The use of birch chaga mushroom for medicinal purposes. Useful properties of birch chaga. Birch growth ointment

Walking through the transparent spring forest, pay attention to the birch trees, disfigured by rough, rough growths of various sizes and sizes. This is a birch chaga mushroom. Behind his “ugly” appearance lie powerful healing powers. Chaga has long been used as a remedy in Rus' for many serious ailments. A Russian chronicle from the 11th century tells how Grand Duke Vladimir Monomakh was cured of a terrible disease (a tumor on his lip) using a decoction of birch mushroom. Birch mushroom was used to treat diseases of the stomach and intestines, liver and kidneys, to rub sore joints with decoctions of herbs and chaga, and to heal boils.

In the Far East, Siberia, and some other regions of Russia, chaga infusion and decoction are still drunk instead of regular black or green tea. It has been noted that in those areas where they drink decoctions and infusions of chaga, they suffer from cancer less.

What is chaga?

Chaga affects birch forests almost everywhere, sometimes found on alder, less often on mountain ash, maple, beech and elm, and even then mainly on those that grow near birch trees. But only birch mushrooms are used for medicinal purposes.

Collecting chaga mushroom all year round, but the best time for harvesting is considered to be autumn, early winter and spring. The growths are cut off with an ax or a sharp hoe and the loose inner part is cleaned off. When collecting, you need to ensure that the raw material does not contain tinder fungi, which differ from chaga in that they have a tubular layer on the lower surface. You should not collect raw materials from dry and drying trees, as well as specimens about a meter long or more, as well as old, crumbling mushrooms that are black in color throughout their entire thickness. Fresh growths are immediately cut into pieces of 3–6 cm and dried in the attic in a ventilated room or oven (stove) at a temperature of 60 degrees. Store in tightly closed glass containers for no more than two years.

This is not a chaga mushroom, but a type of tinder fungus

Both before and now, people unfamiliar with nature manage to collect false tinder fungus, real tinder fungus, and birch sponge, which have a hoof-like shape and grow on the birch with their plane down, instead of chaga. The flesh of the tinder fungus is usually white or yellowish, bitter, and has a strong mushroom smell. Almost all tinder fungi are inedible. The real chaga mushroom looks like an ugly black-brown growth on the trunk of a birch tree. Chaga tastes slightly bitter and odorless.

What are the benefits of birch chaga mushroom?

Chaga contains a huge amount of useful substances and compounds; this is a real storehouse of salts of silicon, iron, aluminum, calcium, magnesium, sodium, zinc, copper, manganese and potassium. It should be taken into account that this relates only to birch chaga, while growths collected from alder and other tree species do not have the necessary pharmacological activity.
Chaga increases the body's defense reactions, activates metabolism in brain tissue, has an anti-inflammatory effect when used internally and locally, and inhibits the growth of certain tumors. A decoction of the mushroom lowers blood pressure, makes the pulse calmer, and lowers blood sugar levels. It is used as a general tonic and anti-inflammatory agent for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, in dentistry, for laryngeal tumors and skin diseases.
During treatment with chaga, dairy and plant foods are recommended, the intake of meat and fats is limited, and canned foods, smoked foods, and spicy seasonings are excluded. You should also not administer intravenous glucose or use penicillin.
Chaga can be purchased at the pharmacy in the form of an infusion, a thick extract called “Befungin”. It is used for chronic gastritis, dyskinesias of the gastrointestinal tract and peptic ulcer stomach, and also as a means of improving the general condition of cancer patients. Dilute 2 teaspoons of the drug in 3/4 cup of warm boiled water, take 1 tablespoon. spoon 3 times a day before meals.

How to prepare chaga infusion

A simple chaga infusion is prepared at home. Pieces of dry mushroom are washed with water, poured with a small amount of cold boiled water and infused for 4–5 hours. Then the mushroom is passed through a meat grinder or tinder on a grater, after which it is poured with warm boiled water at the rate of 1 part by volume of raw material per 5 parts of water. The water temperature should be no higher than 50 degrees. Then the solution is infused for two days, after which it is filtered through several layers of gauze. The water in which the mushroom pieces were soaked is added to the resulting infusion. Take half a glass of infusion 4-6 times a day 30 minutes before meals. The prepared chaga infusion should be stored in a cool and dark place. It is usable for no more than 3–4 days.
Treatment with chaga preparations is carried out in courses of 3–5 months with short breaks (7–10 days). With long-term continuous use of chaga preparations, some people experience increased excitability of the autonomic nervous system, which disappears when the dosage is reduced or the drug is discontinued.
Some healers act differently: they grind the growths into a fine powder and, after filling them with water, put them in a Russian oven to simmer overnight. Chaga is said to be able to cure some forms of cancer.

How to prepare chaga tincture

Pour half a glass of dry crushed chaga (about 100 g) into 1 liter of vodka or alcohol solution, leave for 2 weeks in a cool, dark place, shaking occasionally. Take 1 teaspoon. spoon 3-5 times a day between meals.

