Chaga mushroom

The Chaga mushroom (Inonotus obliquus), also known as the clinker polypore, is a parasitic tree fungus that grows primarily on birch trees in cold climates – especially in Russia, Northern Europe, Canada, and Northern Asia. Visually, the blackish-brown, irregularly shaped fungus looks like burnt charcoal. In the traditional folk medicine of Siberia and in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), Chaga has been used for centuries as a fortifying remedy. In recent years, it has gained considerable international recognition, above all as a so-called “adaptogen” – that is, a plant-based substance that is supposed to help the body cope better with stress.

What benefits does the Chaga mushroom offer?

The Chaga mushroom is highly valued for its dense nutrient composition and adaptogenic properties in the TCM of various cultures. Nowadays, however, one no longer has to rely solely on traditional accounts when it comes to the effects of the mushroom; studies on the mushroom's effects have also been published. As always, the results of these studies should be viewed critically, and not all results are readily transferable. Below you will find both traditional applications and results of various studies:

  • Powerful antioxidant: Chaga is one of the natural substances with strong antioxidant activity. According to studies, it is capable of contributing to protecting the body against free radicals and oxidative stress (1,2,3).

  • Anti-inflammatory action: In studies, Khaki shows anti-inflammatory effects, for example in chronic inflammatory diseases or skin problems (3,4,5).

  • Immunomodulating effect: The mushroom supports the immune system by exerting both activating and regulating influences on immune cells (5,6).

  • Blood sugar regulation: Initial research findings point to potential support in regulating blood sugar levels. (7,8)

  • Effect on cognitive structures: In animal studies, Chaga extract was able to reduce cognitive deficits and oxidative brain damage caused by a plant toxin and to normalize acetylcholine levels as effectively as tacrine (9).

  • Adaptogenic effect: The adaptogens contained in the mushroom can help the organism adapt to internal and external stimuli, restore balance, and regulate a wide range of biological processes (10).

  • Increased endurance: Animal studies suggest that active compounds from the mushroom could help increase exercise tolerance and enhance endurance (11).

  • Gastrointestinal health: Traditionally, Chaga was used for inflammation of the stomach lining, gastritis, or gastric ulcers.

How does the Chaga mushroom work?

The effects of the Chaga mushroom are based on a wide range of bioactive compounds. These include, for example, betulinic acid and betulin, polysaccharides (especially beta-glucans), melanin, triterpenes, and sterols (12).

Side effects and risks

Chaga is considered safe in moderate amounts; nevertheless, there are a few aspects to keep in mind:

  • Blood-thinning effect: Caution is advised when taking blood thinners at the same time, as Chaga could affect coagulation (13).
  • Oxalate content: Chaga contains oxalates, which can contribute to the formation of kidney stones with excessive consumption (14).
  • Autoimmune diseases: Because of its immunomodulating effect, use in cases of autoimmune diseases should be medically supervised.
  • Pregnancy and breastfeeding: During these phases, consumption is not recommended without medical advice.

Conclusion

The Chaga mushroom is a fascinating natural remedy with a centuries-old tradition and growing scientific relevance. Thanks to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulating properties, it is regarded as a true “superfood” of mushroom medicine. It is enjoying growing popularity, especially as a tea or extract – but it should be dosed responsibly and taken under medical supervision

Sources:

