Podcast Episode Details
Back to Podcast EpisodesGet To Know: Chaga
Season 1 Episode 15
How to Identify Chaga
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Type | Fungus (not a true plant) |
| Host Tree | White or yellow birch trees (especially Betula papyrifera or B. pendula) |
| Appearance | Charcoal-black, crusty, and cracked on the outside; orange to rusty-gold and cork-like on the inside |
| Texture | Brittle and woody when dry |
| Shape | Irregular, often protruding 5–15 inches; looks like burned wood or a large canker |
| Growth | Takes 3–10+ years to mature; only found on living birch trees |
NOT to Be Confused With:
- Birch knots or burls – which are tree growths, not fungus
- Other fungi like black knot or dead wood rotters
Historical Uses of Chaga
Siberian & Russian Folk Medicine
- Used for thousands of years as a tea for longevity and vitality.
- Mentioned in Russian medical texts as early as the 16th century.
- Called the “Gift from God” or “Mushroom of Immortality”.
- Traditionally used to treat:
- Cancer and tumors
- Tuberculosis
- Stomach ulcers
- Inflammation
Finnish & Scandinavian Use
- Used during WWII as a coffee substitute due to caffeine scarcity.
- Boiled to make nutrient-rich broths and drinks.
Cultural Note:
- Famously referenced in Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn’s novel Cancer Ward, in which a patient uses chaga tea to treat cancer.
Sacred 7 Mushroom Extract from our Amazon Affiliate link.
Medicinal Benefits (Modern Research)
Chaga has drawn increasing scientific attention for its bioactive compounds and therapeutic potential.
1. Powerful Antioxi