Some recipes for using chaga

For the treatment of arrhythmia 100 ml of chaga infusion is mixed with 250–300 g of honey and 3 tbsp. spoons of lemon juice. The resulting mixture is taken 1 table at a time. spoon 2 times a day 40 minutes before meals. The course of treatment is 10 days.
Treatment of atherosclerosis carried out using a mixture of sunflower oil and chaga infusion. Before use 1 table. A spoonful of infusion is mixed with 1 table. spoon of unrefined sunflower oil, mix and drink immediately. The medicine is taken 3 times a day 20 minutes before meals (you cannot eat anything for 2 hours before taking the infusion). Treatment regimen: taking the drug - 10 days, break - 5 days, taking the drug - 10 days, break - 10 days; taking the drug for 10 days.
Treatment of acute bronchitis carried out under the supervision of a specialist. At the beginning of the disease, to separate viscous sputum from a dry cough, it is recommended to drink 1 table of warm chaga decoction. spoon 3 times a day 40 minutes before meals. Treatment is carried out throughout the entire acute period of the disease.
For chronic bronchitis The following mixture is prepared as an expectorant: 300 g of honey is mixed with 1/2 cup of water, crushed chaga is added and boiled over low heat for 1 hour. Then the mixture is cooled, mixed thoroughly and stored in a cool, dark place. Take 1 table. spoon 2 times a day 40 minutes before meals.
You can prepare another composition for treatment: mix 2 teaspoons. spoons of aloe juice, 1 teaspoon. a spoonful of chaga infusion, 100 g of honey. For treatment, 1 dessert spoon of the mixture is diluted with a glass of hot skim milk and drunk 2 times a day an hour before meals.
For varicose veins Apply a compress to the affected areas for 20 minutes: 2 teaspoons. spoons of calendula tincture and 1 teaspoon. A spoonful of chaga tincture is diluted with a glass of cold water and gauze folded in 2-4 layers is moistened in this mixture.
Chaga tincture is used for internal use for varicose veins. The product is taken 1 teaspoon. spoon 3 times a day an hour before meals for 7 days. Then they take a break for 7 days and repeat the course of treatment.
Reduce blood pressure A mixture of equal parts of hawthorn and chaga decoctions, taken 2 teaspoons each, helps. spoons 2 times a day half an hour before meals. The course of treatment is 5 days. The decoction can be replaced with a mixture of tinctures: mix half a teaspoon of hawthorn and chaga tincture, take it an hour before meals, diluting it in a small amount of water. The medicine is taken once a day (preferably in the morning) for 7 days. After a week's break, the course is repeated.
For the treatment of diabetes use chaga infusion: grind 50 g of mushroom, pour in 1 liter of boiling water and leave for 24 hours. The drug is taken 1 table. spoon 3-4 times a day 40 minutes before meals for a month. After a week's break, the course of treatment is repeated. For greater effectiveness, it is recommended to add a decoction of meadow clover flowers to this infusion (pour 1 teaspoon of dry raw material with a glass of cold water, boil for 10 minutes over low heat, leave for 30 minutes, strain).
You can use this recipe: 1 table. A spoonful of chaga and 2 plantain leaves are dried, crushed, poured with 2 cups of boiling water and left for 30 minutes. Take the drug 1 table. spoon 3 times a day 1 hour before meals.
For gastritis Fresh birch mushroom is washed and grated. If a dried mushroom is used, it should be soaked in water at room temperature for 4–5 hours, after which the water should be poured into another container and the mushroom should be grated. The chaga crushed in this way is poured with hot boiled water (about 50 degrees) in a ratio of 1:5, left for 2 days, and the water in which the mushroom was soaked is added. The chaga infusion prepared in this way can be stored in the refrigerator for no more than 4 days. Take 1 glass 3 times a day 30 minutes before meals.
To strengthen the body It is useful to take baths with chaga: pour 1.5 cups of finely crushed chaga with 5 cups of boiling water, leave for 3 hours. After this, combine the resulting infusion with a decoction of equal parts of chamomile, oregano, string, currant and birch leaves. Pour the prepared mixture into water and take a bath for 30 minutes.

Many people have probably seen the inconspicuous black growth on birch trees, but few people paid attention to it. But in vain, because this is not just damaged tree bark, but a birch chaga mushroom, which has a wide range of medicinal capabilities. Chaga tea, for example, was prepared in ancient times to treat problems with digestion, liver and reproductive system.

Chaga can grow on different trees, including rowan trees, elms and alders. For medicinal purposes, only the birch version is used. It has a beneficial effect on the body as a whole, increasing immunity and helping to fight diseases.

What is chaga

Chaga is a kind of tree disease, it can be compared to a cancerous tumor. Birch actively fights fungus, releasing many different substances to suppress it. All these immunostimulating, active medicinal substances accumulate in chaga, like in a sponge, and can later be used to combat pathologies in the human body.

The composition of chaga has been studied by doctors for a long time, but it has not yet been possible to completely “decipher” it. It is known that birch mushroom contains quite a large amount of manganese, calcium, potassium, and various organic acids (including acetic, formic, oxalic, etc.). Polysaccharides, fiber, lignin and free phenols were also found in it. Another about 12% in chemical composition chagi is allocated to ash. The antitumor properties of chaga are due to the pterins it contains.

Important! Chaga belongs to the tinder fungus, which also grows on trees, but does not have medicinal properties. The ability to distinguish birch fungus from real and false tinder fungus will help you avoid unpleasant consequences. After all, trying to make chaga tea from other mushrooms will not only not give the desired effect, but will also harm your health.

A real tinder fungus is quite easy to break off from the tree on which it grows. This is a light, smooth semicircle that is not used for treatment. The false tinder fungus is shaped like a hoof and usually grows on fallen, dried trees. It is much softer to the touch than chaga, and the color is closer to gray with dark circles. It is also not used for medicinal purposes.

Use of birch mushroom for medicinal purposes

An in-depth study of the medicinal properties of chaga began in the 60s of the twentieth century. Russian scientists from the Leningrad Medical Institute found that birch mushroom has the ability to:

normalize redox processes in the body;
tone, strengthen, restore the activity of the nervous system;
normalize the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, relieving exacerbations;
reduce blood pressure, slow heart rate;
reduce the amount of sugar in the blood.

Chaga has also been studied in other countries. Studies conducted in Kyiv have shown that the use of birch mushroom helps to increase the activity of the cerebral cortex, and also relieves general or local inflammation. At the same time, it was found that chaga can slow down the growth of tumors and reduce the harmful effects of radiation on the body.

Israeli and Japanese studies have confirmed the high antiviral and immunostimulating capabilities of birch mushroom, as well as its ability to resist cancer tumors.

Benefits and medicinal properties

Thanks to the abundance of substances and microelements beneficial to the body, birch mushroom is an excellent medicine for combating a fairly wide range of problems. Chaga tea can be considered a must-have drink for anyone who seriously cares about their health, because birch mushroom is a natural biogenic stimulant for the whole body.

Like any other medicine, chaga tea has a set of beneficial properties and, of course, contraindications. The first include:

antispasmodic effect;
stabilization of metabolism;
anti-inflammatory, antiviral, diuretic effect;
normalization of pressure, functioning of the stomach, duodenum;
strengthening the immune system;
gum restoration;
restorative effect on the body as a whole.

Chaga decoction in combination with decoctions of medicinal herbs and plants is a good remedy for treating sore joints and removing boils. Birch mushroom has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the neurohumoral system, which is responsible, among other things, for the body’s ability to adapt to changes in the surrounding world. The fiber contained in chaga helps to actively cleanse the body of accumulated toxins, toxic compounds, and cholesterol.

When used in combination with anti-cancer drugs, chaga tea can enhance their effect, restoring the body's protective barriers and slowing down the growth of cancerous tumors.

Use in pharmacology

Birch mushroom is used not only in traditional medicine recipes, but also in modern pharmacology. On its basis, various drugs are created for the treatment and prevention of cancer and diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

Common chaga-based medicines include:

Befungin. Chaga extract with added cobalt salt. Prescribed for gastrointestinal diseases, malignant tumors, and sleep disorders. Also used as a general strengthening drug that improves immunity;
Chagovit, Chagolux. Medicines to combat chronic forms of diseases;
Chaga syrup. A preparation based on birch mushroom extract;
Ointments based on chaga extract, used for radiculitis, arthritis, varicose veins, and skin diseases.

