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Bulk Herbs: Chaga Mushroom Powder, Organic
Size: 1 oz package
Format: Powder
Plant Part: Fungus (fruit)
Also Known as: Birch Conk, Cinder Conk, Clinker Polypore
Origin: USA
Long utilized by native populations for its various healthful properties, Inonotus obliquus, or Chaga, is a mass of mycelium or sclerotium resembling burnt charcoal. The sterile conk grows primarily on birch trees and other hardwoods in forests throughout the northern hemisphere. Our organic Chaga mushroom powder can be decocted into chaga tea and incorporated into broths and soups.
Chaga's polysaccharides (beta-glucans) antioxidant activity helps maintain cell integrity and fight free radicals. Chaga is used in traditional Russian Folk Medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine to support gastrointestinal health and as a tonic to support overall health.
Chaga is a fungus, a parasitic carpophore that looks like the charred remains of burned wood on the side of a birch tree (sometimes growing on Elm and Alder, but Birch is its favorite). It is not the fruiting body of the fungus but a sclerotia or mass of mycelium. The parasite enters the tree through a 'wound' in the bark of a mature tree. It then grows under the bark until it erupts in a deeply cracked, black, charcoal-like extension. It usually takes another 5-7 years to mature; at this point fully, it falls to the forest floor, most times killing the host tree. Chaga has been a part of folk medicine in Russia, Poland, China, and numerous other Baltic countries for centuries. It was documented by Chinese herbalist Shen Nong in his herbal texts as early as the first century B.C.E.
Chaga supports immune health to help you feel your best and supports the body’s immune defenses to stay healthy. Chaga is typically and historically ingested as a tea, but it also has been made into a tincture or powder used as a tea. There have been reports of it being the base for liqueurs and as a substitute for hops in beer.
Active Compounds: Polysaccharides, triterpenoids, polyphenols, melanin, fiber, protein, B vitamins
Actions: Anti-inflammatory, antioxidants, antitumor, antimutagenic, antiviral, immune suppressant, bitter tonic, diuretic, hypoglycemic, immunomodulant, digestion dysfunction.
Indications: Cancer treatment support, skin conditions, immune support, digestive disorders, viral infections (colds, flu, etc), lowers blood glucose levels, supports metabolic syndrome and chronic fatigue.
Precautions: Caution is advised for people with a history of Kidney disease and dysfunction. It can inhibit platelet aggregation and increase the effects of blood thinners, and excessive consumption may create kidney stones. We recommend that you consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner before using herbal products, mainly if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking any medications.
Magick Uses: Mushrooms have a long history of magickal use in Europe, Egypt, and Asia. Due to their potentially deadly nature, they are strongly associated with the underworld or the dead. They can also be associated with increased psychic ability and the upper realms.