Health benefits of chaga mushroom extract
Chaga mushrooms extract may be good for boosting your immune system, fighting cancer, and lowering your cholesterol. You can consume this antioxidant-loaded fungus as a tea or supplement.
Chaga mushrooms have been used for centuries in Siberia and other parts of Asia as a medicine to boost immunity and improve overall health. Though ugly in appearance, the chaga mushroom is gaining popularity in the Western world for its potential health benefits.
What’s more, a cup of tea made from chaga is packed with antioxidants. However, consumption of this special mushroom may come with some risks. This article examines the uses, benefits and potential side effects of chaga mushrooms.
What is Chaga Mushroom Powder?
Chaga, known as Inonotus obliquus, is a medicinal fungus that grows on white birch trees. It mainly grows in the northern hemisphere at 40°~50°N latitude, namely, Siberia, Far East, Northern Europe, Hokkaido, North Korea, Heilongjiang in northern China, Changbai Mountain in Jilin, etc.
Chaga mushroom extract powder is also know world wide as "the king of herbs". As a traditional medicine chaga mushroom is used for a wide variety of ailments.
Inonotus (Inonotus obliquus) showing tumor-like sclerotia (sterility lumps), the appearance of black and gray, with irregular grooves, inside yellow, sessile, diameter 25-40cm, dark colored, surfaceparted , very hard, brittle when dry, fertile part of the thick 5mm, crusty thin, dark brown; bacteria tube 3-10mm, brittle, usually the front end of the tube cracking bacteria,Round, pale white, dark brown after the change.
Chaga mushroom powder is powerful superfood that has been used for centuries in traditional medicine and is now gaining recognition in modern health and wellness industries.
Traditional Uses of Chaga Mushrooms
Chaga has a rich history of use in Siberian, Russian, Scandinavian, and Native American folk medicine. In these traditional medicine systems, chaga was believed to possess a wide range of medicinal properties. Among the indigenous peoples of Siberia, it is traditionally used to promote longevity, alleviate digestive disorders, relieve colds and respiratory infections, and has been used topically for skin conditions.
Chaga conks are typically grated into a fine powder and traditionally prepared as a tea or decoction. Today, this powder can be taken as a tea, tincture, powder, or capsule. Chaga is available on its own and as a component of medicinal mushroom blends. Mushroom blends are often sold as powders and mixed into other liquids for daily use.
Chaga's popularity has surged in recent years due to its reputation as an adaptogen and its potential role in promoting overall health and improving various medical conditions. Today, modern scientific research is drawing on traditional knowledge and investigating the many health benefits of chaga.
Chaga Mushroom Nutrients
Chaga contains a wide variety of bioactive compounds responsible for its health effects. Below are some of the key constituents found in chaga:
Polysaccharides
Chaga is rich in beta-glucans, a polysaccharide known for its immune-boosting properties. These compounds may enhance the activity of immune cells, such as macrophages and T-cells, helping the body defend against infections and diseases. Beta-glucans are also found in other medicinal mushrooms like reishi and maitake, oats, seaweed, and algae.
Antioxidants
Chaga is an excellent source of antioxidants, including phenolic compounds and flavonoids. These antioxidants help combat oxidative stress and reduce cellular damage caused by free radicals, and may increase superoxide dismutase and glutathione in the body.
Betulinic Acid
When growing on birch trees, chaga can accumulate betulinic acid from the tree. Betulinic acid has shown promising anti-inflammatory and antitumor properties in preclinical studies.
Melanin
Chaga’s dark color is due to its high melanin content. Melanin may act as an antioxidant and offer protective effects against oxidative stress. In the human body, melanin is responsible for skin pigmentation and helps block UV radiation, which can damage DNA in our skin cells, leading to skin cancer and aging. Nutrients like tyrosine and copper are important for melanin production.
Health Benefits
Chaga mushrooms began attracting attention over the past few decades due to their health benefits. Some early animal and lab studies on chaga mushrooms have shown promising results for strengthening the immune system and fighting cancer, among others. More studies and clinical trials are needed to confirm whether these potential benefits hold true for people.
