Birch mushroom, or chaga - (Fungus betulinus) - belongs to the family Hymenochetes (Tinder) -Hymenochaetaceae (Polyparaceae), class Fungi (Mushrooms).

After cutting the chaga, the pieces are dried in dryers or ovens at a temperature not exceeding 60°C.
Store chaga in a dry, well-ventilated area. In the warehouse - in bags, in the pharmacy - in boxes. Damp chaga quickly becomes moldy. The shelf life of raw materials is 2 years.

Chaga properties

Due to its unique set of chemical compounds, chaga is a very effective biological stimulant that has a positive effect on metabolic processes, the nervous system and the body's immune responses. Chaga contains water-soluble chromogens - derivatives of phenolic aldehydes, polyphenols, hydroxyphenolcarboxylic acids and their quinones, as well as humic chaga acid (up to 60%), polysaccharides (6-8%), lignin, fiber, steroid, pterin compounds, organic acids (in including oxalic up to 4.5%), triterpene acids, free phenols, salts of silicon, iron, aluminum, calcium, magnesium, sodium, zinc, copper, manganese, many potassium salts.

The use of chaga

Chaga increases the protective reactions of the body in the experiment, activates the metabolism in the brain tissue, which is manifested by an increase in the bioelectrical activity of the cerebral cortex. It acts anti-inflammatory when applied internally and topically.
Chaga is used as a tonic and anti-inflammatory agent for diseases. gastrointestinal tract and as a symptomatic remedy for tumors of various localization (in experimental studies, chaga retards the growth of some tumors).
A decoction of the mushroom reduces arterial and venous pressure, slows down the pulse.
A decoction of a birch fungus at a dilution of 1:5 has a hypoglycemic effect: the maximum decrease in the level of glucose in the blood serum is observed 1.5-3 hours after ingestion of the decoction. The sugar level drops by 15.8-29.9%. It is noted that a decoction from the inner part of the fungus gives a hypoglycemic effect, a decoction from the bark of the fungus does not have this property.

Chaga treatment

Chaga tincture

The preparation of chaga tincture is as follows: the mushroom is washed with water, then soaked in boiled water so that the body of the fungus is immersed in water, and infused for 4-5 hours. The mushroom is ground, the water in which the mushroom was soaked is used for infusion. One part of the chopped mushroom is poured with 5 parts (by volume) of water remaining after soaking the mushroom, heated to 50°C. Infuse for 48 hours, drain the water, squeeze out the sediment through several layers of gauze. Water is added to the resulting liquid to the original volume. The infusion can be stored for 3-4 days. The infusion is used for gastritis. Chaga infusion is prescribed for patients with gastric ulcer and duodenum 1 tablespoon 3 times a day 30 minutes before meals.
Chaga quickly relieves pain and dyspepsia, normalizes bowel function, and improves overall tone. The positive effect of chaga on patients with gastrointestinal diseases is confirmed by X-ray data.
For tumors, an infusion of chaga is prescribed for adults at least 3 glasses a day in fractional portions. For tumors of the small pelvis, in addition to oral administration, medicinal microclysters (50-100 ml) are prescribed at night.
In otolaryngological practice, an infusion of chaga is used as an adjuvant for tumors of the larynx in the form of inhalations for 5-6 minutes daily for 10 days. Treatment with chaga improves the general condition of patients, eliminates swallowing disorders, reduces hoarseness, improves breathing, reduces the accompanying inflammatory process, providing an opportunity to review the tumor for biopsy and choose the method of further treatment. Chaga preparations are used in dentistry for the treatment of periodontal disease (introduced into the gum pockets, taken orally).

