Depending on where you live, you may have this gem growing close to you -or even in your own backyard!
Not-So-Known Facts About Chaga
Chaga (Inonotus Obliquus), also known as "The King of Medicinal Mushrooms", lives up to its name by being one of the most medicinal mushrooms at our disposal. Many consider it the fountain of youth, as it's known for its anti-aging and longevity-enhancing benefits.
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It's a great replacement for your daily coffee.
Just like coffee, it will offer you lots of energy. But unlike the acidity of coffee, chaga alkalizes the body, all the while healing it too (explained more below).
Chaga mushroom grows on birch trees in the Northern hemisphere. This fungi doesn't actually look like any other mushroom, with its dry, hard, wood-like exterior. It's quite off putting the first time you see it, which is why most people think it's some type of disease or deformity the tree has.
Chaga has a unique ability to extract nutrients from its host, and concentrate them into itself. This explains why it's so highly potent in nutrients, containing an abundance of the feel-good B vitamins, antioxidants, trace minerals, enzymes, minerals such as copper, calcium and zinc, and so much more..
Chaga activates an array of immune cells in the human body, including lymphocytes, macrophages, and natural killer cells, that help prevent the formation of chronic health conditions like autoimmune disease, and cancers.
It's also known for promoting mental clarity, while protecting the body and its organs against damaging inflammation. It's particularly beneficial for cardiovascular health, as it has a soothing effect which helps relax blood vessels and improve blood flow, delivering more oxygen to the body.
Another reason why it serves us better than coffee ever could. It calms the heart, opens the blood vessels for a better flow of blood & energy, offering the mind conscious clarity. The level of efficiency the body experiences, differs vastly from the jittery feeling coffee leaves behind.. and no coffee breath either!
Within Chinese medicine, this gem is known as "the diamond of the forest", because it only grows on 1 out of every 5000 birch trees.. Yet, it feels super easy to find when you're looking for it.
For centuries it's been used to treat common stomach/intestinal dis-eases such as gastritis, ulcers, colitis, chronic pain, diabetes, neuropathy, and heart disease.
Its true healing powers are being realized now that investigatory research results are showing how beneficial its effects are on most allergies (food & asthma), atopic dermatitis, rheumatoid arthritis, atherosclerosis, thrombosis, listeriosis, septic shock, cancer (particularly prostate, stomach, and lung cancer), and even HIV.
Historical records suggest that natural healers in Asia had already discovered this mysterious fungi's medicinal potential, more than 4,600 years ago.
Here's an interesting fact:
The life span of the Inuit, who didn't use Chaga, but lived in a climate similar to that of the Siberians, was only 40 to 50 years on average.. Whereas people in the Siberian tribes routinely lived to be 90 to 110 years of age.
There are many scientific studies to support the healing wonders it stores. The most recent & definitive analytical work on chaga was performed by Dr. Kirsti Kahlos, a pharmacognycist at the School of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Finland.
If chaga is awakening your curiosity, I highly recommend looking up the study.
List of Chaga's Many Medicinal & Healing Properties:
Anti-cancer. Anti-fungal. Anti-tumor. Anti-inflammatory. Antiviral. Anti-hyperglycemic. Antimicrobial.
Cardio-protector.
Kidney tonic.
Boosts the immune system immensely.
Balances hormone production.
Lowers cholesterol.
Regulates blood pressure.
Cleanses the liver.
Stress reducer.
Kills internal parasites.
Eases/cures bronchitis, asthma, hepatitis, gastritis, ulcers, colitis, diabetes, and the list just goes on..
How To Find & Harvest Chaga In a Forest Near You
If you have birch trees close by, you may be able to harvest your own chaga.
You want to harvest all through fall & winter, until you see the sap running down the tree. That's a good indicator of harvest season coming to an end.
Personally, I never take the entire piece. Using a hatchet to chop off a piece off the top, allows the tree time to grow more from the amount left behind. They usually grow together on the same birch, so if you find a tree with chaga, you'll probably find a few more pieces on different areas of that tree.
How To Get Your Chaga On
Drop a small piece of this bad boy in a pot of hot water (no longer boiling) and keep it on the stove (low temperature) for a few hours (the longer, the better). Add a pinch of cinnamon for a nice aroma enhancer, and let steep for another couple of hours.
For every cup of chaga you pour out to drink, pour the same amount back in the pot and reheat slightly.
Or you can store the concentrated version in a jar, in the fridge. Keep the lid on at all times, but feel free to add water to that as well, even if it's not reheated again. It lasts for months in the fridge, as long as it's not contaminated.
Remember to keep the mushroom in the jar, always covered with water. You can reuse the same piece over & over again, until it no longer releases any color after steeping for a few hours in hot water.
Drinking Chaga tea is like being hugged from the inside 😊
INjoy every sip!
This big guy was from my last harvest in 2015. I found it in one of Sweden's many birch tree forests.
Can you see how it looks like a giant face with large lips?
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Who first looked at that and thought "I'm going to try making tea out of this"?
I'm not sure I'd have the nerve even now that I've been edumacated.
Ooh, thanks for sharing! I've heard of Chaga before, but never looked into it. I'll keep my eyes peeled should I have the opportunity to be in the right place at the right time.
Cheers!
Thank you for this amazing info. I have never heard of this mushroom before but probably seen it many times in Germany. How did you learn about the Chaga?
Con gusto! My curiosity for nature's medicine has always led me to learn about weeds, fruits, and trees
I'm fascinated to learn there is such healing power so close to home.
From the looks of it I'd never have guessed it would actually be a good idea to put that into your body. But it does sound like something that might be beneficial to my health. Unfortunately I'm presently not able to be out in the woods looking for chaga, as I am practically bed bound due to quite severe ME/CFS.
But thank you for this fascinating piece of information anyway! Nature is amazing!
Happy you can use this info :) and hope you'll get better soon
Wow amazing! I think I found some of this a will back and broke it off and have kept it for some reason. Although not 100% it is Chaga. I will be looking this up thought sounds like incredible stuff! Thanks for sharing.
Love the first photo looks like a naked woman, hope that's not saying too much about my mind haha 💯🐒