Discover the potential chaga benefits that are making this unique mushroom a health trend. From lowering blood sugar to anti-inflammatory effects, learn how chaga might enhance your wellness routine. Explore its uses and risks.
Chaga mushrooms are having a serious revival thanks to trendy mushroom coffees and teas.
Though you might mistake it for a giant rotten potato instead of your typical toad stool, folks have used chaga mushrooms for centuries thanks to its health benefits.
Let’s dive into the benefits — and potential complications — of adding this fungi to the menu.
What are the benefits of chaga mushrooms?
There’s a few reasons why you might want to give chaga a try. Studies show chaga mushrooms may offer benefits that could:
What are chaga mushrooms?
Chagamushrooms(akaInonotus obliquus) are native to colder climates in China, Korea, Russia, Japan, and the Baltics. To get your hands on one of thesemushrooms, you’ll need to live near birch trees — which is the only tree on which this grubby shroom grows.
The fungi looks like a 10- to 15-inch burnt clump with a soft orange core and was traditionally grated down andbrewed as a tea.
Today chaga is still used in manyalternative medicinelineups. You’ll find the shroom in tea, powdered coffee mixes, and other powder or capsule supplements.
Health benefits of chaga mushrooms
Chaga fans will tell you these mushrooms are prized for their medicinal properties (and can even make a tasty cup oftea). But here’s what science has to say about chaga’s potential health benefits.
1. Nutrition
We’ll be honest, it’s hard to find reliable info on chaga mushroom nutrition. But like othermushrooms, these organisms are believed to offervitamins, minerals, and other nutrients like:
2. Antiviral activity
Chaga mushrooms may possess virus-fighting fungal superpowers.
A2011 studyfound chaga had antiviral effects onhepatitis C-infected kidney cells in pigs. Basically they found chaga may have even stopped viral particle production, meaning hep C couldn’t replicate as efficiently.
In a2017 study, researchers evaluated a boatload of therapeutic mushrooms, including chaga. They noted that in studies of cats, chaga had antiviral effects against viral diseases likeherpes,flu, and stomach infections.
Another2011 studyfound chaga extract altered immune responses in mice.
Obviously you’re not a cat or mouse, so we need more research to show how chaga’s antiviral benefits helps humans. Still, evidence of chaga’s antiviral capabilities looks promising.
3. Anti-inflammatory effects
Chaga mushrooms may also helpboost your immune systemand reduce symptoms of inflammation brought on by immune responses.
A 2020 reviewshows that chaga decreases the release of inflammatory cytokines. Basically cytokines help signal yourimmune systemto fight foreign pathogens. But too much of a good thing can lead to inflammation.
The same review also found chaga may reduce the release of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) — two substances that play an important role in your body’s inflammatory processes.
Scientists noted in a2019 animal studythat chaga extract may also reduce the inflammation associated withinflammatory bowel disease (IBD). But, we need more human studies before we can recommend using chaga to help with IBD.
4. Anti-tumor potential
Canceris theleading causeof death globally, and the search for effective treatments is ongoing. That includes chaga mushrooms since some research suggests the shroom may haveanti-tumor effects.
Animal studies also show promising results for chaga mushrooms. One2016 studyfound feeding mice chaga mushroom extract reduced tumors by 60 percent and the number of metastases — tumors that have spread from the original site — by 25 percent.
In an older2009 studyon cancer cells, researchers found that compounds from chaga caused cancer cells to self-destruct. And chaga doesn’t seemto harm healthy cells, unlike cancer treatments like chemotherapy.
But it’s important to note studies in humans on chaga mushrooms and cancer are lacking. And, these fungi aren’t a replacement for traditional cancer treatments.
5. Lowering cholesterol
Chaga mushrooms have tons ofantioxidantsconcealed in their crusty, dusty exterior that might just reduce low-density lipoprotein (LDL)cholesterol— the “bad” one.
Research is limited, but a2009 studyin rats found the antioxidants in chaga helpedlower LDL cholesterol, total cholesterol (TC), and triglycerides (TG).
Sincehigh cholesterolremains a significant risk factor for heart disease, chaga mushrooms may helpheart health, but we need more human studies to prove this.
6. More graceful aging process
Before you stock up onretinol cream, have you considered you new skin care secret could be fungus? Chaga mushrooms may help ease your skin along the aging process thanks to its antioxidants.
