Chaga has for thousands of years remained popular in Eurasia where it is called ,Gift from God’ due to its healing properties. It is known by many names and is honored as a healing mushroom in every place it can be found:
- ,King of the Plants’ by the Chinese
- ,Diamond of the Forest’ by the Japanese
- ,Mushroom of Immortality’ as it is denser than all tree growths.
Properties of Chaga
- Inonotus Obliquus is the scientific name of Chaga mushroom.
- Chaga mushroom is hard as wood, unlike the soft mushrooms you have probably eaten.
- Wild-source minerals and is rich in iron, calcium, manganese, potassium, zinc, and copper.
- Slows down the aging process.
- Contains numerous B vitamins, phenols, flavonoids, enzymes and minerals.
- The most powerful antioxidants in the world.
- Anti-cancer properties.
Benefits of Chaga Mushroom
The following are some of the benefits of Chaga you can also find a detailed infographic here.
Chaga contains beta-carotene that is orange in color and the most powerful antioxidant. Unstable molecules called free radicals can cause cancer and antioxidants like Chaga prevents our body from these damaging free radicals. Antioxidants react with these unstable molecules and stabilize them.
Chaga has anti-cancer properties. Chaga mushrooms contain botulinic acid that has cytotoxic properties and causes apoptosis of cancer cells. It also contains beta glucan that has powerful immunomodulating properties, and it helps the immune system to recognize cancer cells.
Raw Chaga provides your body with strength. One cup of Chaga beverage provides strength to your body for the whole day.
Chaga mushroom acts as an adaptogen. An adaptogen is a substance that helps human body to act against stress and improves mental as well as physical work capacity.
Chaga mushrooms destroy or suppress reproduction of bacteria and kills bacteria by inhibiting growth or replication.
Chagas mushroom has constituents that have anti-malarial properties.
Chaga mushroom has pain relieving and anti-inflammatory properties. In patients with inflammatory bowel disease, Chaga reduces the oxidative stress in lymphocytes.
Chaga has many active constituents like botulinic acid, triterpenes and saponins which have anthelmintic properties.
Chaga has antiviral properties as it has some biological active constituents like saponins and triterpenes and betulinic acid.
Chaga’s antifungal properties come from these constituents: beta glucans, betulinic acid, copper, enzymes, flavonoids, lanosterol, manganese, magnesium, pantothenic acid, phenols, polysaccharides, saponins, selenium, sterols, trametenolic acid, triterpenes, triterpenoids, and zinc.
Chaga has many components that give it incredible antimicrobial properties: betulinic acid, chitin, magnesium, sterols, polysaccharides, zinc, flavonoids, inotodiols, , manganese, amino acids , , melanin, phenols, phytonutrients, lanosterol, potassium, saponins, selenium, trametenolic acid, copper, tripeptides, triterpenoids, and enzymes.
Chaga mushroom a rich source of pantothenic acid. This vitamin (pantothenic acid) is needed by digestive organs as well as the adrenal glands so helps digestion.
Chaga mushrooms are full of special phenols, similar to pigment. These phenolic compounds are called chromogenic complex. The chromogenic complex only found in Chaga protects all body tissues. Chaga is used as an active ingredient in creams. It has a chromogenic complex that protects the skin. It helps people develop a tan by rubbing on the skin as it contains the melanin pigment. It is the same pigment helps to get the dark-colored skin.
Side effects of Chaga Mushroom:
- Lowers blood sugar levels.
- As a blood thinner Chaga can increases risk of severe bleeding especially if taken with warfarin or aspirin.