Birch chaga mushroom: benefits, harm, method of use

What is chaga - birch mushroom

The beveled tinder fungus is a sterile (sterile) form of the fungus called chaga or birch mushroom.
It is most often found on birch trees, which is why it received the popular name “black birch mushroom”.
Source Wikipedia

This is a parasite that grows on birch trees; its surface is almost black and irregular in shape. It looks like burnt wood, but the inside is golden-orange in color. Many people confuse it with other tinder fungi, but it is not difficult to distinguish chaga from other mushrooms. Polypores usually have a hoof-like shape, a smooth surface and are easily separated from the birch. And you have to remove the chaga with a knife or an ax.

Chaga can be harvested all year round. But it is better to do this in the fall, when the leaves have fallen and it is clearly visible on the white trunks of the birch. It is worth refraining from harvesting in early spring, because during sap flow you can injure the tree. You cannot collect chaga from dried trees, because it has already lost its medicinal properties.

Siberians call chaga “the mushroom of immortality,” “a gift from God.” The Japanese are the “diamond of the forest”, the Chinese are the “king of plants”. They believe that its use prolongs life.

Chaga is a powerful remedy because it has absorbed the life force of trees, the most powerful living creatures on Earth.

Chemical composition and beneficial properties

Since the mushroom of immortality grows on a birch tree, throughout its entire life cycle it absorbs all the beneficial substances of the donor tree. That is why chaga contains such healing components as birch sap, protective antibodies produced by the tree, aluminum, zinc, phenols, magnesium, copper, calcium, iron, silicon salts, silver, tetracyclic triterpenes, cobalt, resinous compounds, manganese, sodium, flavonoids, purines, agaricic acid, polysaccharides, steroid compounds, potassium, organic acids, lignin, humic acid, pterins and many other substances necessary for the normal functioning of the human body.

Useful properties of chaga

Chaga has many beneficial properties:

Anti-inflammatory;
Antitumor;
Bactericidal;
Painkillers;
Bactericidal;
Antifungal;
Antigastritis;
Diuretic.

Its unique composition includes almost all the elements of the periodic table. Betulinic acid, which is part of it, has a wide range of beneficial effects, including antitumor ones.

Regular consumption of chaga helps normalize blood pressure, the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, regulate blood sugar, accelerate metabolic processes, and remove toxins and waste from the body.
Significantly increases a person’s defenses, slows down the aging process, tumor growth, and regulates the activity of the nervous and cardiovascular systems.

How to use

A weak infusion of chaga is used as a tonic drink. Since ancient times, in Russia they prepared kvass with the addition of honey from birch sap and chaga decoctions.

To make chaga tea, you need to put several pieces of mushroom in a saucepan, add two liters of water, cover with a lid and boil for a minute. After this, reduce the heat and simmer for an hour. Then add another liter of water and cook for another hour. The result will be approximately a liter of tea with excellent taste.

Chaga can be ground and made into a tincture from the powder.

Chaga tea recipes

Cooking in a thermos

This is the most convenient way. The minimum volume of a thermos is 1 liter. Place several dried pieces of mushroom inside the container, pour boiling water over it and leave to simmer for a day. Strain the resulting drink, and leave the raw material in a thermos, as it will be enough for several more brewings (the value will not be lost).

Cooking in a jar

To prepare a healing drink from chaga, you will need boiling water. For 1 l. Prepare about 300 g of water. finely chopped chaga. Place the raw materials in a jar and fill with hot water. Let the decoction steep for several hours (the more hours the drink infuses, the richer it will be). When finished, strain. This decoction can be stored for several days.

Preparation of chaga decoction

This cooking method is less popular, since when boiled, many useful substances lose their effectiveness. To preserve the maximum amount of antitumor complexes, it is worth preparing the drink in a water bath. For 1 l. 300 g of water will be required. chagi. Keep the solution in a water bath for about half an hour, stirring constantly. After cooling the broth, strain. The “potion” should be taken 2 times a day, half a glass.

Use of chaga in folk medicine

Birch mushroom is beneficial for the female body. In folk medicine, it is used to treat uterine erosion, fibroids, and endometriosis. It regulates hormone levels, increases libido, and has a positive effect on potency in men. Relieves pain and heaviness in the stomach, improves the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.

