Chaga Mushroom Health benefits

Hello steemers... if you’ve not heard about chaga mushroom and it’s absolutely amazing healing and health benefits check this out if you have a few minutes. It's a bit long but informative!

Benefits of Wild Chaga Mushrooms

Immune modulation, battling sun damage, pain relief, cancer treatment, removing certain parasites, anti-viral, detoxifying (blood and liver), balancing blood sugar, heart protective, bronchitis, improving circulation, intestinal protection, lowering cholesterol, chemotherapy & radiation therapy protection.

Most of the medical research on Chaga, has been done in Russia where the mushroom grows in abundance, as it prefers cold climate forests. Chaga Mushroom is an adaptogen. Adaptogenic plants and mushrooms help to bring the body back into balance and have beneficial effects on the nervous system, immune system, the GI tract, the cardiovascular system and the endocrine system. By supporting the body and mind in these ways, adaptogens help us to cope with stress, stay healthy during the cold and flu season, fight cancer, and lift us out of the dark depths of depression and adrenal burnout. They have immune-modulating properties that make them helpful in treating auto-immune diseases and have high levels of anti-oxidants that protect cells from damaging free radicals. Adaptogens gently tone and support the body systems over time and need to be taken for a minimum time of two months to develop the full effect of their healing powers. Enjoying one to two cups of delicious Annanda Chaga Mushroom Tea daily ensures that your immune system is receiving support when it is needed most and to continually flush toxins from the body.

A very slow growing mushroom, Chaga has been known to have much more potency than other medicinal mushrooms because it is so long-lived; therefore more concentrated often with pharmaceutical grade healing constituents.

As one of the most powerful antioxidants on Earth, Chaga is also a su­per adaptogen, giving the body what it needs to return to its natural state. Chaga acts as both a soothing anti-stress nerve tonic and a powerful cancer fighter. The list of purported uses of Chaga over the centuries is long and includes prevention against many of the top killers in North America today including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer and obesity.

Chaga mushrooms are a powerful antioxidant and source of superoxide dismutase (SOD) which halts oxidation, especially free radicals like singlet oxygen responsible for damaging tissues
Chaga mushrooms are a source of 200 + phytonutrients
Chaga Contains significant amounts of riboflavin and niacin
The Chaga Mushroom contains B and D vitamins, flavonoids, phenols, copper, calcium, potassium, manganese, zinc iron and enzymes
One of nature's riches sources of the minerals rubidium, potassium, cesium and germanium; everything the body needs to remain alkaline
A great source of pantothenic acid which aids the adrenal glands and digestive organs
The Chaga Mushroom has been used for improving cognitive function and memory loss.
Chaga is a vital source of plant based sterols which reduce bad LDL cholesterol, stabilizes blood pressure, increases metabolism and aids the endocrine system
The Chaga Mushroom that comes from Birch trees are also rich in Betulinic Acid which as been used to to shrink some types of cancerous tumors.
The Chaga Mushroom is a superior medicinal mushroom containing over 215 phytonutrients, glyconutrients including: Betulinic Acid, Polysaccharides, Beta Glucans, Tripeptides, Triterpenes including Lanosterol-type Triterpenes, Sterols, Saponins, Inotodiols, Trametenolic Acid and Melanin.

High in Amino Acids, Dietary Fiber, Ionized Trace Minerals (Copper, Selenium, Zinc, Magnese, Iron), Ionized Essential minerals (Magnesium, Potassium, Calcium, Chloride, Sodium, Phosphorus), Vitamin B1 (Thiamine), B2 (Riboflavin), B3 (Niacin), Vitamin D2 (Ergosterol), which is not found in vegetables.

Chaga has the ability to improve the immune response, lower high blood sugar and combat abnormal and mutagenic cell growth. Chaga also has the capacity to stimulate the immune response reduce inflammation and to multitask on so many levels making it a very powerful adaptogen for the body.

Chaga is anti-inflammatory, relieves pain and purifies the blood and protects the liver. An amazing polypore fungus that supports our overall well being.

Chaga is rich in Phytonutrients
Phytonutrients found in Chaga Mushroms and certain organic components of plants, and these components are thought to promote human health. Also ORGANIC fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, nuts and teas are rich sources of phytonutrients. Phytonutrients may serve as antioxidants, enhance immune response, enhance cell-to-cell communication, alter estrogen metabolism, convert to vitamin A (beta-carotene is metabolized to vitamin A), cause cancer cells to die (apoptosis), repair DNA damage caused by smoking and other toxic exposures, detoxify carcinogens through the activation of the cytocrome P450 and Phase II enzyme systems.

Chaga Mushrooms contain Glyconutrients; plant saccharides that provide support for the immune system. Saccharides are necessary for the body’s creation of glycoforms, the structures on cell surfaces used to “talk” to other cells. Glyconutrients play a key role in supporting your immune system and promoting effective cell-to-cell communication. Recent scientific research has shown that eight simple sugars (monosaccharides)—most of which are no longer found in abundance in the standard modern diet—form virtual “words of life” at the cellular level. These sugars combine with proteins and fats to create glycoforms that coat the surface of nearly every cell in the body. Glycoforms function as cellular recognition molecules that communicate the messages a body needs to function in health. These messages directly affect your natural defense (immune) and endocrine (glandular) systems, in addition to supporting proper organ and system function.

Chaga Mushroom Polysaccharides

Mushroom polysaccharides act as carriers of other nutrients, delivering them to where they are needed most in the body to increase bio-availability to maintain optimum health. Polysaccharides function with the immune system to aid against cancer, HIV virus, and other anti-bacterial and viral infections. Annanda Chaga contains a minimum of 40% mushroom polysaccharides.

