Tea drinks in 90% of cases are based on plant components. Non-standard cooking options involve the use of a mushroom base. Chaga is a representative of the Polypore family, and is a common variety that is used to prepare a medicinal and tonic drink.
Where does chaga grow?
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As we wrote above, chaga is a birch mushroom of the tinder family and it grows only on birch trees. Contrary to popular belief, tinder fungus that does not grow on a birch tree cannot be called chaga. During growth, chaga sucks minerals, trace elements and vitamins from the birch, thereby dooming the birch to inevitable death. Many people have heard about the benefits of birch sap; chaga mushroom is many times more beneficial than it, since it is essentially a concentrate of everything that is in birch.
The geography of growth of chaga is identical to the geography of growth of birch, mainly Siberia, the Urals, the Far East and the North Caucasus.
However, it is necessary to understand that the benefits of chaga are based on the strength of the tree that it has absorbed; in the harsh Siberian climate, birches have to stock up on enormous strength in order to survive the harsh Siberian winters, which makes Siberian chaga many times more useful than many of its other relatives.
It is also worth remembering that chaga sucks everything out of a tree, without distinguishing whether it is good or bad, so the untouched Siberian taiga with its pristine nature is the best suited for the ripening of the most useful chaga we know.
History of chaga tea
Since ancient times, Rus' has brewed herbs, fruits and roots of various plants.
Such drinks were considered very beneficial for health. The most popular, among others, was tea made from the birch chaga mushroom. Since ancient times, chaga has been valued for its beneficial properties, which helped our ancestors get rid of many ailments. Gourmets of those times valued chaga because when brewed, this birch mushroom gave a thick infusion and a unique combination of aromas, which made it possible to catch the smells of the forest, awakening nature, morning dew - and all this in one small cup of chaga tea. Centuries have passed, but the tradition of brewing chaga has not been forgotten. Today, when a healthy lifestyle has become the norm, drinking a drink made from chaga - chaga tea is also becoming the norm, because a healthy lifestyle is impossible without a healthy and balanced diet, enriched with vitamins and minerals. Chaga tea, used as an everyday drink, will supplement your diet with all the necessary vitamins and microelements.
Chaga tea: beneficial properties
I would like to dwell on other beneficial properties of chaga tea or infusion. In addition to improving digestion processes, the condition of the skin improves (helps get rid of eczema, psoriasis and dermatitis). It rejuvenates, becomes more elastic and smooth. Also in the body itself, the process of normalizing metabolism at the cellular level begins, which leads to self-cleaning of the body and the removal of toxins from it. Thus, salts of heavy metals, excess cholesterol, all kinds of toxins and allergens are removed from the body.
With regular consumption of chaga tea, blood pressure and blood sugar levels are normalized. It has been proven that if you drink a decoction of chaga, a person’s blood pressure and heart rate will normalize, and their sugar levels will also decrease. As a result of experiments, it has been scientifically established that one and a half to three hours after drinking chaga decoction, the blood sugar level decreases by 15-30%, which is simply a wonderful result.
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Benefits of chaga tea
Chaga, being an active biological substance, has unique therapeutic properties, which allows it to be widely used in both official and folk medicine.
The beneficial effects of chaga on the human body have been confirmed by numerous clinical trials and positive reviews from consumers who have used this miracle mushroom in the treatment of various diseases, including COVID-19, which has a huge amount of evidence. Scientists and doctors have come to a consensus: the chromogenic polyphenolcarbon complex contained in chaga underlies the action of this mushroom and gives it colossal biological activity, stimulating and restoring the functioning of all body systems. Here is a short list of the beneficial properties of chaga and chaga tea prepared from it
The anti-inflammatory properties and regenerative properties of chaga allow it to be recommended for patients with stomach ulcers, gastritis and other gastrointestinal diseases.
Chaga has a beneficial effect on the restoration of microflora, which allows it to be used to restore/maintain intestinal microflora after the use of potent drugs/antibiotics. Combined use is not allowed since chaga, being an active biological substance, can neutralize the effect of drugs.
The strongest antioxidant, according to the international scale of antioxidant activity ORAC “Oxygen radical adsorbance capacity”, chaga has 146,700 points, for comparison, for green tea this figure is 1,253 points. This makes chaga one of the best means of preventing cancer.
Removing toxins from the body is another effect of birch mushroom. In case of intoxication, chaga will be a real help to medications.
Chaga promotes increased excitability and taking it in the morning, you will get a noticeable tonic effect.
Reviews
Margarita: I started drinking chaga tea in my teens, when I was diagnosed with chronic gastritis. Constant unpleasant pain in the stomach and digestive problems did not go away even after taking medications prescribed by the doctor. Everything was complicated by the fact that it was rarely possible to follow the prescribed diet. At school the food was so-so, plus snacks of pies and pizzas, strong tea. Against the backdrop of stomach problems, skin problems also appeared, and I began to get sick more often. Somewhere my mother found a good homeopath who recommended giving up medications and starting taking chaga extract tablets. I felt better after 2 weeks. Until now, I take courses of befungin for 2 months or make chaga tea myself. I feel great, my stomach has healed and my general health has improved.