Befungin

The medical industry produces a thick extract of chaga befungin (Befunginum). It has a positive effect on metabolic processes, promotes scarring of stomach or duodenal ulcers. The drug is also used for chronic gastritis and dyskinesia of the gastrointestinal tract with symptoms of atony. Befungin is prescribed orally; 3 teaspoons of the extract are diluted in 150 ml of warm water and taken 1 tablespoon 3 times a day 30 minutes before meals. The daily dose of chaga extract is 3.3-3.5 g. Treatment with chaga preparations is carried out in courses of 3-5 months with breaks of 7-10 days. Chaga preparations are non-toxic.
Chaga tablets are also available. Take them 1 tab. 4 times a day 30 minutes before meals.
Chaga tablets, befungin are used for psoriasis, eczema and other skin diseases, the treatment is especially effective in cases of skin disease combined with various inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, liver, biliary system.

Chaga - contraindications

Contraindications to the use of chaga are chronic colitis and chronic dysentery.
With prolonged continuous use of chaga, sometimes there may be an increased excitability of the autonomic nervous system, which disappears after discontinuation of the drug or with a decrease in its dose.
When treating with chaga, the use of penicillin, which is its antagonist, and intravenous administration of glucose are contraindicated. It is recommended to adhere to a dairy-vegetable diet and exclude sausages, smoked meats, canned food, spicy seasonings from the diet, limit animal fats, meat products, do not consume alcoholic drinks and don't smoke.

Chaga medicinal

Chaga, or birch fungus (Inonotus obbiguus Pil.) is a sterile, barren form of beveled tinder fungus (sometimes the spelling "beveled" is found). Widely distributed throughout the temperate zone of Russia. Lives 10-15 years, represents outgrowths, rounded or elongated tuberous-fissured irregular shape, from 5 to 40 cm in diameter, dark brown or almost black, without shine; most resembling pieces of brown coal. Over the years, the growth of chaga increases and increases, sometimes reaching 3-5 kg ​​of weight (photo 1). Its fabrics consist of three layers. The color of their pulp, the closer to the center, the lighter it becomes. The outer layer is dark brown or almost black, the hardest.

In a medical sense, it is he who is most valuable. Medium - brownish, dense, granular. Internal - reddish with whitish spots of mycelium, the most loose. When harvesting chaga, it is usually removed as of little value. The owner of medicinal chaga (the photographs show young specimens of the fungus) are downy birch (photo 2) and warty birch, synonyms are drooping, weeping (photo 3).

Chaga also grows on mountain ash, alder, willow, oak, hornbeam and some other forest tree species. But it is only curative that grows on a birch, and it is necessarily harvested from a living tree. Chaga growths from dead trees are no longer suitable for treatment. They lose their healing power and begin to collapse themselves, like this old huge chaga shown in photo 4. Chaga affects mainly mature trees, it is rare on young ones.

The spores of the fungus penetrate into the tissues of the tree through various wounds of the bark, which is clearly seen in photo 5 - the infection occurred through a broken knot, on which the chaga growth began to grow. And inside the trunk, starting from the site of infection with spores, the hyphae of the fungus, growing, form a white central stem rot. And only after the death of the tree, on the side of the trunk opposite from the chaga, does the fruiting body of the fungus appear; but the latter has no medicinal properties, therefore it is of no interest for harvesting.

Chaga can be harvested at any time of the year, but more often it is done in autumn, winter and spring; simply because in a leafless plantation it is easier to notice it on a tree. It is too hard to cut with a knife. From a height of up to two meters, it is usually cut down with an ax. A few years after that, if the chaga is not too old and the tree is not too weakened, the growth can develop and grow back and be harvested again.

Felling a tree to get chaga from a greater height is irrational and quite laborious. For harvesting growths located at a height above 2 m, it is easier to use a fork for trimming branches; invention No. 967389, which is described on the site Gardens of Siberia, page "Starostin", in the article - "Fork for trimming branches and branches". Such forks are available in many urban landscaping farms, where they are used to care for the crown of trees in gardens and parks. They did not go on free sale, but it is easy to make such a fork yourself. With its help, you can get outgrowths of the fungus from a height of up to 10 meters or more in a matter of seconds. The loose light-colored inner part of the harvested mushrooms is removed, after which it is crushed into pieces and dried at a temperature of + 50 ... 60 °.