Chaga contains Beta-glucans
Chaga is a rich source of Beta-Glucanswhich performs immuno-modulating properties helping the body to identify cancer cells as foreign.

Superoxide Dismutase in Chaga
Chaga mushrooms have the highest levels of Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) found in any natural food and is extremely high in antioxidants. Other foods like wheatgrass, broccoli and some cabbages also contain SOD but in much smaller amounts.

Anti-Stress / Immune Support
Chaga mushrooms are often used as an immune system modulator with demonstrated antibacterial, anti-malarial, anti-inflammatory and anti-parasitic properties. Chaga is a unique polypore fungus that is also anti-viral, anti-fungal, anti-microbial and anti-Candida.

Triterpenoids and Sterols
Triterpenes have a strong immune-strengthening influence on the human body by increasing our body’s ability to resist disease by lowering cholesterol levels. Helping to detoxify the liver and assist with many conditions like hepatitis, chronic bronchitis, coughs and asthma. In vitro Triterpenes are effective against MCF-7 cells.

Trametenolic Acid For non-insulin dependent diabetics.

Inotodiol - A Triterpenoid found in chaga mushrooms which aids the immune system in destroying abnormal cells.

Sterols are effective for prostrate, herpes, lupus, allergies and psoriasis.

Lanosterol-linked triterpenes: Has been studied and researched by Dr. Kirsti Kahlos, School of Pharmacology, University of Helsinki, Finland. Dr. Kahlos’ team conducted studies validating the immuno-modulating impact of Lanosterol-linked triterpenes effective as a flu-vaccination and for anti-tumor applications.

Betulinic Acid (phytosterol)

Chaga is rich in Betulinic Acid a phytosterol which is naturally present in the bark of the Birch tree. Betulin from the Birch tree is converted into Betulinic Acid by the Chaga Mushroom making it soluble for us to ingest into the bloodstream. It is the Betulinc Acid which stimulates the process call apoptosis which triggers cancerous cells to destroy themselves. Chaga is the only mushroom to contain low pH Betulinic Acid which directly targets cancer cells, which are primarily low pH instructure. Also clinically proven to have anti-tumor and tumor reducing benefit. The anti-cancer properties of Betulin or Betulinic Acid, is now being studied as a chemotherapeutic agent. Also clinically proven to have anti-tumor and tumor reducing benefit. Many medicinal mushrooms are known for its immuno potentiating effects, but David Winston, a renowned herbalist claims Chaga “has an advantage no other fungus has, that it contains Betulinic acid”. Betulinic acid has demonstrated strong anti tumor activity with virtually no side effects and no toxicity. Betulin works highly selectively on tumor cells because the interior pH of tumor tissues is generally lower than that of normal tissues, and Betulinic Acid is only active at those lower levels (Noda et al. 1997). Once inside the cells, Betulinic Acid induces apoptosis (programmed cell death) in the tumors (Fulda et al., 1997). Recent clinical studies show that Betulinic Acid possesses valuable pharmacological properties such as: immuno-modulators, anti-bacterials, anti-oxidants, anti-virals, anti-tumorigenics, anti-pyretics, and others.

Betulinic Acid also is being tested for effectiveness in treating HIV while showing a high anti-mutagenic activity, capable of lowering the number and frequency of mutations in the chromosomes and the genes. Betulinic Acid has been tested for Melanoma cancer, eczema, skin infections and other conditions. Betulinic Acid has been explored as a potential treatment for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which can cause severe cold-like symptoms and pneumonia. The anti-cancer properties of Betulin or Betulinic Acid, is now being studied as a chemotherapeutic agent.

Lanosterols Lanosterols exhibit strong cytotoxicity towards carcinoma cells. Assists to lower cholesterol and reduce candidas. Anti-bacterial.

Ergosterol (Vitamin-D2). One of three vitamins able to be absorbed by the skin and the only one that the body is able to manufacture (when exposed to ultraviolet light). This vitamin is necessary for the building of new skin cells, as well as bones, teeth, and hair. This vitamin regulates cell turn over and is used in prescription derivatives to help control psoriasis. Derivatives effective for antioxidant therapy and cancer drugs.

Saponins

Saponins are glycosides mainly of the triterpenoidal type found in the Chaga mushroom and in vegetables (spinach, tomatoes, alfalfa sprouts). Research studies indicate it lowers the risk of cancer and lowers cholesterol. Saponins have been shown to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity.

Melanin

The Melanin produced by the Chaga mushroom demonstrates high antioxidant and genoprotective effects. Melanin enhances the appearance of hair, skin and eyes, and restores a more youthful appearance.

Chaga Mushroom - Ancient Medicine
The use of medicinal mushrooms is not widespread in the West, but have been used by indigenous peoples of North America for hundreds of years. Chaga Mushrooms are still used today in the East, making Chaga one of the most powerful hidden medicinal secrets of the 21st century.

Only larger mature pieces of Chaga taken from the Birch tree will host enough medicine to benefit the human body. Chaga from other species of trees do not have the same constituents as those found in the Birch family.

My partner @silasdavid and I found some on one of our snowshoeing adventures up the Enderby Cliffs in Enderby B.C. Such a beautiful spot to go hiking in the spring, summer and fall and snowshoeing in the winter!

I’m making chaga mushroom tea for us right now!

Even Sabirah the kit approves!

Thank you nature! For all your goodness!

Good evening and happy, healthy tea drinking!

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