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Chaga -A Rediscovered Superfood
Chaga Health Benefit Claims
Lately there has been a lot of talk about the health benefits of Chaga (Inonotus obliquus)). In fact, many are calling this rediscovered medicinal mushroom a superfood. Although it has recently gained a lot of attention, it has been used as a folk remedy in Russia and North European countries since the 16th century. There is even documented evidence showing that Chaga was used as early as 4600 years ago is Asian countries such as China.
According to some experts, Chaga has numerous health benefits like boosting the immune system, reducing inflammation, protecting against viruses, reducing cardiovascular disease and improving liver health. Chaga has also been claimed to prevent cancer. Even though there have not been sufficient scientific studies on Chaga, many still feel that this medicinal mushroom is a valuable superfood.
Have you ever tried Chaga?
Cancer
A study from the World Journal of Gastroenterology (2008) indicates that Chaga may help combat cancer. The research team studied cells taken from human liver tumors and found that Chaga extract inhibited cancer cell growth. The World Journal of Gastroenterology research suggests that Chaga may be helpful in the treatment of liver cancer. Moreover, their studies indicated that Chaga has numerous biological activities such as anti-bacterial, hepato-protective (prevent damage to the liver) and anti-tumor effects.
Diabetes
According to a study from the Journal of Ethnopharmacology (2008), Chaga may help treat diabetes.Studies showed that mice given Chaga had lower blood sugar levels and also reduced cholesterol.
On the other hand, some experts advice that diabetics or people with blood sugar problems should consult their healthcare specialist before consuming Chaga.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
According to a study published in Biofactors (2007) Chaga may help treat Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. The research involved 40 volunteers. Half of the volenteers were healthy and the other half had inflammatory bowel disease. Chaga supplementation resulted in a 54.9% reduction of H_{2}O_{2 } induced DNA damage within the patient group and 34.9% within the control group. The researchers concluded that Chaga extract may be a valuable supplement to inhibit oxidative stress in general. For example: When there is oxidative stress in the body the free radicals and reduced antioxidant levels may cause inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Another Biofactors publication (2004) researched the Chaga claims of anti-bacterial, anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. The study concluded that Chaga mushroom treatment affords cellular protection against endogenous DNA damage produced by H2O2. Endogenous is something that grows or originates within a tissue or organism.
Foraging for Chaga Mushroom
A Word of Caution
According to the Memorial Sloan–Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), Chaga’s effectiveness and safety for disease or cancer prevention has not been determined. The MSKCC states that no clinical trials have been conducted to prove its medicinal validity. Moreover, consumers should be cautious when taking Chaga because it may interact with anticoagulant and anti-diabetic drugs.
In addition, there has been some concern about consuming Chaga along with blood thinning or diabetes medications. Many experts say that there can be adverse side effects when combining the two.
Consuming Chaga for Health
If you are thinking about using Chaga for any chronic conditions or other health concerns, make sure to consult your healthcare provider first. Self-remedies for chronic conditions with Chaga or any other self-treatment may have serious health results.
Always consult a health professional before starting any supplement or diet program including self treatment.
Harvesting Chaga
Chaga mushroom, scientifically known as inonotus obliquus, (a Latin Russian term of 'чага'), is a fungus in the Hymenochaetaceae family. It is a conk normally found on trees that are at least 40 years old. The most common tree that it grows on is the birch tree. However, it sometimes grows on alder, beech and elm trees.
Chaga grows predominantly in the birch forests of Russia, Korea, Eastern and Northern Europe, Northern United States, in the North Carolina Mountains and in Canada.
Generally it takes at least 3 to 5 years before the fungus reaches maturity and can be harvested. Therefore, Chaga can be somewhat expensive. After the first harvest, Chaga grows back. Sad to say, once a tree has the fungus it does not go away and the tree will eventually die. However, in in 3 to 10 years, Chaga can be harvested once again.
The name Chaga (pronounced "tsjaa-ga") comes from the Russian word mushroom (czaga) which is derived from the Komi-Permyak word fungus (indigenous peoples in the Kama River Basin). The sterile conk has an irregular shape that looks like burnt charcoal. The black color is due to the substantial amounts of melanin* (see notation).
The medicinal powder is predominantly found in the outer black bark. Many Chaga harvesters say that the most potent part of the fungus is where the white veins runs through it. On the other hand, the fungus itself is not digestible for humans. Chaga needs to be either extracted with alcohol or hot water to make a tincture or dried and then ground into a powder. Dry Chaga is very light and similar to cork.
* Notation: The production of melanin is called melanogenesis. When referring to the skin, melanogenesis occurs after exposure to UV radiation, thus causing the skin to tan. Melanin is an applicable absorber of light. In fact, the pigment is able to disperse over 99.9% of absorbed UV radiation.
Chaga Nutritional Breakdown
The Chinese call Chaga “King of Plants” while the Japanese call it the “Diamond of the Forest”. In Siberia, this famous mushroom is called a “Gift from God” and the “Mushroom of Immortality”.
Chaga will have different nutritional properties, depending on where it was harvested. For example, apples grown in Washington will have different properties than apples grown in Sweden. Chaga with the highest therapeutic strength is harvested in Siberia and the Changbai mountains in China. Research suggests that this may be due to extreme environmental conditions.
As well, cultivated Chaga is said to have a different composition and therapeutic properties. On the other hand, wild Chaga is believed to have at least 50% more medicinal value.
For consumers, it is important to note that some Chaga producers that sell cultivated Chaga (not wild Chaga) claim their product has the same medicinal properties as the wild harvested fungus.
Chaga is said to have over 215 phyto-nutrients, is high in zinc and rich in antioxidants like beta-carotene, lycopene, vitamins A, C and E. According to the article Chaga – The Facts posted on ORIVeDA, raw Chaga is high in carbohydrates, ash, proteins, lipids, ergosterols and other compositions.
Chaga Uses
Traditionally, Chaga is grated into a fine powder and used to brew a beverage similar to tea or coffee. Many feel that Chaga tastes kind of like coffee with a hint of raisin or current.
For medicinal use, the mushroom goes through an extraction process and is created into a tincture or extract. Generally you can find Chaga sold as a tincture with or without alcohol processing. Yet many believe that in order to get the most out of a Chaga tincture, it should be extracted with both alcohol and hot water.Alcohol is used to extract the elements that are not water soluble.
Chaga Recipe
Chaga has a nice earthy flavor and a touch of vanilla sweetness. It goes well with chai spices like cardamom, anise, ginger, clove, cinnamon and fennel. Chaga tea is a soothing warm drink in the winter and a calming drink in the summer.
If you decide to order Chaga and are not sure how to prepare it, here is a fabulous yet simple recipe to try: Chaga Tea Latte | Vegan Superfood