If you ’ve ever ingest a walking through the forest and thought you saw a big chunk of clay on a birch Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree , you ’ve probably seen chaga before . This highly good fungus grows specifically on birch rod mintage throughout the Northern hemisphere . It ’s been used medicinally for thousands of twelvemonth , and now you may do good from it too!In this article , I ’ll give you some hands - on tips about finding , harvesting , and processing chaga . You ’ll memorize how to identify it , how to reap it safely , and how to draw the most benefit from this awing superfood .
What is Chaga, Exactly?
Chaga(Inonotus obliquus)is a parasitic fungus found on birch(Betula)tree species . It looks like a clustering of mud or a lump of charred Natalie Wood , usually sticking out on one side of a Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree .
In sure Canadian regions , the Cree name for this fungus ispoashkanorwiskakecakomikih . It has been harvested and used medicinally and spiritually by First Nations peoples here for G of years . It ’s also been used for both purposes throughout Europe and Asia for about as long!Chaga is treasured in Russia and Siberia for its legion health welfare . In fact , Nobel prize - gain ground Russian author Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn cite this healing fungus in his semi - autobiographic bookThe Cancer Ward .
Solzhenitsyn was writing about his own experience with testicular Cancer the Crab , and in a chapter entitled “ The Cancer in the Birch Tree , ” he mention the odd - see mushroom , and how he used it to do by himself .
“ He could not guess any greater joy than to go out into the woods for months on final stage , to come apart off this Chagga , collapse it , boil it up on a campfire , drink it and get well like an animal . ”~Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn , Cancer Ward ( 1968 )
This fungus has been used to treat cancer in Russia for centuries . Interestingly , Solzhenitsyn ’s own cancer went into absolution in brief after he started taking chaga selection . There ’s ( super)food for thought!Chaga contains mellow quantities of betulinic acid , which is what gives it such potent anti - inflammatory , anti - cancer , and anti - viral property . This is why weonlyharvest Kichaga from birch rod Tree to use medicinally . Although epenthetic fungi get on other Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree species , they do n’t carry betulin .
How is This Fungus Beneficial?
Well , for one thing , it has amazing antioxidant prop . It ’s an immune - regulatingadaptogenthat ’s full of anti - rabble-rousing terpene and has sinful antioxidant properties too . If you start looking into Kichaga ’s many benefits , you ’ll find yourself down a hare hole . This fungus has been used medicinally for G of years , and late written report show that it ’s good for unnumerable wellness outcome . Many mass employ it to do by autoimmune conditions , IBS , diabetes , and arthritis to good effect . Just to name a few .
Other subject field show that not only can chaga importantly retard the increase ofseveral dissimilar type of cancer cells,[1 ] it can even cause them toself - destruct ! [ 2 ]
In addition to its astonishing antioxidant and anti - cancer properties , chaga is signally nutrient - heavy . This stuff contains a mountain range of B - complex vitamins , atomic number 29 , selenium , vitamin D , manganese , atomic number 20 , iron , Zn , K , and Mg .
As you could imagine , consuming just a bit of Kichaga day by day can significantly increase one ’s nourishing intake .
How to Identify Chaga
This fungusonlygrows in cold-blooded climates . You ’ll regain it on the aforesaid birch tree species in places like Canada , Russia , Siberia , the Scandinavian country , Alaska , and North Korea . It grows in the main on yellow and newspaper birch , which you’re able to identify easily . Chaga attend like a black , roughly textured lump sticking out the side of a birch tree . Some the great unwashed misidentify birch gnarls for this fungus , but it ’s quite well-off to differentiate between the two . The gnarls are darkish growth that tend to be unruffled on the exterior . If you cut into them , you ’ll see that they ’re attractively murmur ( ! ) inside .
In dividing line , chaga isalwaysblack and rough on the outside , and a beautiful golden hue deep down .
Chaga come in various size and shapes , but you ’ll know you ’ve got the right stuff if it search like Curcuma longa when you break through it unfastened . As an additional identifier , chaga is usually quite easy to remove from a tree . You might need some elbow grease to pry it off , but gnarls need to be hacked off with a sawing machine .
Harvesting Tips
First and foremost , only harvest chaga from living trees . It ’s a parasitic fungus , which means that when the tree die , it ’ll go bad too . You desire fresh chaga that ’s thrum with health . Although some people recommend harvesting this fungus in wintertime , I do n’t .
This is because it ’s a lot voiceless to name all in trees in wintertime . If the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree has grown leaves this year , you ’re good . you’re able to , of course , harvest it at any time of twelvemonth . Just love that if you gather it while it ’s rain down , it ’ll take longer to dry . As observe , it ’s usually fairly easy to remove chaga devoid from a tree diagram . That order , although some rare specimen will just fall off into your hands , most need a bit more … encouragement to let go .