Chaga contains: humic chagic acid (up to 60%), polysaccharides (6-8%), steroid and pteroid compounds, phenols, lignin, fiber. In addition, it contains various organic acids: oxalic (up to 4.5%), formic, acetic, butyric, vanillic, paraxybenzoic, oblique, inonotic, trithenic and others. There are many organic compounds in it that contain trace elements necessary for the human body: silicon, iron, aluminum, calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, zinc, copper, manganese. The main active substances in chaga are chromogens, which are formed from phenolic aldehydes. The pterins contained in them are the main therapeutic substances that act on various tumors, incl. cancerous.

In general, chaga acts as a biostimulant that improves metabolic processes. It soothes pain, improves well-being; in initial stage The development of the disease can delay the development of the tumor, but it does not completely cure the cancer. It has a mild laxative effect. It is also used in the treatment of gastritis, stomach ulcers, polyposis, precancerous diseases, and certain types of tumors. Its properties are folk medicine known for a very long time, since the reign of Vladimir Monomakh. The drug befungin is also produced from it. Chaga improves the well-being of cancer patients, has a stimulating effect on a weakened body. It is used in the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases, peptic ulcer, gastritis, for the prevention and treatment of tuberculosis; calms the nervous system, increases efficiency. In Korea, chaga from yellow birch (a Far Eastern type of birch) is valued above ginseng. When treating with chaga, a milk-vegetable diet should be observed, limiting the consumption of meat, fats, and completely excluding smoked meats, canned food, and sausages. Chaga is non-toxic, there are no contraindications for its use.

It is also used as an excellent healthy and tasty substitute for tea brewing. In this capacity, I met her as a student, when in practice, in the forest, we brewed her instead of tea (using a similar technology). Both in taste and color, brewed, it is very reminiscent of tea - the taste is slightly astringent, tart, pleasant. And later, on scientific expeditions, I had to use it many times instead of tea. I still drink it at least once a day. Invigorates, regulates the gastrointestinal tract, has a tonic effect on the entire body. And tasty and very useful. And most importantly - perfectly restores strength.

Medicinal infusion of chaga is prepared as follows. Pieces of the dried mushroom are soaked in water for 4-5 hours. As a result, they become soft and easily crushed in one way or another (on a grater, knife, meat grinder, etc.). The crushed mushroom is poured with the same water in which it was soaked (1: 5) and heated to 50 ° C (not higher), then infused for 48 hours, most conveniently in a thermos, filtered, squeezed. The resulting thick extract can be stored for 3-4 days. Before use, it is diluted twice. Take it for tumors, anacid gastritis, as a general tonic, 3 cups a day 30 minutes before meals. Infusion of chaga is non-toxic, has an original pleasant taste, but during treatment they cannot be administered intravenously with glucose and take penicillin. For gastritis with low acidity, 1 tablespoon of chaga powder is poured into 1 glass of water heated to 50 ° C, insisted for 6 hours (preferably in a thermos), filtered, taken 30 minutes before meals, 1/3 cup. Course - 5-6 months.

Of course, the stocks of chaga in our forests, as a result of intensive collection, have noticeably decreased, especially at heights up to two meters, but, nevertheless, it can often be found. And at a height of two to eight meters, even often. And those who do not have the opportunity to buy it in a pharmacy, if they wish, can provide themselves with this medicine themselves. Remember that chaga is separated from the trunk with great difficulty, so a knife is not suitable for harvesting it, you need an ax or a fork to trim the branches. There are simply no other tinder fungi similar to chaga in the forest, the rest are all “hoofed” - of which birch sponge is most often found on birch trees (photo 6).

Yes, and you can’t get poisoned by tinder fungi either. They are inedible, but not poisonous, many are even medicinal, for example, the same birch sponge, and some others.

Birch burls (photo 7), sometimes appearing on birch trunks, are serrated outgrowths of wood covered with bark, they also do not look like chaga, they cannot be confused with it. Therefore, collect chaga boldly.

But it is impossible to cultivate it artificially, not only has the process of infection of birches with spores of this fungus not yet been developed, but the cultivation of chaga will take too long - one to two decades.