Most chaga-based medicines can be used by both adults and children. But you cannot choose them yourself; an experienced specialist should prescribe the appropriate medicine after conducting the appropriate tests and making a diagnosis.

Indications for use

Due to its wide spectrum of action, chaga tea is used to treat quite a variety of diseases and problems in the body. The useful substances, vitamins, and microelements accumulated by the fungus can compensate for their deficiency in the human body and eliminate the problems caused by this deficiency.

Chaga tea is taken for:

peptic ulcers of the stomach and duodenum;
gastritis;
formation of tumors (benign or malignant);
diabetes;
diarrhea or constipation;
diseases of the heart, nervous system;
high blood pressure;
anemia;
skin diseases;
infectious diseases.

Despite the fact that chaga tea is folk remedy, it is still a medicine, it can bring both benefit and harm. Therefore, it should be used carefully, observing the dosage.

Contraindications

Before deciding to drink chaga infusion, decoction or tea, you should definitely consult your doctor. Despite the abundance of beneficial properties, there are several categories of people for whom the use of chaga is contraindicated.

You should not drink chaga tea if:

increased nervous excitability;
presence of chronic colitis;
dysentery.

Important! Chaga preparations cannot be combined with certain procedures and medications, including intravenous glucose and antibiotics. Also, during treatment with chaga, you must give up smoking, alcohol, meat and spicy foods, and canned food.

In addition, chaga tea is not recommended for consumption during pregnancy. Another contraindication, standard for most drugs, is individual intolerance or allergy to substances contained in chaga.

Side effects of chaga include stimulation of the nervous system. This is not harmful to the body, but can be quite unpleasant. This effect can be reduced by reducing the dosage of the drug.

Secrets of use

Birch mushroom, for all its capabilities, is not a fast-acting magic pill that can cure all diseases in the blink of an eye. To get the effect of using chaga, you need to take a long course, from 3 to 5 months. If necessary, the course can be repeated, taking a break for 10-12 days.

Chaga can be purchased in the form of a dry extract in pharmacies, or you can prepare it yourself. To do this, it is better to rely on a few proven tips:

You should not look for birch mushroom in dead wood or fallen trees. If the tree dies, the chaga is destroyed, and other mushrooms that do not have medicinal properties grow in its place;
Chaga growing at the base of the tree is not suitable for harvesting. It crumbles and is painted black throughout;
The best time to collect chaga is from late autumn to early spring. At this time, the mushroom accumulates a maximum of useful substances;
You need to remove the mushroom from the birch tree with an ax, at the very base. The loose interior and pieces of wood are cleaned off.

After collection, chaga is cleaned, cut into pieces and dried in a shady, ventilated area. From dried raw materials you can prepare infusions, decoctions or tea. They differ in the concentration of active components and method of preparation. In order to prepare the infusion, the crushed mushroom is poured with hot, but not boiling water (up to 60 degrees), infused for several hours, then filtered. The broth is not infused, but boiled over low heat or heated in a water bath for at least half an hour. Both the infusion and the decoction are usually diluted with water before use.

Chaga tea recipes

Chaga tea is very tasty if you know how to prepare it correctly. There are some general recommendations for brewing and drinking it:

water should not be hotter than 50 degrees;
Chaga tea is not consumed together with fatty, salty, spicy dishes, tea, coffee, pickles, smoked meats;
Instead of sugar, it is better to add honey to birch mushroom tea.

There are several recipes for chaga tea, differing in the duration of infusion and, as a result, effectiveness. You can make tea from fresh or dried mushrooms. In the first case, it is crushed and filled with water, in the second, preliminary soaking of the raw materials will be required.

The most popular chaga tea recipes:

The crushed mushroom is poured with hot water in a ratio of 1:5 and brewed for 1.5 hours to 24 hours. It's better to use a thermos. Drink as regular tea half an hour before meals, no more than half a glass at a time. You can add honey or lemon.
Approximately 20 g of chaga is poured into a glass of hot water (50 degrees) and left for about 2 hours. Then add 2 teaspoons of honey and pour a propolis ball into a glass of tea. This tea promotes weight loss; it is drunk on an empty stomach in the morning, supplemented with a plant-based diet.
Mix chaga, kelp and cinquefoil in equal proportions (about 1 tablespoon each) in a container, add a liter of not too hot water (about 45 degrees), and brew for about 4 hours. Before drinking, the tea is filtered, honey and mint are added. The course of this tea is two months.

Chaga tea can be mixed with herbal infusions to achieve the desired therapeutic effect in solving a specific problem. Honey or lemon is also added to the tea to taste. In Siberia, chaga tea is prepared according to the simplest recipe - throwing pieces of mushroom into boiling water and boiling them for several minutes. This decoction replaced their usual black tea.

Birch chaga is popularly called an irregularly shaped growth that forms on trees as a result of their infection by a fungus of the type tinder fungus ( Inonotus obliquus). The size of the growth ranges from 5 to 40 cm in diameter, and the thickness sometimes reaches 15 cm.

The appearance of chaga is quite unattractive - the black color of the surface in the inner part changes to dark brown, and when adjacent to the wood it becomes reddish. This growth appears on different trees, but most often on birches, and it is birch chaga that has healing properties. It is found in groves of Russia and Korea, as well as in the East of Europe.

Chaga is often confused with the false polypore. But, in addition to the visual differences, there is another big difference between them - the first appears exclusively on living trees, while the second mainly appears on dead ones.

The pulp of the birch mushroom contains all kinds of acids, tannins and minerals, as well as lipids, alkaloids and fiber. Due to its composition, chaga has a beneficial effect on the human body.

improving general condition, increasing immunity and resistance to infectious diseases;
calming effect on the nervous system, treatment of restless sleep, insomnia, mental illness;
normalization of metabolic processes;
prevention and treatment of malignant tumors;
therapy for diseases of the intestines, liver, stomach, as well as the urinary tract and lungs;
improvement in psoriasis, eczema, as well as acne, frostbite and burns;
increasing blood pressure and treating anemia;
improved vision;
prevention and treatment of female diseases;
slowing down the aging process.

Traditional medicine recipes

Tea, alcohol tinctures, as well as bath solutions, ointments and oils are prepared from chaga.

Infusion

Ingredients: 100 g dried mushroom, 500 ml water.

Preparation:

pour warm water over the chaga and let it brew for 3 hours,
chop the softened mushroom and return it to the water,
heat to 40 degrees and set aside for another 48 hours,
strain the infusion and add water to it so that its volume returns to its original volume.

Should be consumed 3 times a day strictly before meals, 200 ml. Store no longer than 4 days.

