or carbohydrate molecules) in chaga mushrooms have prebiotic properties that improve the balance of healthy bacteria in the gut. Researchers have also found that chaga contributes to the diversity of the gut microbiome.
5. LOWERS CHOLESTEROL
High cholesterol can increase the risk of heart disease. However, chaga mushroom can reduce “bad” cholesterol levels and increase “good” cholesterol levels, thus protecting the heart. Although the exact mechanism is not known, this effect is probably due to its anti-inflammatory properties.
6. HAS AN ANTI-CANCER EFFECT
While more human studies are needed to confirm this finding, a study published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology in 2021 concluded that chaga mushroom could be a great supplement for breast cancer patients, as it can suppress the growth of cancer cells.
Chaga’s anti-cancer and anti-tumor potential has also been investigated for colon cancer and lung cancer. A 2016 study found that chaga mushrooms reduced the number of tumors by 60 percent in mice with a type of lung cancer. And a 2019 study found remarkable evidence of chaga extract’s ability to inhibit the proliferation of lung cancer cells.
HOW TO USE CHAGA?
Chaga is very rare and has a bitter taste, so it is not customary to consume it in large quantities. Against this, it can interact with some blood thinners when taken in excess, and may even cause kidney stones or kidney damage due to its high oxalate content.
This mushroom is usually ground into powder, then sold as capsules, tablets, tea or tincture and used in smoothies and tea blends. Experts generally recommend consuming no more than 2,000 mg of chagaport (2 tablespoons) per day.