Antioxidants can neutralizefree radicalsin your body that ramp up oxidative stress and cause those typical signs of aging, likewrinklesand sagging skin. Becauseantioxidantshelp protect your cells and tissues from damage, chaga mushrooms might help slow these signs of aging. Key word: might.
For now it’s only theoretical that your friend chaga can help these signs of aging and stress. There’s been no research specifically looking at chaga and anti-aging effects.
7. Lowering blood sugar
Could mushrooms help your sugar probs? We still need more human research, but lab results show chaga mushrooms may be able to help people manage symptoms ofdiabetes.
In a2014 lab study, chaga had more potentalpha-glucosidase inhibitoryactivities compared to acarbose (a medication used to treattype 2 diabetes). In nonmedical speak, that means chaga helped restrain the small intestine from absorbing carbohydrates.
Additionally, anolder 2006 studyfound obese, diabetic rats hadlower blood sugarafter 8 weeks of eating chaga mushrooms.
But while chaga may helpdiabetes symptomsin the lab, they may alter howdiabetesmedications work in the real world. Since we don’t know for sure how chaga effects peeps with diabetes IRL, verify you consult your doctor before using chaga. Not every mushroom works magic for your body!
Chaga side effects and risks
If all these potential benefits have you prepping to forage in the woods, remember that many of these effects haven’t been totally proven in humans.
And as with any substance you’re introducing into your body, chaga has the potential to cause side effects. Plus, thismedicinal fungusmay influence the way other medications work. Be careful if you decide to use chaga and have a chat with your doctor first, especially if you’re taking any other medication.
Here are a few potential complications from chaga mushrooms.
Use with diabetes medications
Chaga mayincrease the effectsof insulin or meds that help lower blood sugar levels, like alpha-glucosidase inhibitors (acarbose and miglitol). This can be a big problem.
Combining chaga and these medications may increase the blood sugar-lowering effects and increase your risk ofhypoglycemia(aka low blood sugar).
Make sure you check with your doc first, or skip the chaga altogether, if you’re managing diabetes with these medications.
Kidney problems
Chaga mushroom’s have a high oxalate content, which can potentially damage kidneys if you overdo it.
In a2020 report, a man using chaga for 5 years experienced nausea and vomiting. A trip to the ER later diagnosed him with end-stage renal disease.
Another individualtook 5 teaspoons of chaga daily as a cancer treatment and she developed renal issues. Doctors diagnosed her with renal failure, likely due to the chaga mushrooms.
These complications still require more research beyond reported anecdotal events. But it’s best to not don’t overdo it and risk kidney issues.
Use with anticoagulant drugs
Some evidencesuggests that chaga mushrooms can prevent blood clotting, meaning they may enhance the effects of blood thinners (aka anticoagulants).
If you’re taking these medications (including warfarin, heparin, and aspirin) it’s best to avoid chaga or talk with your doctor first so you don’t risk potentially dangerous complications.
How to brew your own chaga tea
If you’ve checked with your doctor and get the A-OK to add chaga to your daily routine, you’re able to buy chaga tea or capsules. But if you’re in the adventurous mood, you can forage for your own ugly fungus andbrew it yourself— providing you live near some birch trees.
Hot tip: You’ll probably have a tough time finding these shrooms in the wild, but try checking the trees in winter. (And obviously made sure you know what you’re doing before picking and eating wild mushrooms.)
Here’s how to brew it once you’ve got your hands on a chaga:
If you can’t forage for your own chaga out in the wilderness, there are plenty of retailers that sell it online or in-store. You can also find it in capsule form if sipping chaga tea isn’t your thing.
Chaga mushrooms offer a bunch of potential health benefits — from nutrition to antiviral activity and anti-inflammatory powers. It may even help lower cholesterol and blood sugar.
Still, there’s lacking medical evidence that chaga is a cure-all. Chaga mushroom products are also classified as supplements, so they aren’t regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the same way as medications. Basically the manufacturer has to ensure a supplement is safe and the FDA can’t confirm it’s safe or effective.
Before you commit to chaga, you should also consider other potential risks and check with your doctor. Chaga may affect the kidneys, change how your blood clots, and interact with other medications.