When I go forage for chaga , I take a few crucial tools with me . by and large , these include a little tomahawk , a chisel , and a base to run these detail . The grip comes in handy for carrying my harvest home as well .
I use my tomahawk for stubborn chaga growth that are below bureau grade . This allows me to use enough strength and impulse to cut up it free . If the Chagga is higher up on the tree diagram , I ’ll practice the chisel instead . I ’ll grab a large rock music or wooden tree stump to stomach on , as well as a fist - sized stone to drive the chisel .
Then I cut into the Kichaga where it touch the tree , making small cuts as far as I can gain . That usually tease it up so I can break it off . Just ensure that you ’re not harvesting from Tree that are right next to the main road . interior cities trees are n’t smashing options either . You ’re going to use this stuff for its immensely healing , immune - enhance dimension , so do n’t reap specimen that have absorbed a long ton of urban chemicals from the zephyr and water .
Processing and Storage
Clean the chaga as shortly as you bring it home by brush it good with a dry , fresh paintbrush or toothbrush . This will get rid of any insects or detritus . Some people dispatch all the black stuff from Chagga and only use the golden internal essence medicinally . The enquiry I ’ve done imply that the black outer portion is actually the most nutritious part . It appears that this dark layer has the high-pitched antioxidant density ! I suggest doing additional enquiry to determine whether you want to expend the whole fungus in your preparation or just the inner part . Regardless of which bits you ’d care to utilise , it ’s important to break the Chagga into smaller chunks as shortly as possible . This stuff dry as hard as a sway , which make it quite difficult to expend afterwards . you could slice up it up with a knife , but I just put it into a pillowcase and smell it with a hammer a caboodle of time . # aries
Once you fall apart it into 1/2″ to 1″ chunks , position it out on newsprint in a affectionate , dry plaza and forget it there for a match of months . Turn the pieces occasionally . Some hoi polloi dry theirs in the oven or dehydrator , but I recommend the natural air - teetotal method acting .
After that , you could either store it in airtight jars or grind it into pulverisation with a coffee grinder . I wish to do a bit of both . This way , I can lend the powder to coffee berry or toss chunks into soup stock .
How to Use It
Some multitude sum up dry out chaga powder to their sunup coffee or tea leaf . Others pour it into colloidal gel capsules . you may also make a potent chaga trace .
The easiest way is to make a simple tone via the folk method acting . satisfy a jar 2/3 full of chopped dried Kichaga eccentric or chunks . Then meet the rest of the jar with high - proof alcohol . Everclear ( 100 - proof ) is ideal , but vodka is a skillful option . Keep this in a morose closet for 6 - 8 weeks , then strain into a clean shock . There ’s also a double - strength extraction method , but I ’ve never taste this one . If you ’re interested , check out thetutorial on the Birch Boys website . If you make off-white stock or other type of homemade soup lineage , try tossing some chaga chunks in there too . In fact , while you ’re at it , assay adding a bit of dried reishi and turkey tail as well . These fungi all have a short ton of health - boosting properties ! you could make every flock of soup an antioxidant - rich powerhouse just by adding a handful offoraged goodnessinto it .
The usual caveat : you might require to talk to a herbalist or your healthcare practitioner if you ’re worried about taking Kichaga . People with liver issues or autoimmune conditions may have untoward reactions to it . Oh , and if you ’re allergic to mushrooms in general , you probably wo n’t need to attempt this stuff .
Final Notes
When you ’re foraging for Chagga , look for specimens that are about the size of it of an Malus pumila . It takes chaga 4 - 6 years to acquire to that size , as this fungus grow very lento . By harvesting larger pieces , you ’ve allowed them to uprise to matureness .
Additionally , always leave a glob behind so it ’ll regrow . Advice differs on how much to get out , but I get for about 20 % . This leaves the fungus enough of a “ root ” to be able-bodied to regrow from . Not only is this more considerate and reverential for the chaga , but it ’s a bit of selfish altruism as well . If you impart it to regrow , you ’ll be able to come back in a few years and re - reap it .
I do n’t know about you , but I seek to show honor and respect whenever I glean anything from the forest . So , along with my hammer and chisel , I usually have something with me that I can apply to give something back . In springtime and summer , it ’s commonly a parcel of local wildflower germ that I can scatter . In fall , I extend nuts and dried yield for the animals to eat . If you do n’t have anything with you to extend , action solve as well . Like pull up off some creeping common ivy from killing a tree , or moving an blockage in the river , etc . Nature gives us so much , and it does n’t take much to give a little bit back in bout .
well-chosen foraging , and enjoy your good health !
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