MEDICINE FROM THE FOREST
CHAGA
King Of Medicinal Mushrooms
Chaga - (Inonotus Obliquus)
Chaga is a mushroom that grows mainly on the bark of birch trees in colder climates across the Northern Hemisphere, such as Northern Europe, Siberia, Russia, Korea, Northern Canada and Alaska.
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In Chinese medicine, Chaga is referred to as the ‘gift of god’ because of its broad spectrum of health benefits.
Chaga is one of the most nutritionally dense immune-boosting foods in the world!
Plus it is the highest on the ORCA scale and rich in Beta-glucans!
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Chaga has an ever-growing reputation as one of the most health-giving foods on the planet.
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ORAC stands for Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity. It measures the"total antioxidant capacity" (TAC) of a food.
Antioxidants scavenge free radicals from the body cells and prevent or reduce the damage caused by oxidation. The process of oxidation in the human body produces unstable chemicals called free radicals, which damage cell membranes and other structures. Free radicals have been linked to a variety of diseases (including heart disease and certain cancers).
Antioxidants are compounds in foods that scavenge and neutralize free radicals. Evidence suggests that antioxidant supplements do not work as well as the naturally occurring antioxidants in foods such as mushrooms, fruits and vegetables.
Ref:https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/antioxidants
Known to help with:
- Boosting energy and immunity
- Reduce inflammation and stress
- Enhance athletic ability
- Increase performance
- DNA damage protection
- Gastrointestinal health
- Increase mental focus and clairity
- Normalizes blood pressure & cholesterol levels
- Soothing properties
- Increase libido
- Anti-viral & anti-fungal properties
- Support weight loss
- Anti-cancer properties
- Youthfulness
- Detoxification and much more
Health Perks Of Chaga
Nutrition Profile Perks"
- Rich in antioxidants
- Nutrient dense
- Abundance of electrolytes
- Rich in Beta-glucans
- Rich in vitamins, minerals, & nutrients
- Natural sport & energy drink
- Taste slightly like vanilla
- Rich in SOD
Chaga For ​Immune System Support
Chaga has an abundance of Beta-D-Glucans that help balance the response of the body’s immune system. This means that Chaga helps boosts the immune system when necessary, but also slows it down when it is overactive. This makes Chaga a natural Biological Response Modifier (BRM). Research has also shown that Chaga activates immune cells responsible for combating cancer initiation. (1)
Soothing Properties
Chaga supports the integrity of blood vessels and provides soothing properties in times of irritation. This can be helpful for those suffering from pain, neuropathy, and even diabetes. (1)
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Normalizes Blood Pressure and Cholesterol Levels
Studies have shown that the betulinic acid found in Chaga is able to break down LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) in the bloodstream. (1)
SODs
SODs are another important antioxidant present in Chaga. SOD refers to a group of enzymes called Super Oxide Dismutase. These enzymes play an important role in protecting our body against the destructive effects of uncontrolled oxidation and free radicals. SOD potency is measured by the S-ORAC score. (1)
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Ulcers and Gastritis
Due to its immune-boosting properties, Chaga has long been used to support gastrointestinal health in Eastern cultures. Most ulcers are caused by bacteria such as Helicobacter pylori, so a well-functioning immune system can fight off this pathogen. Ulcers may be soothed by the use of Chaga, depending on the severity and the patient. (1)
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http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/chaga-mushroom-the-immune-boosting-superfood/
Caution: If you're unsure if Chaga is safe for you while going through pregnancy, breast feeding, a serious health condition or disease, or taking diabetic drugs or insulin consult your physician prior to use. Don't consume Chaga if you have CKD or if you're taking anticoagulant drugs or just received a transplant and are under after-transplant treatment.
Harvesting
How Chaga is harvested really does matter for the integrity of its goodness but also for the sake of nature and the tree. Please don't go out and harvest Chaga if you are not familiar on how to do it properly.
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We have seen and heard of harvesters who harvest Chaga at the wrong time of year or ruin the tree. This prevents Chaga from growing there again and damaging the host. Some people even chop down a tree to just harvest the Chaga.
NO NO NO NO. Please don't do that.
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Harvest responsibility, respectfully, and sustainable.
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The best time to harvest Chaga is during the winter months once the tree goes dormant and it has been below -10 for at least a week.
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Leave 30% of the Chaga conk intact to sustain future growth without causing any harm to the tree. Harvesting Chaga this way also reduces our water and energy footprint, as there is no need to cultivate additional crops to act as our substrate.
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Only take what you need!
Never ever chop down an entire tree just to harvest Chaga. Get the correct gear and harvest it properly.