  1. Hu, Y., Sheng, Y., Yu, M., Li, K., Ren, G., Xu, X., & Qu, J. (2016). Antioxidant activity of Inonotus obliquus polysaccharide and its amelioration for chronic pancreatitis in mice. International journal of biological macromolecules, 87, 348–356. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2016.03.006
  2. Park, Y. K., Lee, H. B., Jeon, E. J., Jung, H. S., & Kang, M. H. (2004). Chaga mushroom extract inhibits oxidative DNA damage in human lymphocytes as assessed by comet assay. BioFactors (Oxford, England), 21(1-4), 109–112. https://doi.org/10.1002/biof.552210120
  3. Gunjima, K., Tomiyama, R., Takakura, K., Yamada, T., Hashida, K., Nakamura, Y., Konishi, T., Matsugo, S., & Hori, O. (2014). 3,4-dihydroxybenzalacetone protects against Parkinson's disease-related neurotoxin 6-OHDA through Akt/Nrf2/glutathione pathway. Journal of cellular biochemistry, 115(1), 151–160. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcb.24643
  4. Camilleri, E., Blundell, R., Baral, B., Karpinski, T. M., Aruci, E., & Atrooz, O. M. (2024). A brief overview of the medicinal and nutraceutical importance of Inonotus obliquus (chaga) mushrooms. Heliyon, 10(15), e35638. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e35638
  5. Choi SY, Hur SJ, An CS, Jeon YH, Jeoung YJ, Bak JP, Lim BO. Anti-inflammatory effects of Inonotus obliquus in colitis induced by dextran sodium sulfate. J Biomed Biotechnol. 2010;2010:943516. doi: 10.1155/2010/943516. Epub 2010 Mar 10. PMID: 20300439; PMCID: PMC2840610.
  6. Kim YR. Immunomodulatory Activity of the Water Extract from Medicinal Mushroom Inonotus obliquus. Mycobiology. 2005 Sep;33(3):158-62. doi: 10.4489/MYCO.2005.33.3.158. Epub 2005 Sep 30. PMID: 24049493; PMCID: PMC3774877.
  7. Sun, J. E., Ao, Z. H., Lu, Z. M., Xu, H. Y., Zhang, X. M., Dou, W. F., & Xu, Z. H. (2008). Antihyperglycemic and antilipidperoxidative effects of dry matter of culture broth of Inonotus obliquus in submerged culture on normal and alloxan-diabetes mice. Journal of ethnopharmacology, 118(1), 7–13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2008.02.030
  8. Wang, C., Chen, Z., Pan, Y., Gao, X., & Chen, H. (2017). Anti-diabetic effects of Inonotus obliquus polysaccharides-chromium (III) complex in type 2 diabetic mice and its sub-acute toxicity evaluation in normal mice. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association, 108(Pt B), 498–509. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2017.01.007
  9. Giridharan, V. V., Thandavarayan, R. A., & Konishi, T. (2011). Amelioration of scopolamine induced cognitive dysfunction and oxidative stress by Inonotus obliquus - a medicinal mushroom. Food & function, 2(6), 320–327. https://doi.org/10.1039/c1fo10037h
  10. Chugh, R. M., Mittal, P., Mp, N., Arora, T., Bhattacharya, T., Chopra, H., Cavalu, S., & Gautam, R. K. (2022). Fungal Mushrooms: A Natural Compound With Therapeutic Applications. Frontiers in pharmacology, 13, 925387. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2022.925387
  11. Yue, Z., Xiuhong, Z., Shuyan, Y., & Zhonghua, Z. (2015). Effect of Inonotus Obliquus Polysaccharides on physical fatigue in mice. Journal of traditional Chinese medicine = Chung i tsa chih ying wen pan, 35(4), 468–472. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0254-6272(15)30126-6
  12. Lu, Y., Jia, Y., Xue, Z., Li, N., Liu, J., & Chen, H. (2021). Recent Developments in Inonotus obliquus (Chaga mushroom) Polysaccharides: Isolation, Structural Characteristics, Biological Activities and Application. Polymers, 13(9), 1441. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13091441
  13. Hyun, K. W., Jeong, S. C., Lee, D. H., Park, J. S., & Lee, J. S. (2006). Isolation and characterization of a novel platelet aggregation inhibitory peptide from the medicinal mushroom, Inonotus obliquus. Peptides, 27(6), 1173–1178. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.peptides.2005.10.005
  14. Kwon, O., Kim, Y., Paek, J. H., Park, W. Y., Han, S., Sin, H., & Jin, K. (2022). Chaga mushroom-induced oxalate nephropathy that clinically manifested as nephrotic syndrome: A case report. Medicine, 101(10), e28997. https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000028997