The tinder fungus is known under the names, chaga, beveled tinder fungus. Chaga has long been used as a remedy for gastrointestinal diseases, it is also used in the treatment of gastritis, stomach ulcers, precancerous diseases and some forms of malignant tumors.

Useful properties and application

Tinder fungus is used in the form of a semi-thick extract (befungin), infusion or tablets (BIN-chaga). Birch fungus increases the protective reactions of the body, activates the metabolism in the brain tissue, while an increase in the bioelectric activity of the cerebral cortex is manifested, with internal use and local anti-inflammatory effect.

The tinder fungus contains many biologically active and mineral substances that help our body resist or even get rid of many diseases. These are silicon, iron, aluminum, calcium, magnesium, sodium, zinc, copper, manganese, many potassium salts, water-soluble derivatives of phenolic aldehydes, polyphenols, polysaccharides, lignin, organic acids, etc.

When treating with chaga and its preparations, of course, you must first consult with your doctor.

Where to look for chaga

The fungus grows on the trunks of old birch trees and looks like black, sometimes very large (up to 50 cm in diameter and 20 cm high) cap-shaped dense, black growths on top, which are called chaga. Their inner part is dark brown or brown, granular, closer to the wood - reddish-brown loose with white streaks, consisting of colorless hyphae penetrating deep into the wood.

Birch is infected with tinder fungus spores, which fall on the tree in places of fresh damage to the trunks, germinate and form a mycelium. The mycelium penetrates the wood and gradually destroys it. A growth is formed, the mass of which by the age of 15 can reach 5 kg. Chaga is rarely found on young plants. Sometimes the fungus develops on alder, mountain ash, maple, beech, elm. However, such a tinder fungus is not suitable for medicinal purposes.

The best time to collect

The collection of chaga is carried out all year round, but raw materials taken in autumn and early spring have greater medicinal activity. Over many years of research, we have become convinced that it is best to start collecting chaga after leaf fall and continue throughout the winter, when it is clearly visible on tree trunks. The growths are cut down with an ax or sawed off with a hacksaw.

Processing of harvested raw materials

Raw materials are used freshly harvested or dried. From dried trees and the lower part of the trunk, growths should not be collected, since this raw material is inactive. Remove from the fruiting bodies not only the top layer covered with cracks, with ingrown parts of birch, but also the loose inner, light brown. Harvest a dense middle part of the growths. Then it is cut into pieces no larger than 10 cm in diameter.

The raw materials are dried in well-ventilated rooms or in a heat dryer at a temperature of 50-60 0 . Raw chaga can become moldy. Shelf life - no more than 2 years.

Chaga is a birch black fungus belonging to the tinder family, which forms as a growth on birch trunks. The extract of this fungus - bifungin, is used to treat certain diseases of the stomach and intestines, as a general tonic, as well as a symptomatic remedy that improves the condition of patients suffering from malignant tumors.

The history of the use of birch chaga as a medical preparation goes far back into the depths of centuries. One of the first mentions of him is found in the writings of Avicenna. And the Russian prince Vladimir Monomakh was also cured with the preparation of chaga, and there are records of this in the Russian chronicles of the 11th century. Chaga preparations are also described in Russian herbalists of the 17th and 18th centuries, they received a lot of attention and it seemed that this drug cures a lot of diseases. Nowadays, they also do not forget about it, and this drug is used both in traditional and official medicine.

It is used for a wide variety of diseases. First of all, these are gastritis and various diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. In addition, this drug is an excellent stimulant tonic. The most famous use of birch chaga is in the field of oncology. It is even believed that chaga preparations can almost completely cure individual cancers.

Birch chaga is a sterile, that is, barren form of the fungus, which is called the beveled polypore fungus (Inonotus obliquus). By itself, it has a rather irregular shape, which can be close to a ball or elongated. The surface of the fungus is dark (almost black) and heavily cracked; moreover, the larger the growth itself, the more it will crack. To the touch, the surface of the chaga is moist and quite soft, like a sponge. When separated from the tree, it is clearly seen that the inner part of the mushroom is dark brown in color, and closer to the trunk it has a predominantly red color. On a fresh cut, white threads - hyphae - are very clearly visible. The size of the build-up itself can be quite significant, and reach a diameter of 40 cm, and its weight can reach 3-5 kg.

