Chaga – the queen of the forest and immunity mushroom!
One of these magnificent mushrooms is the medicinal mushroom Chaga, often called the immunity mushroom, which is especially valued for its strengthening properties.
The use of chaga has a rich history. She got her name during her thousand-year relationship with people, she is also called the "queen of the forest". In areas such as Siberia, China and Scandinavia, Chaga has an almost divine status. In America, it is called the "queen of herbs", the indigenous peoples of Siberia call it a "gift of the gods", and the Japanese call it a "forest diamond". It has been used in Russian traditional medicine since the 15th century. Chaga became world-famous only after 1968, when the Russian writer Aleksandar Solzhenitsyn wrote about it in the book Cancer Department. The only officially recognized drug based on Chaga is the Russian Befungin, patented in 1990.
We present to you a treasure from the past - Čago - the mushroom of immunity.
The medicinal mushroom Chaga is not the mushroom you may know, i.e. with a beet and a hat. Chaga is a so-called sclerotium - a hardened mass of mycelium that is very solid. It mostly grows in the cold north, grown on the trunks of slender birches, but here it is extremely rare. In Russian traditional medicine, it is credited with a miraculous effect. Chaga is considered the queen of medicinal mushrooms due to its exceptional tonic and adaptogenic properties and its ability to adjust the natural biological response. It boasts a long history of use in traditional medicine as a substance that improves adaptability under stressful conditions, maintains physiological integrity and protects cells due to its extraordinary antioxidant capacity (SOD), which achieves the highest points on the ORAC scale among known substances. The effects of individual active ingredients of this mushroom (betulinic acid, phenols, triterpenes, polysaccharides) have been known for decades. Eurasian peoples used the mushroom as an anti-inflammatory agent, mainly for the benefit of the gastrointestinal system.
Chaga very effectively prevents oxidative stress. The melanin content in Čaga is the highest in nature, which enables it to have exceptional antioxidant and genoprotective action. These properties are the subject of research for their future potential from a pharmacological perspective, particularly for DNA protection. Another extremely interesting substance is betulinic acid. Some authors define it as one of the most important discoveries among the 2500 analyzed plant extracts due to its selective cytotoxic action. Betulinic acid has the unique properties of being able to induce programmed cell death in human melanoma cells while leaving healthy cells unaffected. It triggers or promotes the apoptosis of cancer cells. Apoptosis is a process of programmed cell death that plays a key role in the control of cancer and viral infections.
Chaga is classified as an adaptogen. It contains many useful substances, but among the most studied are betulin, inotodiol and many polysaccharides, which can act as anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant and strengthen immunity. It contains about 200 biocomponents, among them: polysaccharides (beta glucans, delta glucans, xylogalactoglucose); phytosterols (lanosterol, inotodiol, fecosterol); vitamin B2 and ergosterol (provitamin D2). Minerals include potassium, manganese, zinc, cesium, rubidium, germanium and others; polyphenols (DBL, inonoblin A, phelligridin D); triterpenes (betulin and betulinic acid); and melanin.
User experience shows the following potential when using Čaga:
- Help with cancer - melanoma, cervix, colon, stomach, genitals
- Immune system imbalance
- Inflammation
- Viruses, bacteria, flu
- HIV, herpes simplex
- Psoriasis, eczema and other inflammatory skin diseases
- Stomach disorders and inflammatory bowel diseases
- Candida
- Support for the heart, unbalanced levels of glucose and triglycerides in the blood
- Eliminates the effects of stress and improves mental clarity
- It improves the physical and mental working capacity of the body
- eliminates fatigue and increases performance and affects better sleep
The latest research from Russia also showed that Chaga has an effect on the SARS-CoV-2 virus. In addition to its antitumor activity, as confirmed by Russian and other scientific sources, Chaga offers many other benefits.
Medicinal mushrooms contain a high concentration of useful nutrients, antioxidants and fiber, and are also rich in bioactive compounds such as polysaccharides, betaglucans, terpenoids and other substances that have a positive effect on the body and protect it from diseases.
Chaga is generally safe for most people, but it is recommended to consult a health professional for long-term use, especially in patients with autoimmune diseases. It is also important to be careful with dosing when using anticoagulants, hypoglycemics and antibiotics.
Prepared by: Darja Batista, Cannabinoid Support Consultant and Natural Medicine Researcher
Source:
Medicinal mushroom essential guide, Martin Powell
Medicinal mushrooms clinical guide, Martin Powel
Medicinal mushrooms, Christopher Hobbs