Chaga infusions are indicated for oncology, stomach diseases and insomnia. The permissible period for taking the infusion is 6 months, the recommended break between courses of treatment is 10 days.

Alcohol tincture

Ingredients: 100 g chaga, 1 liter of alcohol.

Preparation: pour the chopped mushroom with alcohol and, shaking occasionally, keep for 14 days in a cool and dark place.

Dilute the prepared alcohol tincture with water and take 1 tbsp for 2 weeks. l. before meals no more than 3 times a day.

The product is effective for chronic gastritis. It also improves the general condition of cancer patients.

Strengthening tea

Ingredients: 3 liters of water, 250 g of chaga, 1 glass of viburnum berry decoction, 200 g of honey.

Preparation:

soak chaga in 2 liters of warm water for 2 hours,
remove the mushroom, chop it and put it back,
put the tea on low heat, heat for about 1 hour, cool and strain,
combine with honey, viburnum decoction and 1 liter of warm water,
leave the mixture overnight at room temperature.

Keep tea refrigerated. Drink 3 times a day, 2 tbsp. l. 30 minutes before meals. Course duration is up to 3 months.

Harm and side effects

Exceeding the permissible period of taking chaga can cause upset of the digestive system and nervous excitability. Symptoms will go away after reducing the dose or stopping the drug.

Neither chaga nor solutions and infusions with it have any other side effects.

But children and pregnant women are prohibited from consuming birch mushroom. This is explained by the fact that active cell division occurs in the growing body and in the body of the expectant mother, while chaga stops their growth and development.

Rules for collection, drying and storage

The unique properties of birch mushroom depend on how correctly it was prepared, and therefore, if you decide to stock up on it yourself, you should follow certain rules:

Chaga grows on birch trees all year round, so you can collect it at any time. Although in early spring and late autumn the mushroom is most enriched with useful substances. In addition, in winter, snow often prevents access to the birch trunk, and in summer, thick foliage.
To separate the growth from the trunk of a birch, strong hands are not enough, and therefore, when going after it, you always need to have a sharp knife and a hatchet in your arsenal. The growth should be cut in a vertical direction as close to the tree trunk as possible.
It is also important to keep track of which birch tree the mushroom lives on, because if the tree is dead or begins to die, then it will not have even a fraction of its own. medicinal properties. Likewise, you should not cut off a mushroom located near the ground.
The growth must be treated immediately after collection. Unlike the upper dark surface, the light and loose parts of the fungus do not have healing properties– you should get rid of them.
Chaga quickly becomes moldy, so it is important to promptly cut it into small pieces (no more than 6 cm thick) and dry it. This can be done, for example, in the oven at a low temperature (about 50 degrees). Exceeding the temperature regime will lead to loss of beneficial properties.
You can store dry mushrooms in glass containers, paper bags or linen bags. Properly dried and packaged, it will retain its healing power for up to 2 years.

Diet during treatment

Birch mushroom can cure serious diseases, but for this you need to change your eating habits. While taking chaga you should:

exclude everything smoked, canned and fried,
limit the amount of meat products in the diet,
do not abuse spicy foods, including onions and garlic,
refrain from sweets,
add more fruits, vegetables, and dairy products to your menu,
observe the strictest ban on alcohol and smoking.

Nowadays, chaga-based preparations can be found in any pharmacy. But if you have serious health problems, you should first consult a doctor.

Chaga birch or birch mushroom (lat. Inonotus obliquus), family Hymenochaetae. Other names: beveled tinder fungus, black birch mushroom, oblique tinder fungus. The healing properties of the chaga mushroom have been known for a long time; methods of its use for medicinal purposes are found in the works of the medieval Persian physician Avicenna (ibn Sina). In the 16th century residents of Siberia used birch mushroom as a medicine for diseases of the intestines and stomach, male and female genitalia, liver and kidneys, joints, lung cancer, boils. In herbalists and medical books of the 18th century. recipes are given for the treatment of malignant tumors and gastrointestinal diseases with chaga.

Description

Chaga reproduces by spores that germinate on damaged tree bark. A fungus begins to develop inside, and a growth on the bark appears after 4 years. The shape of the growth depends on the damage to the bark through which the birch tree became infected with the fungus. The birch mushroom can grow for up to 20 years or more, feeding on the sap of the host tree and leading to its death, since chaga causes rotting of the trunk at the site of its introduction. After the birch dies, the fruiting body (fruit form) of the fungus directly appears on the opposite side of its trunk. It develops under the bark, the hyphae spread along the trunk up to 0.6-1 m in length. As the spores mature, “thrust plates” (comb-like outgrowths) are formed, which break through the bark of the tree, exposing the brownish-brown hymenophore. The spores are thick-walled, colorless at first, then pale reddish, containing one or several drops of oil inside.

Chaga is common in Russia (usually in the northern regions), eastern Europe, and Korea; in the northern USA. It does not tolerate heat, so it is generally not found in the southern regions.

Chaga growths are used for medicinal purposes. They are harvested only from living birch trees all year round, but it is better in autumn or spring. Chaga growths from drying or withered trees, trees growing in too damp places, or old, large, crumbling ones, formed in the lower part of the trunk, and having a black color throughout their entire thickness, are unsuitable for treatment.

The mushroom (middle and outer hard part) is cut down with an ax or cut with a large knife under the base, the bark and wood are separated, the loose part is cleaned off, cut into pieces 3-9 cm in size. Good growths of chaga have a dense consistency; when cut, 3 layers are distinguishable: outer - black, cracking and lumpy, the middle one is very dense, brown, granular at the break (this is the most valuable part of the chaga) and the inner one is loose, spreading deep into the trunk.

In the warm season, birch mushroom is dried under a canopy or in the attic, spread out in a thin layer, turning it over from time to time, in cold weather - in dryers, ovens at a temperature of no more than 50 ° C. Dried birch chaga is dark brown in color, with thin white or yellow veins, very hard, without bitter taste, and odorless. It can be stored for 2 years in a ventilated, dry place.

It is important to distinguish between chaga and other tinder fungi, since replacing them with chaga can cause poisoning.

(lat. Fomes fomentarius) - a hoof-shaped semicircular mushroom with a wide base, flat on the underside. Its surface is smooth, covered with a hard gray or brown crust. It is attached to the tree by the central part of the fruit, therefore, unlike chaga, it is easily removed from the tree.

False tinder(lat. Phellinus igniarius) - hoof-shaped, convex on top, flat on the bottom. The crust is grayish or black-brown, hard, with a velvety surface with concentric circles. The false tinder fungus, unlike chaga, prefers to settle on stumps or dead trees.

