Chaga is a parasitic fungus found on the Birch tree. The Chaga spores enter the tree through wounds (like poorly healed branch removals).
Penetration of the sap occurs. They usually begin as a white mass, gradually causing decay within the tree from 10-80 years. After some time the white mass starts to turn brown, and as the fruiting body is under the bark it is hardly ever seen.
WHAT TREES DOES CHAGA GROW ON?
Chaga is generally found on the Birch tree, and sometimes on the Alder. Some cultures consider Chaga medicinal and use it in treatments. Chaga is commonly consumed as tea prepared in the home. Both Chaga Tea and Chaga Coffee are full of amazing health benefits having one of the highest ORAC scores of any food. ORAC stands for ‘oxygen radical absorption capacity ‘. Having this high score means that the mushrooms are able to protect the body from free radicals that cause disease.
WHAT IS THE CHAGA MUSHROOM?
The Chaga Mushroom or _Inonotus obliquus, a_nd grows wild on the outside of very cold climate trees, and apart from the Birch and Alder, are sometimes found on the Chestnut tree. They grow big and lumpy and look a bit like burnt charcoal. Countries like Russia have used them in medicine for 100s of years. If you are processing it as a tea it needs to be broken down using hot water, and during World War 11 Chaga was used as a substitute for coffee. Its nutritional contents are excellent, and studies have shown that Chaga can inhibit the growth of cancer cells. In animal studies, the size of the tumors was reduced in mice being fed Chaga.
HARVESTING CHAGA
What trees does Chaga grow on? Chaga is found in very cold areas, growing predominantly on the Birch trees in North America. Chaga should be harvested in winter, never in summer when the sap in the tree is running, wait until fall. Specifically, wait until there have been 20 nights straight of
5 degrees Centigrade or lower, and then the birch tree is dormant, and Chaga is at the peak of its nutrient values. Because Chaga is a parasite of the Birch tree Chaga must always be harvested from a living tree. When you harvest in this manner Chaga remains a sustainable fungus.
CHAGA MUSHROOMS BENEFITS
It is thought that the use of Chaga mushrooms could go all the way back to Roman times. When people traditionally prepared it, it was first grated down and then steeped in boiling water.
* It supports the immune system
* Is an anti-inflammatory
* Supports heart health
* Normalizes blood sugars
* Supports a healthy stress response
* Is high in antioxidants
Normal blood sugars are often hard to achieve, especially in people with type 2 diabetes, and researchers are always looking for new ways to do this naturally. Chaga mushrooms support the healthy stress response, and this comes down to their role as adaptogens supporting calm and balance. When you read about all the benefits, you will wonder how to incorporate them into your diet and life.
The most simple way is to add the powder to your morning coffee every day and drink it. There is no recommended daily amount of Chaga, so if you enjoy it have more than one.
DOES CHAGA HAVE SIDE EFFECTS
When added to your diet Chaga is safe and tolerated by most people, however, it could react with other medications, so talk to your doctor before commencing it. The Chaga mushroom is certainly not hallucinogenic in any way. It tastes earthy and slightly bitter, and if you live in an area where you can harvest it wild you may want to add it into your diet to increase your intake of antioxidant foods.
What Trees Does Chaga Grow on?: Conclusion
The birch tree is a pretty tree. What trees does Chaga grow on, is an interesting question, as many people now want to try it. Because it is a parasite, incorrect harvesting can kill the tree. So be sure that the tree is dormant before you start harvesting the Chaga. Fortunately, it looks like a lump of charcoal and that deters many people from wanting to try it, so if you want to try Chaga you should be able to find some.