Chaga mushroom has been gaining popularity amongst doctors, researchers, nutritionists, holistic health practitioners, and many other people. The answer to what is the fungus good for is still an open topic, since there seem to be more benefits found with every study.
The story of Chaga as medicine
Starting from Siberia, in the shockingly cold weather conditions, the fungus has been known as a staple food item. The native people would harvest the mushroom, grind it into powder and add it to soups and stews. They believed it gave them an increase of endurance, the mushroom was also brewed and drank as a tea to calm digestion.
There’s a story from the 1100s, where traditionally-trained and highly respected healers reportedly treated Tsar Vladimir Monomakh’s lip tumor successfully.
From there the stories of the amazing powers of chaga started to spread.
Chaga benefits
Epidemiologists, the scientists who study the demographics of populations, have noted that the life span of Siberians is greater than many populations who consume chaga. Another thing to note is the low rate of cancer compared to other parts of the world.
Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and Korean healers are also known for putting chaga into good use for thousands of years. May that be a treatment for various skin conditions like eczema, respiratory disorders, or other health concerns.
Amongst much else, the fungus is known for its ability to reduce hunger and increase energy, calming the stomach, maintaining skin health due to the following.
Packed with antioxidants
Chaga mushroom contains a large number of polysaccharides in the form of β glucans, which have a strong antioxidant activity inside your body. On the Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) scale, chaga is an ultra-potent source of antioxidants and is naturally rich in betulinic acid. Antioxidants help to prevent the development of degenerative diseases at bay.
Boosts your immune system
To be fair, the research involving humans is scarce but the studies on animals appear to be very successful. It seems to possess substances that can kick start a sagging immune system. It’s believed that one of the ways the fungi works wonders is by stimulating the production of lymphocytes, which are essential for a healthy immune system.
Reduces inflammation
According to the preliminary research performed on animals, chaga reduces inflammation which is triggered by ulcerative colitis.
In addition to that chaga has been scientifically proved to increase stamina and have anti-viral properties. To read more about it, head over to our page Health Benefits.