On the surface of chaga, annual layers (concentric circles), characteristic of other perennial polypores, are not formed.

Useful properties of chaga

Chaga has been poorly studied chemically. Humic-like acid (up to 60%), water-soluble chromogens (derivatives of polyphenols, phenolic aldehydes, hydroxyphenolcarboxylic acids and their quinones), polysaccharides, steroid compounds, lignin, fiber, acids (agaricic, oxalic - up to 4, 5%, formic, paroxybenzoic, butyric, acetic, vanillic, triterpenic, obliquinic, inonodic, etc.), free phenols, resins, tannins, phytoncides, various micro- and macroelements (calcium, potassium, iron, sodium, silicon , zinc, etc.), pigments, alkaloids, flavonoids, lipids, pterins, thanks to which chaga has a positive effect on the body in case of malignant tumors.

Application

Chaga is used as a symptomatic remedy in the treatment (benign and malignant), especially lung and stomach cancer, in cases where surgery or radiation therapy cannot be performed. Birch mushroom preparations stabilize the acidity of gastric juice, normalize intestinal function, therefore they are used in the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases - duodenal and stomach ulcers, gastritis, liver and spleen diseases, polyps of the stomach and intestines, stomach tumors, as well as lungs, bones, skin , brain.

Chaga does not get rid of cancerous tumors, but it slows down the development of tumors, especially in the initial stages of cancer, and also enhances the activity of other antitumor drugs. This mushroom increases the body's own defenses, improving its immune status and overall well-being, soothes pain, and has a mild laxative effect.

In dentistry, chaga preparations are used to treat periodontal disease (taken orally, injected into the gum pockets).

The complex of biologically active and mineral substances contained in birch mushroom exhibits a positive effect on the body in case of cardiovascular diseases, helping to strengthen the vascular wall and heart muscle, stabilizes blood pressure, normalizes heart rate, has a calming effect on the nervous system, has anti-inflammatory properties, improves metabolism (general and in brain tissue); lowers blood sugar levels.

Semi-thick chaga extract - “Befungin” (lat. Befunginum) - has a positive effect on metabolic processes, promotes scarring of duodenal and stomach ulcers, strengthens the nervous system, improves appetite and sleep. It is used for gastrointestinal dyskinesias with symptoms of atony, chronic gastritis. In addition, chaga preparations have antispasmodic, diuretic, antimicrobial, antifungal, antiviral, healing properties, and normalize the activity of the gastrointestinal tract and intestinal microflora.

