Chaga Mushroom

Chaga otherwise known as Inonotus Obliquus is recognized as a mushroom and is commonly grown on a Birch Tree within colder climates across the Northern Area of the world. Parts such as Siberia, Northern Canada, and Alaska as well as some Northern areas of the United States. You may not even notice it is a mushroom as you casually walk by it because of its texture and color. To some it looks like the bark of the tree that has an extra growth. However this hidden treat in the forest contains many benefits to our health.
Chaga has been discovered and utilized for centuries in the East. Usually consumed as a tea because of the ease of access to its health benefits. However until recently Chaga has been gaining traction in the West because of its numerous health benefits that are being utilized by gurus. Chaga is a highly concentrated mass of mycelium that extends out of the birch trees that are infected with the parasitic-fungus. This hard, dark and bark looking exterior often times looks like burnt charcoal. It is called the sclerotium, and the interior is a rusty yellow color.
Chaga has one of the highest ORAC scores of any food available. What is ORAC? It is “Oxygen Radical Absorbent Capacity”. In otherwise the higher the value of ORAC, the better the food’s compounds are accessible to protect the body from disease-causing free radicals. It is also to be noted that chaga is one of the best sources for antixoidants.

Chaga contains a wide variety of vitamins, minerals and nutrients such as the following: B-Complex Vitamins, Potassium , Vitamin D, Rubidium, Cesium, Amino acids, fiber, copper, selenium, iron, zinc, magnesium, manganese, calcium.

Due to the life span of the Chaga mushroom, the potency compared to other medicinal herbs, is of a higher concentration and can be compared to the strength of some pharmaceutical grade healing agents.

Benefits of Chaga

Supporting the Immune System – In case studies conducted on animals, chaga has been shown to help boost the immune system by increasing production of cells in the body including interleukin 6 (IL-6) as well as T lumphocytes. These are substances within the body that regulate the immune system and assure that your body fights off any invading viruses and bacterias. Research has also shown when using chaga extracts it can stimulate spleen lymphocytes and these have a direct positive effect on our immune system functions. (Article)

Cancer prevent and Cancer Treatment – At the Memorial Sloan Cancer Center, “Laboratory and animal studies show that chaga can inhibit cancer progression. Studies in humans are needed.” When in fact a study conducted on mice that exhibited tumors and a chaga extract was applied the tumor experience a 60 percent size reduction. In another study mice with metastatic cancer, had a 25 percent decrease in their number of nodules compared to a control group.
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Anti-Viral – Chaga also shows potential to have anti-viral qualities when it comes to some viruses. A study published in 2015 found that when utilizing extracts of chaga on the human immunodeficiency virus or HIV type 1. (Article) Chaga has been shown in animal case studies to have anti-viral effects when it comes to the Hepatitis C Virus. Utilizing animals cells, scientists found that a chaga extract was able to decrease the infection properties of the Hepatitis C virus by 100% in just 10minutes. (Article)

Lower Cholesterol – Chaga contains an abundant of antioxidants that have shown signs of redudcing low density lipoprotein, or better known as the bad choleserol. (Article)
Chaga has been shown in animal case studies to have anti-viral effects when it comes to the Hepatitis C Virus. Utilizing animals cells, scientists found that a chaga extract was able to decrease the infection properties of the Hepatitis C virus by 100% in just 10minutes. (Article)Inflammation Reduction – Chaga has been showing promise for reduction on inflammation. A study conducted on animals when utilizing a chaga extract can reduce inflammation of ulcerative colitis. Furthermore research has shown that the anti-inflammatory effect of chaga extract when in the colon was due to the ability to suppress the chemical mediators of inflammation. (Article)

Improve Physical Endurance – Animal case studies showed that when utilizing chaga it can greatly improve physical endurance. A study published in 2015 found when mice were given chaga, the mice showed signs of being able to swim longer. The gycogen content of the the muscles and liver increased while the lactic acid levels within the blood decreased. Putting this and combining is a recipe for showing less fatigue and greater endurance. (Article)

Protects the Liver – Researchers have found that an overabundance of free radicals is a major factor of development of severe liver diseases. Now comes in Chaga! Because of the numerous antioxidants within the chaga it is able to intercept most of the free radicals and give them something to react to within a non destructive manner. (Article)

Anti-diabetic effects—Chaga showed beneficial effects on hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia as well as the impaired glucose tolerance in diabetic mice. The lipid and lipoprotein levels and antioxidant ability were significantly improved and chaga coukd significantly alleviate the tissue damage in liver, kidney and pancreas caused by oxidant stress and hypoglycemia. (Article)

Anti-obesity effects—Results of studies show chaga to have beneficial effects in preventing diet-induced obesity and related metabolic abnormalities. (Article)