Before starting any treatment with chaga, you should consult a specialist.

Infusion for stomach ulcers

Chaga should be washed well and soaked in water for 5 hours. After this, remove and chop, and leave the water for infusion. Pour the crushed mushroom with the infusion heated to 50 degrees in a ratio of 1:5 and leave for another two days. After this, drain the water and strain the infusion. Add boiled water to it to the original volume.

The infusion can be stored for several days. Take 1 tbsp. l. 3 times a day half an hour before meals.

In dentistry

Chaga can be used for diseases of the oral cavity - rinse your mouth, soak cotton swabs in the broth and apply to the gums.

To prepare the infusion you need 1 tbsp. l. pour crushed chaga into 3 cups of boiling water and let it brew for 2 hours.

To prepare the decoction, 1 tbsp. l. pour crushed chaga into five cups of boiling water and simmer over low heat for 7 minutes.

For skin diseases

Chaga gives positive results for psoriasis, eczema and other skin diseases. Preparations based on it are used to combat papillomas, herpes, chlamydia, and condylomas.

To prepare an infusion for a medicinal bath, you need to take 1 glass of crushed chaga, pour 1.5 liters of boiling water over it, wrap it and let it brew for 2 hours. After this, pour it into the bath and take it for 20 minutes. At the same time, the infusion can be taken orally.

To improve blood circulation

2 tsp. crushed chaga, pour 150 ml of boiling water. Let it sit for two days, then strain it. We take 1 tbsp. l. 10 minutes before meals. The course of treatment is 3-5 months, with breaks between them of 10 days.

Chaga with reishi mushroom and ginger

Brew at 90 degrees for 7 minutes. The main result of the infusion is longevity and the prevention of premature aging. Provides antitumor, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial effect.

Collection and preparation of chaga

Where to collect chaga?

The mushroom should be collected only from birch trees, and they say that the most useful mushrooms grow in birch groves. Walk past dead or fallen trees.

How to collect chaga?

Take an ax or a well-sharpened knife into the forest to separate the mushroom from the trunk. Birch mushroom can be collected all year round. However, experienced foresters advise collecting miracle chaga in the fall or spring, since most of the beneficial substances are concentrated in the mushroom during active sap flow.

Wait for the snow to melt or the leaves to fall. Once you find suitable mushrooms, carefully separate them from the tree. Only the hard parts of the chaga will be suitable for further use.

The raw materials must be thoroughly dried. The main thing is that the place is not dark and damp (this will easily cause the mushroom to grow mold), but it is also prohibited to dry the mushroom at high temperatures (this will cause the mushroom to lose its beneficial substances).

At the same time, divide the mushroom into several parts, about 5 cm in diameter. As soon as the mushroom becomes dry and easily broken, the raw material is ready. Place the product in a glass, airtight container. Properly prepared mushroom can be stored for up to 2 years.

In cosmetology

Chaga is used in cosmetics to maintain healthy skin and hair. Creams and ointments containing chaga provide a rejuvenating effect - the skin of the face is tightened, fine wrinkles are smoothed out.

Mask for oily skin

1 tsp. mix rye flour with 1 tsp. honey Add the yolk and 1 tsp. chaga powder. Mix and apply to face for 15 minutes, then rinse with warm water.

Mask for dry skin

To prepare it, 1 tsp. mix olive oil with 2 tbsp. l. crushed chaga. Add the yolk, mix, add ⅓ cup of boiling water and leave for 1 hour. After this, apply to the face for 15 minutes, then rinse with warm water.

Preparation and proper use

At home, infusions, decoctions, alcohol tinctures, and tea are made from chaga.

Chaga tea and infusion

These drinks are prepared from dried product and drunk freshly brewed. Fresh chaga is also suitable for these, but dried chaga is usually easier to find. Before use, chaga should be soaked for 4-5 hours in boiled warm water. The mushroom soaked in water must be chopped with a knife or using a grater or meat grinder.