Traditional medicine recipes with chaga

Chaga infusion (basic recipe): wash the chaga with water, pour boiled cold water so that the mushroom is completely covered, and leave for about 4-5 hours. Grind the mushroom in a meat grinder or grater. The water in which chaga was soaked is used for infusion. 1 part of chaga is poured with 5 parts of water heated to 50°C, remaining after its soaking. Leave for 48 hours in a cool room, drain the water, squeeze out the sediment through gauze folded several times. Boiled water is added to the strained thick liquid, bringing it to the initial volume. You can store the birch mushroom infusion in the refrigerator for 3 days. For adults for tumors Prescribe at least 3 stacks. infusion, which should be drunk in fractional portions throughout the day. When tumors are located in the pelvis, warm medicinal microenemas with this infusion of 50-100 ml are additionally prescribed. before bedtime.
Chaga infusion itself is not toxic, but it is used with caution for diseases in which fluid is retained in the body. In this case, you can drink the infusion of the mushroom instead of tea and other drinks, or use an infusion of double strength (2 parts of dry birch chaga mushroom to 5 parts of water).
For gynecological diseases (cervical erosion, ovarian cysts, inflammatory processes associated with changes in the composition of microflora or infection of the genital tract, menstrual dysfunction), this chaga infusion is used in a complex manner: it is drunk 1 table at a time. spoon 3 r. per day, min. 30 before meals + tampons moistened with this infusion are inserted into the vagina overnight. Tampons are placed every other day, the medicine is taken internally daily for 2 months (during menstrual bleeding, tamponing stops, after the end it is resumed; the infusion is drunk without interruption). Before starting a course of treatment, a consultation with a gynecologist is necessary.
For ulcers of the duodenum and stomach, chronic gastritis and as a general strengthening, immunostimulating agent, this infusion is drunk 6 r. per day 2 weeks. 1/4–1/3 tbsp. in 30 min. before meals.
For bronchitis: for a dry cough, you can drink a warm infusion of chaga, 1 tablespoon at a time, to separate sticky sputum. lie 3 r. per day, min. 40 before meals throughout the acute period of the disease.
When (to lower blood sugar levels) this infusion of chaga is drunk 1 tbsp. 3 r. per day, min. 30 before meals 1 month. After a break, treatment can be repeated.
Chaga infusion with badger or marmot fat for tuberculosis. Prepare the chaga infusion as described above, taking 2 parts of birch chaga to 5 parts of water. Take the drug for 3 months, 3 times a day. per day, min. 30 before meals, 3 table. l. for reception simultaneously from 2 tables. spoons of warmed badger or marmot fat; Some healers advise adding 1-2 drops of birch tar to the fat. After a 2-week break, treatment should be repeated. Treatment is carried out only during periods of remission; during periods of exacerbation it is necessary to undergo comprehensive treatment in a hospital.
Infusion of birch mushroom (chaga) for cardiovascular diseases: 2 tsp. Infuse tablespoons of crushed chaga in 200 ml for 2 days. boiled warm water, strain. Drink for 3 months. 1 tables each. lie 3 r. per day in 30 minutes. before meals. Then take a break from treatment for 2 weeks and a new course.
Chaga infusion for psoriasis: to 1/2 stack. pour 0.5 liters of dry crushed chaga mushroom. boiling water and leave in a thermos for about 6 hours, then strain. Apply to the affected areas of the skin for applications 2 r. per day every day. The course of treatment is 2 weeks. After a break, treatment courses can be repeated.
Chaga infusion with burdock root: 1 table. l. crushed burdock root pour 2 cups. water, boil for min. Infuse for 3, 3-4 hours. After straining, combine with 50 ml. infusion of birch mushroom (see main recipe). They accept 1-2 tables. lie 3-4 r. per day, min. 30 before meals 21 days.
Chaga infusion with lemon juice and at: 100 ml. Birch chaga infusion (see main recipe) is mixed with 250 gr. honey and 3 tables. l. lemon juice. Take the mixture for 10 days, 1 table each. l. 2 r. per day min. 40 before meals.
Chaga infusion with sunflower oil at: 1 table. l. Chaga infusion (see main recipe) is mixed from 1 table. l. sunflower oil (unrefined) and drink. Take the drug 3 times. per day, min. 20 days before meals, take a break for 5 days; take the drug for another 10 days, take a break - also 10 days; and take the drug again for 10 days.
Chaga infusion with chamomile for sore throat: steam 1 glass of boiling water 1 table. a spoonful of grated chaga and 1 teaspoon. spoon of chamomile, leave for 1 hour, filter. Gargle every half hour.
Chaga infusion with chamomile for skin diseases: 1 tsp. a spoonful of chopped chaga mushroom and 1 teaspoon. spoon of chamomile pour 2 cups. boiling water, infuse for 4 hours, filter and rinse the mouth every 2 hours for periodontal disease or use for skin diseases in the form of lotions.
Chaga infusion with for liver diseases: 2 tsp. l. Calendula flowers are steamed with boiling water (1 cup), infused for 1 hour, filtered. 2 parts of calendula infusion are mixed with 1 part of the main chaga infusion. The drug is taken 1 dess. l. 3 r. per day, min. 30 before meals: 10 days - for acute liver diseases, 2 months. with 5-day breaks every 10 days of taking the medicine - for chronic.
Infusion of birch mushroom with for chronic hepatitis: to 1 tsp. l. calamus rhizomes and 2 tables. l. pour in 1 cup of grated mushroom. boiling water, leave for 5 hours, filter. Drink chaga infusion with calamus, 1 tbsp. l. 2 r. per day, min. 40 before meals.
Chaga tea for the prevention of cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Steam a handful of dry chaga for 2 cups. boiling water and let it boil. Place in the steam bath for another min. for 15-20, leave until the broth acquires a reddish tint, strain. Drink as tea, adding honey, warm throughout the day.
Chaga decoction with viburnum and with uterine fibroids: 250 gr. chaga mushroom pour 2 liters. water, leaving to soften. Then the mushroom is taken out, grated on a coarse grater and again placed in the same water. Chaga is simmered in a water bath or low heat for 1 hour. After this, the broth is cooled slightly and filtered. To 1 stack. pour 1 liter of dried viburnum berries. cold water, leave for 5-6 hours, then cook for 1 hour in a steam bath. Cool, filter thoroughly and combine with chaga decoction, add 250 grams each. honey and aloe juice. The mass is mixed well and brought to 4 liters. boiled water and leave for 6 days in a cool place. When the chaga has fermented, the container with it is placed in the refrigerator. Take 2 tbsp of fermented mixture. l. 3 r. per day, min. 30 before meals 5-6 months.
Chaga decoction to cleanse the body: 100 gr. pour 1 liter of crushed dry chaga. boiled warm water, cook over low heat for min. 20. Leave in a thermos or wrapped warmly for 2 hours. Drink daily instead of tea for at least 3 weeks.
Chaga tincture for ulcers of the duodenum, stomach, chronic gastritis. For 50 gr. chopped dry mushroom – 300 ml. vodka. Infuse 21, filter, pour into a dark glass container. Store in the refrigerator. They drink 3 rubles. 1 table per day. l. tinctures for half an hour min. before meals, diluting 50 ml. water, 10 days. For this tincture of chaga, take 1 tsp. 3 r. a day 1 hour before meals a week. Then they take a break for 1 week and repeat the course.
Chaga tincture for eczema: per 100 gr. dry crushed chaga – 0.5 l. vodka, leave for 2 weeks, then strain. Keep refrigerated. Drink 1 teaspoon of tincture before meals. l., diluting with boiled water (30 ml.), 3 r. in a day. And in the mornings and at night you need to apply lotions (not compresses) from chaga infusion to the affected areas. The course of treatment lasts 2 weeks, then a break of 2 weeks, and the course can be repeated. The same tincture can be used for fungal diseases of the feet, lubricating the affected areas.
Chaga tincture for oncological diseases(): 1/2 stack. dry crushed chaga (about 100 g) pour 1000 ml. vodka and leave for 2 weeks. The tincture is taken before meals, 1 dess. l. 3 r. per day, diluted in a small amount of water, 2 weeks. Thanks to chaga tincture, cancer patients can slow down the growth of cancer cells and reduce tumor size.
Chaga decoction with hazel leaves with prostate adenoma: 1 table. l. hazel leaves with 1 tsp. l. dried chaga pour 2 cups. water, boil for 5 minutes, filter. Drink 3 times a day, 2 teaspoons each. in 30 min. before meals for 14 days, treating once every 6 months.
Chaga decoction with eyebright herb for treatment cataract (leukomas): 1 tbsp. l. eyebright and 1 tsp. crushed chaga pour 2 cups. hot water, bring to a boil over medium heat, simmer over low heat for another 5 minutes. The broth is cooled and filtered. Soak a tampon in the broth for 3-5 minutes. applied to the sore eye. Lotions are made daily for 10 days.
Chaga decoction for oncological diseases (cancer): 200 gr. chopped chaga, 100 gr. rose hips, 100 gr. pine buds, 20 gr. herbs, 5 gr. wormwood, 10 gr. mix, pour 3 liters for 2 hours. well cold water. Then the composition is boiled for 2 hours in a steam bath under a lid, after which it is removed from the heat, wrapped well and left for 24 hours in a warm place. Strain the broth and add 200 ml to it. aloe juice, 500 gr. honey, 250 ml. cognac The mixture is mixed well and allowed to stand for 4 hours. For the first 6 days, the medicine is taken 1 teaspoon. l. 2 hours before meals three times a day. On the following days - 1 table. l. 3 r. a day, 1 hour before meals, from 2-3 weeks. up to 4 months. For rectal cancer, warm microenemas with the main infusion of chaga (50–100 ml) are done at night.
Chaga powder for gastritis: Grind the dried inner less dense part of the chaga into powder, take 2 rubles of this powder on the edge of a knife. per day - in the morning and at night.
Ointment with chaga for the treatment of superficial or external forms of cancer (for example, rectum, breast or prostate gland, uterus, metastases to regional lymph nodes (in advanced forms)). Fresh pork lard in a 1:1 ratio is combined with chaga infusion (see main recipe); Bring to a boil over low heat, stirring all the time. Remove from heat, cover with a lid, wrap and leave for a day, then filter. Chaga ointment is stored in the refrigerator.
Chaga baths for psoriasis and other skin diseases: prepare a standard chaga infusion (see main recipe). 1.5 l. Pour the mushroom infusion into a warm bath. Take baths for 15 minutes. every other day 10-15 r.
Bath with chaga and white willow bark for leg pain: 2 tbsp. l. pour 2 cups of willow bark. boiling water, 15 min. boil, then add 2 tbsp. l. chopped chaga mushroom and boil over low heat for another 30 minutes. The broth is infused for 40 minutes, then poured into a warm bath. Take a bath for 20 minutes. After the bath, your feet should be bandaged with an elastic bandage.
Honey mixture with chaga and aloe for chronic bronchitis: Stir 1 tsp. main chaga infusion, 2 teaspoons. l. aloe juice, 100 gr. honey For treatment 1 dessert. l. the mixture is diluted with 1 cup. warm milk and drink 2 r. a day 1 hour before meals.
Compress with chaga for acute bronchitis: mixing 100 gr. warm honey (heated in a steam bath) and 1 table. l. crushed chaga, make a compress on the chest area.
Compress with chaga and calendula for varicose veins (for pain): stir 1 tsp. chaga tincture (see above) and 2 tsp. Calendula tincture, diluted 1 cup. cold water, moisten folded gauze in this liquid and place a compress on painful areas for 20 minutes.
Chaga oil for treatment of cough and runny nose: Soak the chaga overnight in cold boiled water to soften it, grate it (or grind it in a meat grinder) and put it in a dark beer bottle, pour it with heated (not hot) sunflower oil (for 1 part chaga - 5 parts sunflower oil ). Place the bottle in a dark, warm place for 7 days and strain. Store in the refrigerator. When you have a runny nose, lubricate the wings of your nose with chaga oil inside and out; When coughing, place a chaga oil compress on your chest, adding a few drops of fir oil first.
Chaga oil from the capillary network, stars on the skin, to strengthen blood vessels, heal trophic ulcers: 2.5 tables. l. olive oil need to be mixed with 1 teaspoon. l. Chaga infusion, leave for a day. Chaga oil is used to lubricate painful areas of the skin, it helps eliminate aching joints and muscle pain.
Chaga oil emulsion for cancer of the stomach, lungs, breast, duodenum: Combine 40 ml in a glass container. sunflower oil (unrefined) and 30 ml. Chaga tinctures (100 grams of mushroom per 1.5 liters of vodka, let steep for 10 days), close tightly, shake and drink in one gulp. Take the medicine at the same time 3 times. per day min. 20 before meals. Take it for 10 days, then take a break for 5 days, then repeat the dose for 10 days and take a break, this time for 10 days. Repeat cycles until complete recovery.
Chaga enemas for constipation and digestive disorders: 50 gr. pour 1 cup of chaga. warm water. Leave for 6 hours to soften. Drain the water, chop the mushroom, add the same water, and keep in a steam bath for 4 hours. Strain the resulting broth. You can store it in the refrigerator for 2 days; before each use, the decoction must be heated.
Medicinal mixture with chaga for cardiovascular diseases. Pour a handful of crushed chaga into 2 cups. boiling water, let it boil. Leave in a water bath for min. 15-20, then strain. Add a mixture of peppermint herb and rhizomes, taken in equal parts, to the hot broth at the rate of 50 grams. herbs - per 100 gr. mushroom. Leave for at least 5 hours in a thermos. Cool, strain through cheesecloth.
Medicinal mixture with chaga for diseases of the digestive system: chaga – 100 gr., (grass) – 50 gr., rose hips (fruits) – 50 gr. mix, pour in 1 liter. water, leave for 2 hours, put on fire, let it boil and keep in a steam bath for another 2 hours. Next, mix 100 ml. aloe juice with 200 gr. honey, pour in the medicinal decoction, let the product settle, strain. Drink 1 dess. for two weeks. l. 3 r. per day, min. 30 minutes before meals, shake before each use.

