Chaga Mushroom Frequently Asked Questions

What are the Benefits of Chaga Mushroom?

There is a lot of reputable research/science behind the potential benefits of Chaga. The following are but a few of the most notable.

Rich in a Wide Variety of Vitamins, Minerals, and Nutrients

Amino Acids
B-Complex Vitamins
Calcium
Cesium
Copper
Fibre
Iron
Magnesium
Manganese
Potassium
Rubidium
Selenium
Vitamin D
Zinc
Slows the Aging Process
Lowers Cholesterol
Prevents and Fights Cancer
Lowers Blood Pressure
Supports the Immune System
Fights Inflammation
Lowers Blood Sugar
Prevents Drug Side Effects
Highest Antioxidant Levels
Fights Fatigue
Liver Support
Allergy Alleviator
Antibacterial
Adaptogenic

Does Chaga Mushroom Get You High?

The simple answer is NO. It's a common myth that Chaga has hallucinogenic or narcotic effects when consumed. It is true, it is a fungus, but Chaga has little in common with magic mushrooms and does not provide any high or trip when you consume it.

Is Chaga Mushroom Safe?

For the most part, Chaga is perfectly safe and well-tolerated. Indigenous peoples have been using it to cure a wide variety of ailments for centuries. However, there are a few instances that you should consider when taking Chaga.

Blood Thinning Drugs

The most notable side effects are how it interacts with other medications or substances. In particular, Chaga may affect blood-thinning drugs such as aspirin due to their unique properties. Chaga's agglomeration of antiaggregant substances such as polysaccharides and minerals can have synergistic effects when combined with other blood-thinners. Because of this, you should be careful when combining it with these medications.

As an extension of this, Chaga may also slow blood clotting due to its blood-thinning properties.

Diabetes

While Chaga has been shown to aid people living with diabetes in many ways, other research suggests that it may negatively interact with insulin and other similar medications.

Pregnancy

At the moment, pregnant women are advised to avoid using Chaga due to a lack of definitive information on how it affects child development and birth. While there is no information at the moment that suggests Chaga is harmful to pregnant women, it is better to be cautious and avoid using it.

Auto-Immune Disorders

Individuals suffering from auto-immune diseases are advised to avoid Chaga due to its effects on the immune system. Because Chaga makes the immune system more active, individuals who are being attacked by their immune systems risk increased damage to their bodies by taking it. Like with pregnancy, there is a general lack of literature on Chaga's effects on auto-immune disorders, but it is better to be cautious and avoid it if you suffer from one.

As with any supplement, if you are pregnant, nursing, taking any medications or have any medical condition, you should consult your doctor before use.

How Much Chaga Tea Should You Drink Per Day?

You can safely drink 1 to 2 - 6oz cups of Chaga Tea daily. The recommended daily intake should not exceed 3.6 grams or 2 - 6oz cups.

If using Chaga powder, use ½ tsp (2.5grams) of Chaga Powder per 6oz cup of boiled water daily. This can be re-steeped 2 or 3 times. Or you can sprinkle ½ tsp (2.5 grams) directly on to your food. Here again, the recommended daily intake should not exceed 3.6 grams.

Does Boiling Chaga Ruin It?

You should never boil your Chaga. Boiling Chaga loses its nutrients, and you won't reap the full benefits it has to offer. When you cook raw Chaga, it immediately affects the melanin compound and the polysaccharides, along with other nutritional elements.

When making tea from tea bags or powder, you can pour the boiled water into your cup. You can't cook your Chaga in the water. You can, however, simmer it for a few hours either on the stove, a crockpot or in the oven at the lowest temperature.

Does Chaga Kill Cancer Cells?

For more than 30 years, Chaga has been approved as a supplement to standard cancer treatments in Japan and China but not in the Western World.

There has been a lot of research conducted on Chaga's ability to fight cancer, and these indeed appear to indicate it is useful. Chaga is rich in antioxidants, which are chemicals that help prevent cell damage caused by free radicals or oxidants. When the body is unable to produce enough antioxidants to prevent this damage, oxidative stress occurs. Oxidative stress can cause cancer and a host of other health problems. Laboratory and animal studies indicate that these and other compounds in Chaga can kill cancer cells selectively, leaving the healthy cells alone, and stimulate the immune system. However, to date, no official studies have been conducted on humans in the Western World.