Western Herbalism
Chaga
Inonotus obliquus
Also known as Birch Mushroom.
Primarily used in Russian/Siberian traditional medicine Grows as sclerotium on birch trees Dual extraction (water for polysaccharides, alcohol for triterpenoids) optimal Preclinical evidence strong, limited human clinical trials Sustainability concerns due to slow growth
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Indications what the tradition reached for it in
- Neurodegenerative support
- Endocrine/reproductive disorders
- Cancer
- Gastric
- Breast
- Lung
- Melanoma
- Leukemia
- Etc
- Inflammation (arthritis, IBD, endometritis)
- Stress
- Diabetes/hyperglycemia
- Viral infections (including SARS-CoV-2 preclinical)
- Liver damage/toxicity
- Gastritis
- Ulcers
- Cardiovascular issues
- Oxidative stress
- Fatigue
- Immune enhancement
- Infection
- Burnout
- Immunodeficiency
- Inflammation
- Liver disease
- Recurrent infections
- Viral infections
- Hyperglycemia
- Neurodegenerative diseases
- Nerve damage
Safety
Pregnancy: Pregnancy Caution
Breastfeeding: Lactation (source flag notSafeInLactation)
The record lists 5 contraindications; open the plate in the library to read them in full.
Dosing as the sources wrote it
| Preparation | As written | Metric |
|---|---|---|
| Decoction/tea: 1-3g sclerotium powder simmered 15-20 min in 1 cup water, 1-2x daily | 1000-3000 mg | |
| Tincture: 2-4 mL, 2-3x daily | 2-4 mL | |
| Powder/capsules: 1-3g daily | 1000-3000 mg |
Doses are reproduced from the sources for practitioners and are not a recommendation for any person.
From the sources
Clinical Notes. Primarily used in Russian/Siberian traditional medicine Grows as sclerotium on birch trees Dual extraction (water for polysaccharides, alcohol for triterpenoids) optimal Preclinical evidence strong, limited human clinical trials Sustainability concerns due to slow growth
antioxidant-action. Chaga is a redox/antioxidant and antimutagenic agent that inhibits free-radical oxidation; seven small phenolic antioxidant components (including protocatechuic acid, caffeic acid and syringic acid) isolated from the fruiting body show significant scavenging activity against ABTS and DPPH radicals.
constituents. Chaga's principal bioactive constituents are a full spectrum of immune-enhancing polysaccharides (endo-polysaccharide/beta-glucans), lanostane-type triterpenoids (inotodiol, trametenolic acid, lanosterol, inonotsuoxides A and B), betulin and betulinic acid, and small phenolic antioxidants.
immune-enhancement. Chaga water-soluble endo-polysaccharide enhances immune response, inducing production of interferons, stimulating B-cell proliferation and polyclonal IgM antibody production, and increasing expression of IL-1beta, IL-6, TNF-alpha and iNOS in macrophages, acting as an immune response modifier.
In formulas
Chaga stands in 5 documented formulas in the library, among them Amṛtaprāśa Ghṛta, Chāgalādya Ghṛta, Bṛhatmāṣa Taila, Prabhākara Rasa, Sūcikābharaṇa Rasa.
Often paired with
rajmahal hempMarsdenia tenacissima
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jeevakMalaxis acuminata
medaPolygonatum cirrhifolium
shalparniDesmodium gangeticum
jivantiLeptadenia reticulataNearby on the shelf
CevadillaSabadilla
Ceylon cinnamonCinnamomum zeylanicum
Ceylon ironwoodMesua ferrea
Ceylon leadwortPlumbago zeylanica
Chai HuBupleurum falcatum
ChaksuChamaecrista absus
ChamomileChamaemelum nobile
ChangiumChangium smyrnioidesThe whole plate is in the library. The compass, Compare, the Sky of eleven hundred plants and the formulary open with an email address and a password, free, with the formula builder and its safety engine. Herbert without limit, his formulating, clients, the handouts and the labels are the paid room.
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