What is Chaga Mushroom?
Inonotus obliquus, commonly known as chaga mushroom, is a black fungus that grows parasitically on birch trees. There are records going as far back as the 16th century for the use of chaga in Eastern European folk medicine and traditional botanical medicine. Chaga mushroom has many medicinal benefits because it is rich in polysaccharides (particularly ß-glucan polysaccharides) as well as betulinic acid, and has a bitter flavour similar to coffee. It is an excellent source of superoxide dismutase (SOD – a powerful antioxidant) and is the mushroom with the highest antioxidant (ORAC) level known.
Chaga's Active Medicinal Ingredients
Initial research on chaga examined its ß-glucan polysaccharides. As research continued on chaga's role in immune optitmization, it was discovered that compounds from chaga did not attack pathogens directly, but instead supported the optimization of the body's natural defenses.
How is Chaga Extracted?
There are three ways that mushrooms are extracted, only two of which are considered reliable. These methods include: hot water extraction, alcohol extraction, and fermentation.
- Fermentation is considered an unreliable means of extraction due to variations in microbes used.
- Hot water extraction is the most common and cheapest purification option and allows all water-soluble components (including polysaccharides) to be extracted.
- Alcohol (ethanol) extraction isolates the non-water soluble components, like betulinic acid, betulin and phyto-sterols.
In order to obtain maximum therapeutic value, many manufacturers will usually combine two methods, in general hot water extraction and alcohol/ethanol extraction allow for extraction of the most valuable components. Cheap, mass-produced, extracts tend to be hot water based low percentage (4-20%) polysaccharide extracts with limited therapeutic value. Be sure to read the constituents on the label of your supplement to ensure you will get the medicinal effects you seek.
How To Take Chaga Mushroom Supplements
Chaga mushroom can be supplemented as dried mushroom powder, liquid, powdered extract, capsule, or tea. It can be found alone or in combination formulas for liver support and inflammation relief. Solid extracts of chaga can be dosed between 200 and 1000mg per day. If making a tea you can dissolve one teaspoon of dried mushroom in one cup of hot water several times per day.
Potential Side Effects & Cautions
Chaga mushroom is generally regarded as safe when taken in the recommended doses. Safety in young children, pregnant or nursing women, or those with severe liver or kidney disease is not known, so caution should be used. Due to the hypoglycemic activity of polysaccarides, blood sugar monitoring in diabetics is important.