Svetlana: I cured mastopathy with chaga. I had small cysts in both mammary glands plus a nodule on the thyroid gland. The doctor said that all this is interconnected, and prescribed, in addition to medications, a course of chaga for 3 months. A year later, my cysts disappeared and the nodule on my thyroid gland stopped growing. I read a lot about this wonderful mushroom, it really is a salvation from many diseases.
Sasha: I also read a lot about chaga, and in the end I made preventive tea from it. It tastes so-so, but for the sake of health you can bear with it. Twice a year I take chaga tea courses for 4 weeks. I just drink tea 2 times a day, 100 ml before meals and that’s it.
Is chaga tea harmful and what are the contraindications?
Chaga grown in poor environmental conditions can bring harm rather than benefit.
Therefore, it is necessary to buy chaga from trusted and responsible sellers. However, even the “correct” chaga is contraindicated for diseases of the nervous system because it promotes increased excitability.
Individual intolerance, allergies and hypersensitivity.
The use of chaga for medicinal purposes should be carried out after mandatory consultation with your doctor. Regardless of the composition and severity of the disease, you can eat birch mushroom only after informing a specialist.
Vitamins for the thyroid gland
The following vitamin groups provide a stable supply of hormones to the endocrine system:
- Retinol (A) – is responsible for protein biosynthesis. Vitamin group “A” has a beneficial effect on the immune system, improves the condition of the mucous membranes, bones and teeth. Retinol strengthens nails and hair, relieves swelling and sagging skin, and has a good effect on vision. Usually, the “A” + “E” complex is prescribed for prevention in order to enhance the positive effect of exposure.
- Vitamins B6, B12 – pyridoxine and cobalamin. Vitamin group “B” accelerates metabolic processes. Increased metabolism prevents the appearance of goiter, obesity, diseases of the cardiovascular and endocrine systems.
- Cholecalciferol (D) - comes from food and is also synthesized in the skin under the influence of moderate amounts of UV rays. A deficiency of this compound leads to the disease hypothyroidism (long-term deficiency of the hormone T3 and T4). Endocrinologists recommend eating foods high in this substance or periodically taking vitamin supplements.
- Antioxidants. This group includes tocopherol (E). In cosmetology, vitamin supplements based on this compound are very popular. They slow down the aging process, relieve skin puffiness, and smooth out wrinkles. Tocopherol improves the absorption of iodine compounds by cells. It is also assigned together with group “A” to mutually enhance the effect. However, doctors advise not to overuse tocopherol, since its excess with a lack of selenium causes hypothyroidism.
In addition to vitamin complexes, the health of the thyroid gland depends on the presence of microelements in the body. Important minerals include:
Iron is a trace element that affects the level of hemoglobin in human blood. Normal iron content helps to steadily transport oxygen to the organs and tissues of the body. As with “E” antioxidants, excess or deficiency of the mineral leads to problems with the endocrine system, in particular causing hyperthyroidism.
Selenium is a trace element, without which the production of hormones T3 and T4 is impossible. This mineral protects organs from oxidation, improves metabolism, controls growth and supports reproductive function in men. A lack of selenium leads to a disease such as Hashimoto's thyroiditis - problems with immunity.
Iodine - without this trace element the endocrine system will not be able to function fully. The mineral is involved in metabolic processes and in the synthesis of more than 100 enzymes, and regulates the water-salt balance of the body. A deficiency of the element leads to the formation of goiter and the development of hypothyroidism, and impairs intellectual abilities. Excess iodine compounds lead to poisoning of the body.
Cooking method
The preparation method is similar to the method of preparing regular black or green tea: the chaga mushroom is crushed to a size of 2-5 mm, 2-3 tsp.
pour into a teapot, fill with water at approximately 70°C, let it brew for 5-6 minutes, then filter and pour the finished infusion into cups, adding honey, stevioside or milk to taste. The drink is ready to drink! In addition, you can purchase already crushed chaga tea, incl. with the addition of various plants that reveal this drink from different sides and provide additional benefits.
Where it grows, how to prepare it, what it can be confused with
Chaga is collected from the trunks of living birches; the mushroom should not be old or crumbling, otherwise it will lose its medicinal properties. It is best to collect it from autumn to spring, when its beneficial properties are maximum.
Chaga has three layers in its structure. It is black on the outside and has bumps and cracks. The middle layer is brown and granular. The inner one is loose; it is removed during harvesting. The inner part of the mushroom is crushed and dried for a long time at a temperature of 50 degrees.