The pharmaceutical industry produces chaga tablets. For the diseases listed above (see application), take 1 tablet. 4 rub. a day before meals.

Semi-thick chaga extract. General tonic and analgesic for chronic gastritis, gastrointestinal dyskinesias, stomach ulcers, cancer; has a positive effect on metabolism, promotes scarring of duodenal and stomach ulcers. Prescribed orally 3.5 grams. per day. The extract for use for 3 days is prepared as follows: remove the stopper from the bottle, heat the bottle with the extract, immersing it in water (t 60-70°C); 3 tsp. l. extract is diluted with 150 ml. boiled warm water. Take 30 minutes before. 1 table before meals. l. 3 r. per day in courses of 3-5 months, taking breaks for 7-10 days.

Contraindications and side effects

As a result of long-term continuous use of chaga preparations, some people experience increased excitability of the ANS (autonomic nervous system), which gradually disappears if the dose is reduced or the drug is discontinued. When treating with chaga, antibiotics (penicillin) and intravenous glucose should not be prescribed.

Chaga preparations are harmless, but they, like other medications, can only be taken as prescribed by a doctor. They are contraindicated for colitis, chronic dysentery, individual intolerance, pregnancy, and early childhood.

Diet for treatment with chaga

When treating with chaga, it is advisable to adhere to a dairy-vegetable diet, eating milk and vegetable soups, fruits and vegetables, kefir, milk, yogurt, feta cheese, cottage cheese, cereals, pasta, egg dishes, bran bread, jelly, compotes, vegetable and fruit juices, mineral water, weak, herbal teas.

You should limit or completely eliminate the consumption of spicy, spicy foods, smoked meats, canned food, meat, sausages, broths, fats, especially margarine, very hot and cold foods, strong tea and coffee, garlic and onions.

In principle, chaga can be collected at any time of the year, but in summer it is difficult to find the mushroom due to the large amount of greenery. In winter, collecting chaga is also not easy; you can get stuck in snowdrifts. Experts say that chaga contains the maximum amount of beneficial substances in the spring before the first greenery begins to appear. Chaga can also be collected in the fall, when the yellow foliage has disappeared. When collecting chaga, it is very important to distinguish it from the tinder fungus, which is very similar to the birch mushroom. Look carefully at the shape of the mushroom - chaga is shapeless and black in color. And the tinder growth grows in the shape of a horseshoe, more rounded, its color is lighter, closer to brown and brown.

When going into the forest to get chaga, be sure to take a good knife or hatchet with you. The fact is that the mushroom clings tightly to the tree bark and cannot be torn off with your hands. Do not cut chaga from dead trees under any circumstances - there is nothing useful in it, such a mushroom also died long ago. And there is no need to cut chaga from the lower parts of the tree - the higher the chaga is located towards the top, the more useful it is. Another piece of advice from experts is that you should not cut chaga from lonely birches, only from birches that grow in large groves.

After collection, you need to clean the chaga from the wood - where the mushroom came into contact with the tree bark. Then the black surface layer of the raw material is removed, leaving only the brown mass. It is crushed into small pieces, convenient for preparing a drink or medicine. The fact is that chaga hardens after drying; you cannot leave it in one piece. Drying chaga is not difficult - just leave the raw material in a well-ventilated place for a couple of weeks. Do not expose the mushroom to direct sunlight; protect the raw materials from ultraviolet radiation. More quick way drying - in the oven. Store ready-dried chaga in paper or canvas bags or boxes. You cannot store the product in a jar - chaga must breathe. Dried chaga can be stored for 2 years.