How to brew this product correctly? Best served in ceramic or porcelain dishes. One part of the mushroom corresponds to five parts of water with a temperature of no higher than 60-70°C. It is poured over chaga and left for several hours. Infusion requires 24 to 48 hours; tea requires 20 minutes.

The remaining water from soaking chaga should not be thrown away, as it is a valuable medicinal component. The chaga infusion should be strained through cheesecloth (in several layers). The drink will become clear and pleasant to look at. It should be diluted with water from soaking chaga. The result is a dark, beautiful infusion with a slightly sweet taste, reminiscent of brewed weak tea.

The resulting liquid is drunk like any ordinary tea. But the chaga infusion is used a little differently. It should be drunk 30 minutes before meals, one glass at a time. The number of receptions per day is three to four.

The shelf life of the infusion is four days. Outside of this period, it is unacceptable to use such a drink. The treatment course with chaga is quite long – 5-7 months. Then there is a break of about a week or a little more, and the course is resumed.

Chaga decoction in the treatment of oncology

Chaga is also actively used in the treatment of cancer. Depending on the stage of the disease, the use of chaga decoction can be long or short. But in any condition, the use of this remedy gives relief to the patient, since the tumor slows down its growth, and this reduces metastases. Chaga decoction is found to be very effective in treating stomach cancer. To prepare the remedy you will need:

chopped chaga (200 g),
pine buds (100 g),
rose hips (100 g),
bitter wormwood (5 g),
St. John's wort (20 g),
licorice root (10 g).

Mix all ingredients and soak for two hours in cold well water (3 l). Then boil the mixture for two hours over low heat. Then wrap it up and leave it warm for a day. The strained broth is supplemented with:

aloe juice (200 g), plant 3-5 years and three days without watering;
honey (500 g).

Mix the entire mixture and set aside for four hours. You can now take the medicine:

the first six days, 1 tsp. two hours before meals, three times a day;
the next day, 1 tbsp. l. an hour before meals, three times a day.

The treatment course can take from 2 weeks to 4 months. Chaga is indicated for any type of malignant tumor. But since this is an oncological disease, any actions must be coordinated with a doctor - the specialist will not allow you to accidentally harm yourself.

Alcohol tincture and chaga gruel

The alcohol tincture of chaga is the pharmaceutical drug “Befungin”. You can also make your own tincture based on 70% alcohol. But we must understand that alcohol is a terrible poison. Why take medicine with poison when there are other ways to take chaga? Therefore, you shouldn’t even get dirty with chaga alcohol tincture; it’s better to use the gruel.

Chaga gruel is easy to prepare. The mushroom should be crushed and mixed with hot water in a small amount. The infusion should stand for some time. After it has cooled, the paste is applied to the sore spot.

Chaga oil solution

Oil from this raw material is used to lubricate the sinuses to treat sinusitis. To prepare it you need to make a mixture of:

olive oil (2.5 tbsp.),
chaga infusion (1 tsp).

Place the composition in a dark, cool place for a day to infuse. The beneficial components of chaga permeate the oil. By lubricating painful areas of the skin with this oil solution you can:

eliminate muscle pain,
get rid of aching joints,
strengthen blood vessels,
fight trophic ulcers.

The substances that make up chaga are real natural biogenic stimulants. Traditional medicine offers a huge number of effective recipes. But you need to stick to the correct proportions and use them correctly.

Chaga for weight loss

You can get rid of excess weight with the help of chaga. Teas, infusions, and decoctions will help you safely lose weight and maintain it.

Water tincture

Cut the birch mushroom into small pieces, fill it with hot water in a ratio of 1:5 and let it brew for 2 hours. Drink in small portions 3 times a day
Grind 200 g of chaga and pour it with a liter of boiling water. Leave for 3 hours, then drink as tea before meals. To improve the taste you can add a little honey, lemon
Three chaga on a grater, add medicinal herbs: lemon balm, mint, currant leaves. Place in a thermos, pour boiling water in a ratio of 1:5 and leave for 5 hours. We use it like tea. Before use, you can add honey to taste.

Infusion with propolis

Normalizes metabolism, removes waste and toxins from the body.

