Chaga Chaga, Inonotus obliquus, is a fungus in the Hymenochaetaceae family that grows as a parasite from the trunks of trees, mostly birch. As you can see from the photo above, chaga has a burnt look and strongly resembles charcoal or charred wood. This is due to high levels of melanin in the mushroom. Chaga, also known as Tinder fungus, usually takes several years to fully mature, and only grows in cold, northern regions of the world. It has been used as a medicinal mushroom in Russia since at least the 16th century, at perhaps much longer. Chaga was traditionally ground into a fine powder and brewed into tea. Research suggests that many of its bio-active compounds are found in indigestible parts of the mushroom, and are difficult for humans to digest unless properly extracted. Besides high levels of melanin, chaga also contains an assortment of flavonoids, B vitamins, phenolic compounds, superoxide dismutase, triterpenes, pantothenic
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.