Since chaga is found most often on birch trees, its distribution area is associated with this plant, and will not go beyond it. Chaga is found in mixed and deciduous forests with a predominance or rather large percentage of birch. And by the way, only in those places where the neighborhood of trees will be quite dense. This is probably due to the way the spores of this fungus spread. In addition to birch, chaga can also be found on other trees: aspen, alder, mountain ash. Sometimes it is also found on the surface of a beech. But in medicine, only the chaga that grows on the birch itself is used. It should also be noted that in the highland forests, even if there is a significant amount of birch, chaga is not found. This is probably due to the peculiarities of the climate and the amount of moisture that these plants receive.

For a long time, official medicine did not recognize chaga as a medical preparation. This was due to the fact that they could not find those substances that have a positive effect in the body. But in the 1970s medical institute named after Pavlov conducted detailed studies of this fungus and found that it contains a huge amount of substances that improve the redox processes in the cells and tissues of our body. In addition, the chaga contains up to 12% of ash substances, which contain such chemical elements, as oxides of aluminum, iron, calcium, copper, zinc, potassium, manganese, which are macro- and microelements necessary for our body. Chaga also contains a significant amount of various acids. This is formic, and oxalic, and acetic acid. This also includes carboxylic acids, humic acids and various polysaccharides.

Collection and preparation of birch chaga

It was from the very time that the medical properties of this fungus were substantiated that the industrial harvesting of chaga began throughout the country. By 1975, their volumes reached 500 tons in one year - this is an extremely large amount. Chaga was sold in pharmacies in the form of tinctures, extracts and in various forms, as medicinal herbs are sold today. In principle, preparations from chaga in the pharmacy chain are quite common and you can buy dried chaga, and it is possible to combine business with pleasure and, walking through a birch forest, prepare it yourself. It is possible to do this in any season of the year, but as a rule, chaga is harvested in spring, winter or autumn - at a time when there is no foliage on the trees and then this fungus is quite noticeable. Because it adjoins the trunk tightly enough, you can separate it with a good knife, or it is best to take an ax with you.

The mushroom is separated from the trunk. The part that adjoined the tree is cleaned a little so that as few wood cells as possible get into the composition of your future medicine. And already at home it can be prepared as follows. To begin with, the mushroom is cut into small pieces (cubes, strips) no larger than 3 - 5 cm in size and dried on a flat surface at a temperature not exceeding 50 - 60 ° C. This can be done both in the dryer and in the oven with good ventilation, or you can just do it naturally, but it will take a lot of time. The mushroom dried in this way is stored in a glass, tightly closed container for no more than two years and it would be good to do this in a place protected from light.

It should also be noted that the collection of chaga is best done as far as possible from the soil surface. The higher the mushroom is on the trunk, the more useful elements it will contain. You also need to remember that only chaga collected from birch has healing properties. Never take chaga that grows on other trees. And you can not cut this mushroom from the trees of the dead, fallen or withered. We must also remember that the appearance of this mushroom is very characteristic, and it cannot be confused with any other mushrooms.

For example, a tinder fungus always has a relatively flat shape and on its lower side there will be pores in which spores are located, in other words, the same cells with which this fungus reproduces. Tinder fungi are not used in medicine.

Cooking and useful properties of chaga

At home, decoctions, infusions, teas or alcohol tinctures are usually prepared from chaga. You can prepare an alcoholic tincture of birch chaga yourself with 70% alcohol, or you can buy a drug called ‘Befungin’ at a pharmacy. This is an alcohol tincture with the addition of cobalt salts, which improves the properties of this drug.

Alcohol tincture, purchased at a pharmacy or prepared independently, is used as follows: 3 teaspoons of tincture, diluted with 150 milliliters of warm boiled water and drunk one tablespoon three times a day half an hour before meals.

