Chaga Mushrooms: Ugly to the Eyes, Good for the Body

Chaga mushrooms have been used as a medication to enhance immunity and improve overall health in Siberia and other regions of Asia. The Chaga mushroom, despite its ugly appearance, is gaining popularity in the Western world due to its possible health advantages.

What does it Look like?

The Chaga mushroom can be mistaken for a clump of soil or a charred part of a tree because it looks like charred tree bark or dirt and a person can only differentiate it via its nutrient-rich, rusty, yellowish-brown insides which can only be observed if examined closely.

This is because it creates a woody growth, or conk, that resembles a clump of burned charcoal and is 10–15 inches (25–38 cm) in diameter. The interior, however, displays a velvety, orange-coloured core.

Chaga mushroom (Inonotus obliquus) grows mostly on the bark of birch trees. In frigid areas such as Northern Europe, Siberia, Russia, Korea, Northern Canada, and Alaska.

It is also known as a black mass, clinker polypore, birch canker polypore, cinder conk, and sterile conk trunk rot.

Benefits of Chaga Mushroom:

Cancer Prevention and Treatment Health Benefits

Several studies have indicated that Chaga contains compounds that can help prevent cancer and reduce tumour growth. A hot water extract of the Chaga mushroom was found to suppress the growth and induce the death of colon cancer cells in one investigation.

According to another study, Chaga mushrooms may aid in the creation of anticancer medications. Despite the hopeful outcomes of these experiments, more human research is needed to determine the efficacy of utilising Chaga to treat or prevent cancer.

Immune System Booster

Chaga mushrooms contain beta-D-glucans, which help to balance your immune system. This means they can boost your immune system when you're sick.

Inflammation Reduction

Chaga mushrooms help in regulating cytokine production that helps in controlling inflammation. Betulinic acid, Inotodial, and Ergosterol peroxide are compounds in Chaga that help reduce inflammation by inhibiting the production of cytokines

Decreasing the Oxidative Stress

Physical symptoms of ageing, such as wrinkles, drooping skin, and grey hair, are caused by oxidative stress. Sun exposure, pollution, and other sources of damage produce too many free radicals for the body to neutralise, speeding up the skin's ageing process. Although no evidence has been found of Chaga’s effect on slowing the ageing process its effectiveness in fighting other forms of oxidative stress suggests that it could also fight ageing.

Lowering Cholesterol

Many antioxidants in Chaga mushrooms may help to lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) because high cholesterol is a major risk factor for heart disease, Chaga mushrooms also increase high-density lipoproteins (HDL) hence making it beneficial in the battle against heart disease.