Protects from Liver Damage
Chaga mushrooms may also prevent or reduce certain liver diseases. One study found that chaga extract was able to protect liver tissue from the effects of tetra-butyl hydroperoxide, a chemical known to cause liver damage. However, whether chaga extract will have the same effect in human trials is still undetermined.
The antioxidants in chaga mushrooms may also reduce oxidative stress, which fuels chronic liver diseases like non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
Supports the Immune System
Chaga mushrooms contain beta-glucans, which are naturally occurring carbohydrates that can boost your immune defense.
Other early research on mice shows that chaga extract may also help regulate the production of cytokines, which can stimulate blood cells and strengthen the immune system’s means of communication. This can help fight infections from minor colds to more serious illnesses. However, more research is needed to confirm the link between chaga mushrooms and cytokine production.
Reduces Inflammation
When the body is fighting off an illness, inflammation acts as a defense mechanism against infection. However, sometimes inflammation can damage the body or even develop into a chronic condition, such as rheumatoid arthritis, heart disease, or autoimmune diseases. Even depression may be partly linked to chronic inflammation.
According to a study on chaga mushrooms and cytokines, chaga extract can help prevent the production of harmful cytokines, reducing inflammation in the body.
Prevents Cancer
Researchers are beginning to explore the possibility that chaga mushrooms can prevent cancer or slow its growth. Chaga mushrooms are a rich source of antioxidants, which can prevent cell damage caused by free radicals or oxidative stress. Oxidative stress can cause cancer, as well as a number of other health problems.
One study found that chaga extract could slow the growth of lung, breast, and cervical cancer cells in a petri dish. The same study found that the extract can also slow the growth of tumors in mice. Another study found that triterpenes, a compound found in chaga mushrooms, can destroy tumor cells without harming healthy cells. Although these studies have found promising results, more extensive research on humans is necessary before researchers can prove the anti-cancer benefits of chaga.
Are Chaga Mushrooms Sustainable?
Overharvesting of chaga has become a concerning issue due to its growing popularity. Chaga is relatively easy to identify, so it is prone to overharvesting. This poses a significant threat to both chaga populations and the ecosystems they inhabit.
Sustainable harvesting practices are crucial to ensure the long-term availability of chaga and to protect the delicate balance of forest ecosystems. By emphasizing responsible collection methods, limiting the harvest to a sustainable level, and respecting the natural growth cycle of Chaga, we can preserve this valuable medicine for future generations.
Conclusion
Chaga mushrooms extract offer a range of health benefits, primarily due to their rich antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. While more research is needed to fully understand their potential in managing diabetes, the existing studies provide promising evidence of their protective effects against oxidative stress and inflammation. As such, Chaga mushrooms could be a valuable supplement for enhancing overall health and managing specific conditions like inflammatory bowel disease and diabetes.
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Sources:
BioMed Research International: "Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Inonotus obliquus in Colitis Induced by Dextran Sodium Sulfate."
Current Psychiatry Reports: "Is Depression an Inflammatory Disorder?"
FDA: “What You Need to Know about Dietary Supplements.”
International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms: "Hepatoprotective Activity of Water Extracts from Chaga Medicinal Mushroom, Inonotus obliquus (Higher Basidiomycetes) Against Tert-Butyl Hydroperoxide−Induced Oxidative Liver Injury in Primary Cultured Rat Hepatocytes."
Journal of Ethnopharmacology: "Inonotus Obliquus Extracts Suppress Antigen-Specific IgE Production Through the Modulation of Th1/Th2 Cytokines in Ovalbumin-Sensitized Mice"
Medicina: "Effects of Beta-Glucans on the Immune System."
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center: “Chaga Mushroom.”
Nutritional Review: "Health Benefits of Dietary Fiber."
Nutrition Research and Practice: "Anticancer Activity of Subfractions Containing Pure Compounds of Chaga Mushroom (Inonotus obliquus) Extract in Human Cancer Cells and in Balbc/c Mice Bearing Sarcoma-180 Cells."
Phytotherapy Research: "Antitumor Activity of Water Extract of a Mushroom, Inonotus Obliquus, Against HT-29 Human Colon Cancer Cells."
