Chaga Mushroom

Other name(s): Birch Mushroom, Chaga Conk, Cinder Conk, Clinker Polypore, Inonotus obliquus, Tchaga.

Many brushcrafters use this as a tea to drink when out on the trails and camping but they do need to be aware and ask themselves "is this really safe for me to drink?"

Overview Information

Chaga is a fungus. It produces a woody growth, called a conk, which is used to make medicine.

People take chaga by mouth for heart disease, diabetes, stomach and intestine cancer, liver disease, parasites, stomach pain, and tuberculosis.

How does it work?

Chaga might stimulate the immune system. It contains some chemicals that have antioxidant effects. Chaga might lower blood sugar and cholesterol levels.

Uses & Effectiveness?
Insufficient Evidence for

• Heart disease.
• Diabetes.
• Stomach and intestinal cancer.
• Liver disease.
• Tuberculosis.
• Other conditions.

More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of chaga for these uses.

Side Effects & Safety

It isn’t known if chaga is safe or what the possible side effects might be.
Special Precautions & Warnings:

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Not enough is known about the use of chaga during pregnancy and breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

"Auto-immune diseases"such as multiple sclerosis (MS), lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), or other conditions: Chaga might cause the immune system to become more active. This could increase the symptoms of auto-immune diseases. If you have one of these conditions, it’s best to avoid using chaga.

Bleeding disorders: There is concern that chaga might increase the risk of bleeding. Don’t use chaga if you have a bleeding disorder.

Diabetes: Chaga might lower blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. Watch for signs of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and monitor your blood sugar carefully if you have diabetes and use chaga products. The dose of your diabetes medications may need to be adjusted by your healthcare provider.

Surgery: Chaga might affect blood sugar control or increase the risk of bleeding during and after surgery. Stop using chaga at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.

Dosing

The appropriate dose of chaga depends on several factors such is the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for chaga. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.