The Great Chaga Phenomenon
Chaga.
Known to be used medicinally since 16th century Russia.
Chaga.
Formally, Inonotus obliquu. a tree fungus which is pathogenic to its host, in nature.
Some classify this fungus as a disease.
Which makes sense, since, when left alone, it eventually kills its host, the tree on which it grows.
Called a 'mushroom' by many, it is not completely a mushroom in fact, as it is more woody and contains actual compounds of the tree on which it grows, is commonly seen growing, or 'infecting', birch trees, usually of the 'paper' and 'yellow' varietals.
Chaga grows on the trees in stages.
The birch tree, a species commonly seen in parts of the Northern Hemisphere, as it can only grow in regions with colder climates, is found in places such as Northern Europe, Russia, Korea, Canada, Northern China, and Northern parts of the United States, especially the Northeast.
Chaga is a type of fungus which grows at the bottom of trees in the shape of a dome, a cone, or a horn with crusty type edges.
Yum.
The fungus infects the tree. The tree begins to grow in odd ways, contorting its shape at its base.
Another name for Chaga is 'Cinder Conk'.
The growth is also called a 'canker'.
Because that's basically what the part of the tree turns into as this infection progresses.
It grows on very mature trees, trees of at least 40 years of age, typically, but begins at an earlier age in more undetectable ways.
It grows slowly. Very slowly.
As it grows on the inside, the outside of the tree begins to peal. When observed carefully, one can see the 'fruit' of this disease underneath the peal.
When left alone, it slowly kills the tree on which it exists. As mentioned above.
The tree is its food source.
Once allowed to grow to its full potential, it will overtake the tree, and the tree will die.
Which brings me to the point of this post.
If it causes the birch tree to die, why on Earth would we want to use it for ourselves.
Why try it out?
In herbalism, in natural medicine, when we observe phenomenon in nature that is similar to phenomenon in human life, it is considered significant.
Extremely significant.
When you think of something growing on or in us, in stages, something that begins to take on physical components of us, infects us, uses us like a 'host' or 'food', may even distort or contort parts of us, and eventually kills us, what do you think of?
Answer: Cancer.
Yes cancer.
But how?
How can something that acts like cancer to a tree, help cancer, in us?
Because nature is amazing, and this is just how it works.
We save the tree, and the tree saves us.
Beautiful, isn't it?
Now Chaga in the human being isn't just for cancer, either. There are other benefits, as well.
Intrigued?
I present some research below to get you started.
Welcome to the journey of understanding what I call:
The Great Chaga Phenomonon.
Happy reading!
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STUDIES & RESOURCES:
(The studies below are nowhere near an exhaustive list. Always continue your own research and read the papers within each paper below.)
2) Therapeutic properties of Inonotus obliquus (Chaga mushroom): A review
5) Chaga mushroom: a super-fungus with countless facets and untapped potential
6) Anti-cancer activity of Chaga mushroom (Inonotus obliquus) against dog bladder cancer organoids
9) Chaga mushroom extract suppresses oral cancer cell growth via inhibition of energy metabolism
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