Beneficial properties of chaga for the human body

But why do people so carefully collect, prepare and store chaga? The list of its beneficial properties is very wide.

Bactericidal and antimicrobial properties. Due to its antiseptic effect, chaga is used in the fight against various external wounds, cuts, and inflammations. Chaga is used to make decoctions or lotions that successfully treat eczema, frostbite, and burns. Chaga is also an excellent antidote for poisonous insect bites.
Against gastritis. One of the main uses of chaga is the use of a decoction in the fight against inflamed gastric mucosa. Chaga perfectly heals the walls of the stomach, suppresses the development of ulcers, and relieves abdominal pain due to gastritis. In addition, chaga stimulates the production of enzymes and promotes digestion. Chaga decoction can be drunk for colic and intestinal spasms - it quickly relieves pain.
Oncology. Another common use of chaga is its use in the treatment of oncology. Of course, chaga will not be able to completely suppress cancer cells, but it significantly slows down their growth, improves the patient’s quality of life, and relieves pain.
Tone and immunity. Chaga contains a lot of useful substances that saturate the immune system weakened by the disease. Chaga decoction has always been given to people after suffering from infectious diseases, after nervous and physical exhaustion, to strengthen the immune system and increase vitality. The anti-inflammatory properties of chaga make it possible to use the mushroom as the best remedy for treating colds. Regular consumption of chaga as a drink is an excellent preventive measure during the winter season.
For the nervous system. Chaga is incredibly useful for various nervous pathologies. If you sleep poorly, if you suffer from insomnia, anxiety, apathy or panic attacks, if you are often nervous, and any external factors make you angry, you need to take a course of chaga. A large amount of vitamin B in the product helps strengthen the integrity of nerve fibers, you can become a calmer and more balanced person.
Treatment of the oral mucosa. Chaga has a powerful healing and astringent effect; it copes well with inflammatory processes in the oral cavity. Chaga decoction is used as a mouth rinse for stomatitis, periodontal disease, and periodontitis. Chaga copes well with throat diseases - rinses are effective for tonsillitis, laryngitis, tracheitis, pharyngitis, etc. In addition, a carefully strained chaga decoction is used in inhalations - the steam quickly settles on the inflamed wall of the mucous membrane of the larynx or lungs, relieves swelling and spasms, facilitates breathing, and relieves cough.
Anti-edema. Mushroom tincture and decoction are often used to combat swelling of the extremities. Chaga has a mild diuretic and choleretic effect.
For men. Chaga has long been considered the best remedy for treating male impotence. The fact is that chaga contains many microelements, the lack of which leads to a decrease in testosterone levels. Regular course use of the medicinal properties of chaga helps reduce the risk of developing prostate adenoma cancer.
For women. Chaga is also widely used for treatment female body. With its help, you can get rid of such diagnoses as cervical erosion, fibroids, endometriosis, ovarian cysts, and mastopathy. Douching or placing a cotton swab soaked in chaga decoction into the vagina can help get rid of sexually transmitted and infectious diseases. In past centuries, chaga was used to treat infertility. The beneficial properties of chaga for women also include the widespread use of the product for cosmetic purposes. Masks with chaga decoction improve complexion, fight acne and inflammation, suppress excess oily skin, and tighten the oval.

Chaga also perfectly lowers blood pressure and normalizes blood sugar levels, improves work of cardio-vascular system and regulates metabolism. Recently, chaga has begun to be used as an effective means for losing weight - it is low in calories, but has a lot of useful substances that the body needs so much during a poor diet.

Contraindications to the use of chaga

Any, even the most effective medicine and the most useful product can be dangerous if used incorrectly. To maximize the effect of chaga, home remedies should not be used simultaneously with a course of antibacterial therapy. For example, drugs of the penicillin group suppress the action of the fungus. In addition, chaga cannot be used in treatment with glucose - the effect of such therapy is reduced to zero. When treating with chaga, it is better to introduce more fermented milk products into the diet - this is an excellent environment for the development of beneficial fungi and bacteria. Contraindications to taking chaga include dysentery and acute infectious pathologies. In addition, chaga can cause an allergic reaction. You cannot treat with chaga during pregnancy and lactation; the medicine is also contraindicated for children. You should not drink chaga before bed - it will give you energy and strength; active wakefulness can interfere with healthy sleep.

Chaga is indeed very useful, but how to prepare it to get the most rich and effective medicinal composition?

Tea. A weak solution of chaga can be used as a drink without fear. To do this, the dry mass of chaga is crushed almost to a powdery state, and a teaspoon of raw material is poured into the teapot, like a regular tea leaves. Then pour boiling water - after 10 minutes the tea is ready. It can be taken for preventive purposes.
Decoction. For a more concentrated composition, use a decoction. In a liter jar you need to pour three tablespoons of chaga, crushed into pieces, pour boiling water, wrap and leave for 5-6 hours. Drink a decoction for oncology and gastritis; it can also be used for external use, rinsing the mouth, douching for hemorrhoids and gynecological diseases. During treatment, drink 100 ml of the decoction three times a day, half an hour before meals.
Infusion. Chaga alcohol tincture takes a long time to prepare, but can also be stored for just as long. A dark glass bottle should be filled with pieces of chaga, lightly compacted and filled with vodka or alcohol. Leave for 3-4 weeks in a dark and cool place. You need to shake the bottle periodically to make the infusion more rich and concentrated. When the infusion is ready, it is filtered and stored in the refrigerator for up to six months.
Chaga oil. Oil for external use can be used in the fight against various inflammatory processes on the skin; the oil perfectly relieves pain from rheumatism and arthritis. To prepare it, chaga is cut into small pieces, placed in a glass container, and poured with hot, but not boiling, oil so that the oil lightly covers the crushed chaga. The container should be closed and wrapped in a towel, and placed in a warm place for 10 hours. Next, the composition is filtered, and the raw materials are carefully squeezed out - it contains all the most useful and necessary things. Then the oil should be filtered through several layers of gauze and stored in the refrigerator. If necessary, heat in a water bath and apply to affected areas.

In addition, you can enhance the effect of chaga if you brew it with various medicinal herbs - chamomile, nettle, oregano, and string.

Chaga is a very strong and powerful natural medicine and should be used correctly. If you decide to be treated with chaga, be sure to consult with your doctor. This will allow you to avoid problems and get only benefits from the product.