I was first introduced to Chaga (under another name), over a campfire talk by a Cree Elder from Northern Alberta, in the late 1980s. I was one of several instructors in a survival course on the lovely Kootenay Plains.  We were gathered to put on a weeklong course on various primitive technologies that could be used as survival skills. The Cree Elder was passing around the circle the ‘cork that lived on birch trees’, one of his most sacred medicinal substances.  With opened ears I listened to all the virtues he shared on that night graced with a full moon. It had been used for many things among the Cree, from fire starter, for carrying sacred coals, to clothing, to one of the most important medicines for a multitude of dramatic diseases.

I kept my attention open to little tidbits of information coming my way over the years, often looking up at the big chunk of the mushroom I had on my office bookshelf.  By the early 2000s we started using it in the clinic on a occasional basis. It wasn’t until I visited Siberia and the indigenous Shaman I was working with really convinced me, that this was one of the more important herbs I could use.

The delicious tea brewed from Chaga encourages compliance with its users. Some have said the taste is somewhere between mild Coffee and Chocolate, with a hint of wintergreen. It’s a nice festive flavor that I am enjoying as I write this blog.  I have even seen it on the menus of funky coffee shops, selling Chaga Lattés and Chaga Cappuccinos.

The other day a client came into the Clinic and asked one of the receptionists if she had ever heard of Chaga and she started to snicker. He asked her what was so funny about his request? She shared that her and five of her co-workers were presently drinking Chaga tea that they had just brewed and would he like some. He had some with joy and bought some to take home, “as much for its taste, as for its medicinal properties.”

Again this brings up the question: are these mushrooms medicines or Super Foods?

We drink coffee for its taste, but we also use it to keep us awake or to help us focus, both clearly medicinal purposes. I weigh in on the side of Super Food.

Chaga has a long and famous history of use in both Eastern Europe, Russia and by Siberian and Northern Canadian Indigenous people for hundreds and even thousands of years. Siberian Shamans called it “the gift from heaven”. Chaga is usually boiled as a tea and used on a regular basis. Some like to call it the ‘King of the Adaptogens.’

This mushroom can be made into an instant tea by adding hot water to ½ to 1 tsp. (depending on strength desired) of the steamed prepared mushroom powder extract, or by boiling chunks of the raw mushroom.  You can also add it to blender drinks, soups, stews, sauces and the like.

Research

• Used to aid in digestion, it was employed to reduce bloating
• In Russia, an extract of Chaga is known as befungin and is an approved medicine¹
• Anti-cancer and immune-modulating qualities have been heavily researched^2,3,4  
• It is known to increase survival rates⁵ of test animals It contains betulin and inotodiol, both of which show promise in leukemia models^6,7
• Employed as one of the strongest antioxidants ever found, giving it quite a reputation^8,9
• Chaga can be used as an anti-inflammatory, reducing pain sensation¹⁰
• Blood sugar regulating properties have also been noticed for this mushroom¹¹
• Anti-viral^12,13

  Chaga mushroom (Inonotus obliquus, Kabanoanatake) has exhibit a wide range of biological functions, including anti-tumor activity; its property as an adaptogen, with its ability to prevent a large range of infectious diseases, is of great interest.¹⁴ In 16th century folklore in western Siberia and Russia, the decoction of Chaga mushroom was known to be used as a safe and non-toxic folk remedy to treat cancers and digestive disorders.^15,16,17

I have been using it quite a bit for digestive problems, as it helps relieve a bloated feeling. It is effective if the bloated feeling is from the digestive tract or the female area. It works even better if it is used for a combination of the two issues.

Chaga’s constituent betulin is active in reducing Syndrome X (Metabolic Syndrome) by regulating cholesterol, insulin sensitivity and reducing atherosclerotic plaques.¹⁸

Herbalist David Winston maintains that it is the strongest anti-cancer medicinal mushroom – with good reason, not only from his own clinical evidence, but also due to the overwhelming research done in several countries. It is most specific for cancer of the digestive tract (stomach, pancreas, liver), but has also shown success for breast, uterine, lung, melanoma, bone and leukemia.^19,20,21  Chaga is quite safe to use in conjunction with chemo or radiation therapies.²²

It has also been used and shown in studies to be active for:

• Aging, allergies, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory²³
• Inflammatory bowel disease²⁴
• Inflammatory skin conditions (psoriasis)²⁵

Dosage:

Myco-feron: 2 – 3 capsules; 3 – 3 times daily

Five mushroom Blend: ½ – 1 teaspoon, twice daily

Chaga Super Food: ½ – 1 teaspoon, twice daily

Chaga chunks: ½ – 1 teaspoon, decocted for 5 – 10 minutes, drink several times daily. (can be reused 2 – 3 times)