When collecting chaga, it must be distinguished from other tinder fungi. For example, the false tinder fungus has a convex upper part and a flat lower part. It is softer and has a gray-velvety color. Most often grows on dry trees. There is also a real tinder fungus, which is attached only to the central part of the fruit and is easily separated from the tree. The shape is a grayish or brown semicircle with a smooth surface.
Chaga tea, infusion and decoction, what is it and what are the main differences
Most often, chaga is used for treatment and prevention in the form of tea, infusion or decoction. For example, since ancient times in Siberia, pieces of mushroom were thrown into boiling water, boiled for several minutes and drunk like regular tea.
What is the difference between chaga tea, infusion and decoction:
- Tea has the lowest concentration of active ingredients. It is prepared by brewing crushed raw materials in heated water from 50 to 100 degrees, depending on the recipe.
- To prepare the infusion, the raw materials are poured with hot water (up to 60 degrees) and infused for a long time, and then filtered.
- The broth is kept on low heat or in a water bath for at least 30 minutes.
Infusions and decoctions, unlike tea, are diluted with water before use.
Chaga mushroom tea: 7 recipes
Chaga tea is prepared in different ways. Its effectiveness depends on the duration of exposure of the infusion. When preparing tea from fresh mushrooms, they are only crushed, and dried ones are pre-soaked in water. You can brew chaga in a thermos.
You can add other herbs and beneficial plants to the tea, and it should be consumed before meals, 30 minutes before, unless otherwise directed.
Recipe 1.
The chaga mushroom is crushed, poured 1:5 with hot water and left to infuse for two hours or more. Consume several times a day in equal portions.
Recipe 2.
Pour boiling water over the crushed chaga in a ratio of 1:5. Leave for 1.5-2 hours. Add lemon, herbs, honey to tea. Consume before meals.
Recipe 3.
Place the chopped mushroom and herbs into a thermos. Add boiling water in a ratio of 1:5 and leave for 6–10 hours. Drink like tea, adding honey.
Recipe 4.
Chaga 20 g pour 1 tbsp. water 50 °C, add 2 teaspoons of honey. 1 tbsp. Pour this infusion into a small ball of propolis. Drink every morning on an empty stomach, following a plant-based diet. Helps with weight loss.
Recipe 5.
1 tbsp. pour a spoonful of chaga with warm water (40-50 °C) and leave for 6 hours. This tea is drunk 30 minutes before meals in 3 doses. Used in the treatment of gastritis.
Recipe 6.
Mix 1 tbsp. a spoonful of chaga, kelp and cinquefoil. Pour the mixture into 1 liter of water (45 degrees), leave for 4 hours. Strain the tea, add honey and mint. Drink for two months.
Recipe 7.
Pour 1 tbsp. a spoonful of crushed burdock root with 2 glasses of water, boil for 3 minutes, leave for 3-4 hours. Mix the strained broth with 50 ml of mushroom infusion. For adenoma, take 1-2 tablespoons 3-4 times a day for 21 days, 30 minutes before meals.
Chaga tincture is the most effective way to prepare it
For the tincture, the mushroom is pre-soaked for 5 hours, then the ground mushroom is poured with hot water in a ratio of 1:5, kept without access to light for about 2 days. Then it is filtered, squeezed out and diluted with water in which the chaga was soaked. Drink 3 glasses of decoction a day.
This cooking method is the most effective, because... Unlike tea, more useful substances get into the infusion, and unlike a decoction, boiling is not used, during which some active substances are destroyed.
Infusion recipe:
- To prepare a chaga infusion, you need to pour 1 cup of chopped mushroom with 4 cups of raw water.
- After this, close the container with a lid and let it brew at room temperature for 2 days.
- Now you need to strain the infusion and drink it in equal portions throughout the day.
As a result of regular use, you will feel a surge of energy, improved heart function, and it will be easier to endure the adversities that happen in our lives.
Where can I buy?
Of course we have
Why? We have strong arguments for this:
- For more than 30 years, it has been producing and supplying products to the pharmaceutical industry around the world, being Europe's largest supplier of chaga extracts.
- Our products are used in many clinics around the world to combat cancer, which confirms the highest quality of products and imposes high responsibility and requirements for production.
- Our own research laboratory allows us to control the quality of incoming raw materials and ensures control of the full production cycle.
- A full-cycle eco-plant in the Baikal nature reserve speaks of the highest environmental standards.
- We use only proven, wild-growing Siberian chaga, which brings maximum benefits.
- Huge selection
For more than 30 years, we have a huge number of teas in our product line.
Our legendary brand Ecotsvet has been popular all over the world for many years, and the new brand “On the Water of Baikal” preserves the traditions of the Ecotsvet brand and expands the product line so that anyone can find their favorite taste. Be healthy! And Herbs of Baikal with products from Siberian raw materials will help you with this.