This tool improves the general condition of the body, it is effective in chronic gastritis, it is used to normalize the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, and is also used to improve the general condition of cancer patients. Chaga tea or infusion is much more pleasant in terms of taste, especially since it can be prepared at any time from a dried mushroom and drunk freshly brewed.

An infusion or tea can also be prepared from fresh chaga, but as a rule, we still have a dried mushroom at our disposal. In this case, before using it, chaga should be soaked in warm boiled water for a couple of hours. Usually 4-5 hours is enough. In this case, the mushroom will be saturated with water and it can be crushed. You can grind it with a knife, but some experts recommend using a meat grinder or grater for this.

Crushed chaga is best brewed in a ceramic teapot or porcelain bowl. Brew it at the rate of: 1 part of the fungus to 5 parts of water. Chaga is poured hot water, the temperature of which should not exceed 60 - 70 ° C and let it brew for a couple of hours. In principle, it is advised to infuse chaga for 24-48 hours - this is for making an infusion, but you can also drink it in the form of tea. To do this, the chaga must stand like this for a couple of minutes (10 - 20 minutes). After that, it can already be used. It is forbidden to pour out the water left from soaking the chaga - this is an extremely valuable infusion, which is also used for medicinal purposes.

It would be nice to strain the resulting infusion through several layers of gauze, then it will be more transparent and simply pleasing to the eye. Then it is diluted with the same water in which the chaga was soaked. The infusion is quite beautiful, dark in color. The taste of the infusion is slightly sweet and resembles weakly brewed tea. The longer you steep the chaga, the richer the taste will be.

Chaga tea is used as a tonic and tonic and is drunk like regular tea. But the infusion, which was prepared for 48 hours, is used a little differently. It is drunk 1 cup three to four times a day half an hour before meals. In addition, you need to remember that the infusion is suitable for four days. After this time, it can no longer be used. The course of treatment with chaga lasts quite a long time and is usually 5-7 months. After that, a short break of a week or ten days is made and the treatment is resumed.

Infusion of chaga is used for a very wide range of diseases. These are diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, and oncological diseases, and different kinds insomnia. In addition, chaga infusion is also used as a general tonic after serious illnesses and surgical interventions.

People suffering from diseases associated with fluid retention in the body can use double-strength chaga infusion. In this case, not one, but two parts of the mushroom is taken in five parts of water. Otherwise, the infusion is prepared in exactly the same way and used in the same volumes.

Another way to use this amazing mushroom is chaga gruel. To do this, chaga is crushed and poured with a very small amount of hot water, this infusion is allowed to stand for some time, after which it is cooled and applied to sore spots. Apply gruel for eczema, frostbite, insect bites, burns and various skin lesions.

Contraindications to the use of chaga

When applying any medicines no matter how harmless they may seem, there are always contraindications, they also exist for chaga. For example, chaga preparations are categorically contraindicated for people suffering from chronic colitis or chronic dysentery. If your disease is associated with fluid retention in the body, then this drug should also be used with great care. You also need to remember that any medication, especially if your disease is quite serious, should be used exclusively under the supervision of your doctor.

It is important to remember that when using many drugs, diet is of great importance, this is also typical when using preparations based on birch chaga. For example, if you are taking a course of treatment with chaga, then you need to include as many lactic acid products as possible in your diet and, conversely, exclude fried and smoked foods. And it is also necessary to add that there are substances that are called ‘antagonists’, that is, substances that greatly reduce or practically nullify the actions of each other.

The antagonist substance in the application of chaga preparations is penicillin. That is, any means that contain penicillin or its derivatives, and most often these are some kind of antibiotics, will negate any therapeutic effect that preparations made on the basis of this wonderful fungus produce.

If during the period of treatment with birch chaga preparations a situation arises when it is necessary to administer glucose intravenously into the body, it must be remembered that in this case the effectiveness of chaga treatment will be greatly reduced. Of course, there will be no particular harm when using chaga preparations, but the effect will be almost zero.

