Ralf`s book of superfoods and nutrition - part 8

Chaga

Chaga (Inonotus obliquus), also known as scale mushroom, is a fungus in the Hymenochaetaceae family. It is a fungus which grows parasitically on birches, beeches and alders as well as other trees. For medical purposes only the Birch-Chaga is used. It is irregularly shaped and has the appearance of burnt charcoal. It grows in the birch forests of Russia, Korea, Eastern and Northern Europe and the northern regions of the United States, in the mountains of North Carolina and in Canada. Unlike most mushrooms, Chaga is a mushroom with pores instead of gills. It is sterile and is not cultivated.

Since the 16th century, there have been records of the Chaga mushroom and its use in ancient medicine and botanical medicine of the Eastern European countries. It serves as a cure for cancer, gastritis, ulcers and tuberculosis of the bones. In scientific studies in Finland and Russia, epochal effects were observed in breast cancer, liver cancer, uterine cancer and stomach cancer as well as hypertension (oxygen deficiency) and diabetes.
Chaga is referred to as the most potent anticancer drug fungus. The Russian Nobel laureate, Alexander Solzhenitsyn, wrote two pages on the medical use and value of the Chaga in his novel "Cancer Ward" about his experiences in a hospital in Taschkent.
Chaga is a valuable medical fungus that is mainly known for its strong anti-cancer properties. The antimutagenic power of the molecules found in the white part of the birch bark from which the chaga feeds inhibits radical oxidation and also induces the production of interferons that can trigger DNA repair. The substances contained in the white part of the birch bark contribute to the reduction of hypoxia and the stability of the organism and thus promote the metabolism of the cells. The anti-cancer properties of betulin or betulinic acid, a chemical isolated from birch, are now being studied for use as a chemotherapeutic agent. Betulin is specifically responsible for effectively reducing the activity of harmful blood fats such as triglycerides and serves as a protection against diseases. It is abundant in birch bark found and it has the potential to revolutionize the way how blood fats are managed. In terms of cholesterol levels, betulin leads to lower blood fat levels and is more effective than lovastatin. Like insulin, Betulin helps to treat the arterial walls of deposits and blockages (arteriosclerosis).

Betulins promote the regeneration of the epidermis, which acts as a natural protective layer. In clinical application, this regenerating effect could be observed in skin diseases with disturbed barrier function. In cell cultures and skin models it has been shown that betulins promote the maturation of the skin cells (terminal differentiation). This effect is mediated by the increased provision of calcium for the cells of the upper skin. Betulins have a great potential in the area of wound healing
Chaga contains large amounts of betulinic acid in a form that can be taken orally and it also contains the entire spectrum of immunostimulatory secondary phytochemicals that are found in other healing fungi, such as Maitake Fungus and Shiitake Fungus. There are more than one hundred varieties of medical fungi that can inhibit the growth of different types of tumors, especially lung, stomach and esophageal cancer. But Chaga stands out clearly here.
Chaga contains an extraordinary amount of plant nutrions with fighting properties against various types of cancer as well as HIV, diabetes, tumors, high blood pressure or cholesterol and obesity. Chaga has far more to SOD and vitamins C and E than barley grass. SOD, an enzyme, is one of the most important antioxidants in our body. Chaga is simply one of the most powerful and strongest known antioxidants. Antioxidants improve health and slow down aging. Antioxidants protect cells from damage caused by the unstable molecules known as "free radicals". Chaga is a heavyweight champion of antioxidants, whose power far exceeds the effect of pomegranates, acai berries, or blueberries. The cold Siberian climate produces the strongest chagas in the world. It has one of the highest ORAC values ever found in natural food.

Chaga is usually grated to a fine powder and can be used as a coffee or tea-like beverage.