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Chaga mushrooms have been used for centuries in Siberia and other parts of Asia as a medicine to boost immunity and improve overall health 1. Though ugly in appearance, the chaga mushroom is gaining popularity in the Western world for its potential health benefits.
Chaga mushroom Inonotus obliquus is a type of fungus that grows mainly on the bark of birch trees in cold climates, such as Northern Europe, Siberia, Russia, Korea, Northern Canada and Alaska. Chaga is also known by other names, such as black mass, clinker polypore, birch canker polypore, cinder conk and the sterile conk trunk rot of birch.
Chaga produces a woody growth, or conk, which looks similar to a clump of burnt charcoal — roughly 10—15 inches 25—38 centimeters in size. However, the inside reveals a soft core with an orange color. For centuries, chaga has been used as a traditional medicine in Russia and other Northern European countries, mainly to boost immunity and overall health.
It has also been used to treat diabetes, certain cancers and heart chaga eller vril 1. The tea may feature chaga alone or in combination with other mushrooms, such as cordyceps. Chaga mushroom is a fungus that grows primarily on birch trees in cold climates.
With an appearance similar to burnt charcoal, it has been harvested for centuries as a traditional medicine. Though research is ongoing, some scientific studies indicate that chaga extract may provide certain health benefits.
Inflammation is a natural response of your immune system that can protect against disease. However, long-term inflammation is linked to conditions like heart disease and rheumatoid arthritis 4. Animal and test-tube studies suggest that chaga extract can positively impact immunity by reducing long-term inflammation and fighting harmful bacteria and viruses.
By promoting the formation of beneficial cytokines — specialized proteins that regulate the immune system — chaga stimulates white blood cells, which are essential for fighting off harmful bacteria or viruses 56. Additionally, other animal and test-tube studies demonstrate that chaga can prevent the production of harmful cytokines, which trigger inflammation and are associated with disease 57.
For example, in a study in mice, chaga extract reduced inflammation and gut damage by inhibiting inflammatory cytokines 8. Several animal and test-tube studies show that chaga can prevent and slow cancer growth 9.
In a test-tube study, chaga extract prevented the growth of cancer in human liver cells. Similar results were observed with cancer cells of the lung, breast, prostate and colon 111213 ,