The administration is not responsible for the consequences caused by the use of information published on the site.

If you happened to go on a hike in the forest, then you probably heard, and maybe even tried chaga tea. It’s worth saying right away that the chaga mushroom belongs to the species of beveled tinder fungus. It is called birch because, like oyster mushroom, it mainly grows on tree trunks, namely birches.

Sometimes it can be found on mountain ash, beeches, maples, etc. However, only chaga growing on birch trees is used for food, or more precisely, for making medicinal tea, which is very important to remember and know.

Identifying chaga in the wild is very simple. As already mentioned, it grows only on birches that were infected as a result of its spores getting into damaged areas of the bark. It is a growth of black resinous color. As you can see in the photo below, the chaga mushroom somewhat resembles a burnt area of ​​wood, since the formations and growths are completely covered with small cracks. If the upper layer of the fungus is cut off, then under the black surface you can find brown flesh, which becomes orange closer to the trunk.

Chaga birch. Application and medicinal properties

In camping conditions, chaga mushroom is often used by foresters and tourists as a raw material for making tonic tea. In addition, he, like moss reindeer moss, acts as a serious biogenic stimulant, increasing the immunity and protective functions of the human body. Chaga mushroom is useful for high mental stress, as it can stimulate the metabolism in brain tissues.

The medicinal properties of the chaga mushroom are also manifested in relation to the cardiovascular system. Often it is used for various problems of the respiratory tract and skin diseases.

The chemical composition of the chaga mushroom is currently little studied, but its use as an antimicrobial and antiseptic agent is confirmed by traditional medicine. These properties are largely due to the high content of manganese. In addition, chaga contains a number of organic acids, including formic, oxalic, triterpenic (stimulating the process of cell renewal), acetic and others.

Video. Chaga and its properties

However, like most other herbal preparations, it is necessary to use chaga mushroom in the treatment of various diseases with a certain degree of care. So, for example, it is categorically impossible to use chaga growing within the city, as well as near it. The fact is that this mushroom, like champignons, tends to accumulate radioactive substances in itself, which will absolutely not be useful.

If you have the opportunity to go deep into the forest, you can collect chaga yourself. This is done most often in the fall, but in fact, you can collect chaga regardless of the time of year. Harvested with a knife, cutting the chaga into pieces. If the mushroom is quite large, you can remove it from the tree with a small ax. For the preparation of tea or medicinal infusions, only the dark part of the chaga is used, separating the soft light part from it. After harvesting, the mushroom is crushed and dried in an oven at a temperature of no more than 60 degrees Celsius.

In the event that it is difficult to prepare the mushroom yourself, you can buy chaga in pharmacies, where it is already ready for use.

How to brew and take chaga

First of all, it is worth saying that if you boil and boil chaga, it will lose a significant proportion of its properties, and therefore not boiling water is used for brewing, but hot water of about 50 degrees Celsius. If the mushroom is fresh, it can be brewed immediately, if it is dried, then first it is soaked in table water at room temperature. After five or six hours, the mushroom is squeezed out of the water and then cut into small pieces. For brewing, you can heat fresh water, or use the one in which it was soaked.

The mushroom is poured with water in a ratio of one to five, and placed in the refrigerator for about two days. Next, the infusion is filtered. You can store it and use it as a tonic drink for four days, if stored in the refrigerator.

On the other hand, chaga can be brewed like ordinary tea in field conditions, and since in this case boiling water is used, which weakens its effect on the human body, there are no special contraindications for this. The brewing proportions are similar to the dosage of ordinary black tea, while the mushroom is boiled for ten minutes, and then removed from the heat and cooled slightly. By the way, when brewing tea from chaga, you can add berries or raspberry stems, St. John's wort and other herbs that you collect during a forest walk.

Contraindications

In general, the negative impact of chaga on human health is quite rare. This includes individual intolerance and diseases of the nervous system. Therefore, before using it as a medicine, it is better to ask your doctor for advice. Pregnant and lactating women need to be careful about chaga.