To prepare it, 1 tsp. Mix crushed chaga with 2 tsp. honey Add a ball of propolis and mix well. Pour in 0.5 liters of vodka. We insist for 2 weeks.

It's better to drink in the morning. To get a positive result, just add a few drops of tincture to clean water.

If you decide to lose weight with the help of chaga, you must follow a number of recommendations:

Lead an active lifestyle;
Control your calories;
Eat enough proteins, carbohydrates and fats;
Avoid stressful situations;
Eat right.

Remember that chaga infusions and decoctions are just auxiliary methods of losing weight. If you constantly overeat, there will be no positive effect.

How to prepare magic mushroom?

Recipes based on this mushroom can be completely different. I will try to acquaint you with the main options for preparing this plant for medicinal purposes.

Decoction

A decoction of this plant helps relieve stress (and eliminate its consequences), as well as fight depression. It also effectively removes various harmful substances, waste and toxins from the body. I’ll tell you now how to prepare such a remedy.

We need 250 grams of chaga. Soak the plant in water (two liters) and let it brew until it softens. Afterwards, finely grate it and put it in the water in which the mushroom was soaked. Place on low heat and let simmer for about an hour. Strain and drink 2 tablespoons daily before meals. This decoction will also help in the fight against uterine fibroids.

Most often, the decoction has a fairly strong effect, normalizing the functioning of all systems and organs, in particular, it helps the functioning of the spleen and liver.

Tea

If you do not need such a powerful healing effect, then you can take preventive teas from tinder fungus. They soothe pain and relieve spasms, and also help overcome inflammatory processes.

The easiest option is to take dry plant powder and hot water in a ratio of 1:5. Leave for 24 hours in a thermos. You need to drink this tea half an hour before eating half a glass. You can add sugar, honey or mint to it.

I can also give you a recipe for tea to prevent hypertension. For this, 1 tsp. Mix chopped birch mushroom with 1 tsp. mistletoe. Fill it with hot water (1 glass) and let it boil. We drink 1/3 cup daily about 4 times for two weeks.

Infusion

The infusion should be used for gastritis, to eliminate pain in the abdominal area. This remedy helps in the treatment of constipation.

We need to pour the crushed mushroom with water in a ratio of 1 to 5 and leave it for about two days. Just put the product in a dark place. Then we simply strain it and take a glass every day before meals. This product should be stored in the refrigerator for no more than four days.

This medicine is effective for the treatment of joint diseases, as well as against spinal hernia. In this case, it should be used externally.

To strengthen your immune system, I can recommend this infusion to you. Mix chaga (2 parts) and angelica, nettle leaves, calendula flowers (1 part each). Add dandelion root to this. We chop everything. Then pour a tablespoon of this mixture into a glass of cold water. Let it sit overnight. Boil it in the morning and let it sit for another 30 minutes. Drink half a glass every day after meals three times a day.

Tincture

I will also tell you how to prepare chaga tincture. It will be effective in the treatment of skin diseases that are fungal in nature.

Place 10 tbsp in a dark glass container. chopped mushroom and pour vodka (about 500 grams). Let it brew for two weeks. It is worth shaking this product periodically.

This tincture is also a good remedy in the fight against diseases of the stomach and intestines. Again, we need a dark jar in which we place 3 tbsp. finely grated mushroom and the same amount of serpentine root. Fill it all with vodka (again, half a liter). Place in a dark place for two weeks. Then drink a tablespoon up to 5 times daily.

Considering the fact that this medicine is infused with alcohol, you shouldn’t get too carried away with it.

Reviews from real people

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There are many reviews and they are all positive.

Contraindications

Medicines based on chaga have no special contraindications, the mushroom is hypoallergenic . However, with long-term use, ingestion of chaga should be monitored by people suffering from abnormalities in the nervous system, as well as people with certain intestinal diseases.

If there is excess fluid in the body, it is worth brewing a stronger drink.
With long-term use of chaga, there is a possibility of increased excitability of the nervous system; in this case, you should stop using birch mushroom.
Chaga is contraindicated for people with chronic colitis and dysentery.
It is forbidden to drink chaga while being treated with antibiotics.
During mushroom treatment, forget about alcohol and tobacco.