Chaga

Chaga

Inonotus Obliquus

Chaga has a very distinctive appearance compared to other medicinal mushrooms resembling a piece of coal or a bulbus tree knot.

On The Outside

Looks like a charcoal-black, cracked mass growing out of the trunk of birch trees.

The surface is rough, hard, and resembles burnt wood or coal.

This dark crust is rich in melanin, which gives it its black color.

On The Inside

The inner part is a golden-brown to rusty orange color, softer and cork-like in texture.

When broken apart, it shows a fibrous, woody consistency.

Growth Pattern

• Appears as an irregular, lumpy growth (called a “sterile conk”) on birch trees.
• Typically grows 5–40 cm across, but in some cases can get much larger.
• Unlike many mushrooms, it doesn’t have gills or a cap, it’s more like a hardened mass of mycelium.

Chaga mushroom grows primarily on birch trees in cold northern forests (Russia, Northern Europe, Canada, Alaska). It thrives in boreal and temperate climates and can take over a decade to fully mature.

Preferred Trees

Almost always found on birch trees (especially white birch and yellow birch).

Occasionally on alder, beech, or elm, but birch is its main host.

Climate

Thrives in cold, northern climates.

Common in Russia (Siberia), Northern & Eastern Europe, Canada, Alaska, and northern parts of the USA, Korea, and Japan.

Environment

• Grows in boreal forests (taiga) and temperate forests with long, cold winters.
• Needs living trees to grow (it’s a parasitic fungus).
• Takes 10–15 years to mature before harvest.

Functional, nootropic use only.

Texture is too woody, chewy & cork like to slice & chew. Flavour is not great for culinary uses.

Origin

Chaga has been used for centuries in traditional medicine, especially in Siberia, Russia, and parts of Eastern Europe.

It is mentioned in 16th-century Russian herbal texts and was a key remedy in folk medicine for boosting strength, immunity, and longevity.

Indigenous peoples of North America also brewed it as a medicinal tea long before modern rediscovery.

Distribution

Found almost exclusively in cold, northern forests (boreal and temperate zones).

Grows mainly on birch trees, rarely on other hardwoods.

Geographic Range

• Russia & Siberia (where its use is most well-documented)
• Northern & Eastern Europe (Finland, Poland, Baltic countries)
• Asia (Korea, Japan, China)
• North America (Canada, Alaska, Northern USA)

Macronutrients & Bioactive Compounds

• Polysaccharides (Beta-glucans)

• Dietary fiber

• Proteins & Amino acids

• Lipids (fats)

• Melanin

• Triterpenoids

• Polyphenols & Flavonoids

• B-complex vitamins
• B1 (Thiamine)
• B2 (Riboflavin)
• B3 (Niacin)
• Vitamin D (in small amounts, mainly ergosterol-derived)
• Vitamin K

• Potassium (K)
• Zinc (Zn)
• Iron (Fe)
• Copper (Cu)
• Magnesium (Mg)
• Manganese (Mn)
• Selenium (Se)
• Calcium (Ca)

Chaga Extract - Potential Supplement Aid For It's Immune Supporting Properties & Overall Wellness Of The Body - Based On Scientific Trials

• Rich in beta-glucans that help balance immune function (stimulate when weak, calm when overactive).
• Supports the body’s defense against infections.

• Extremely high in antioxidants (polyphenols, melanin, superoxide dismutase).
• Helps neutralize free radicals and reduce oxidative stress.

• Triterpenes and polyphenols may reduce systemic inflammation.
• Traditionally used to ease inflammatory conditions.

• Shown to have antiviral activity (including against influenza and certain viruses in lab studies).
• Traditionally used to fight infections.

• May help lower blood sugar and improve insulin sensitivity.
• Supports healthy cholesterol levels.

• Antioxidants help protect the liver from toxins and oxidative damage.

• Fiber content supports gut microbiome.
• Traditionally used to soothe stomach ailments.

• Compounds like betulinic acid and inotodiol studied for slowing tumor growth.

• Melanin and antioxidants may protect skin from UV damage and premature aging.

• Traditionally consumed as a daily tea in Siberia for stamina, strength, and overall wellbeing.

Siberian & Russian Folk Medicine

• Used for centuries as a daily health tonic, brewed into a dark tea.
• Believed to promote strength, longevity, and immune protection.
• Traditionally given for stomach pain, ulcers, and digestive issues.

• Used by Cree, Ojibwe, and other First Nations as a tea for cleansing and vitality.
• Sometimes burned as an incense or smudge to repel insects and purify the air.
• Used as a natural fire starter because of its slow-burning properties.

• Known as the “King of Plants” in some records.
• Brewed as a restorative tea to balance energy (Qi) and strengthen resilience.

Documented in Russian herbal texts as a remedy for tumors, tuberculosis, and stomach ailments.

16th Century Russia (1518)

Mentioned in the book “Herbal of Avicenna” (a Russian adaptation of Avicenna’s medical texts).

Described as a remedy for gastric ailments and tumors.

Russian Herbal Medicine (16th–17th century)

Widely documented as a treatment for stomach pain, ulcers, and tuberculosis.

Known locally as the “Gift from God” due to its perceived healing power.

Eastern European Folk Use

In Poland and the Baltic countries, Chaga tea was a common folk remedy for cancer-like illnesses.

Khanty People of Western Siberia

Used Chaga since at least the 12th century as tea and for ritual cleansing.

Modern Scientific Record (1950s USSR)

The Soviet Union officially recognized Chaga in its state pharmacopoeia as a medicinal mushroom extract (Befungin) for digestive disorders and certain cancers.

20th Century Soviet Research (1950s–1960s)

• Soviet scientists studied Chaga for its immune-modulating and anti-cancer properties.
• Extract known as Befungin was standardized and prescribed for digestive disorders, ulcers, and as supportive care in oncology.

• Chaga gained popularity in the West as a superfood and functional mushroom.
• Promoted for its antioxidant capacity, immune benefits, and adaptogenic qualities.

• Consumed as tea, tincture, capsules, or powder.
• Featured in coffee blends, smoothies, skin products, and wellness supplements.
• Widely marketed as a natural antioxidant powerhouse for immune, metabolic, and skin health.

• Ongoing studies explore Chaga’s beta-glucans, triterpenes (betulin, inotodiol), and melanin for anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and potential anticancer effects.