Chaga is a woody parasite that has long been used in folk medicine, and nowadays, medicines and dietary supplements are produced on its basis. Chaga mushroom is recommended for use with reduced immunity, problems with the intestines, skin, and it also helps alleviate the condition of patients with cancer.
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Chaga is also called a birch fungus, because it is on a birch that it parasitizes most often. Inonotus (also known as a mantle and chaga) develops exclusively on living trees, since it feeds on the host, leading to its death.
Appears on a damaged tree bark that has been infected by its spores. You can see the parasite on the cortex only 3-4 years after its infection. Initially, the chaga looks like a black unformed outgrowth, which only ten years later forms outgrowth-shaped outgrowths. The growth is black only outside, the closer its part directly to the cortex, the brighter it is.
So, inside the growth is brown, and near the wood itself it is reddish-brown. The body of the fungus is permeated with colorless hyphae that look like light veins. As the fruit body ripens, crest-shaped outgrowths form, which literally break through the bark of the tree and lead to the death of the birch.
Useful properties of birch mushroom
The growth, as it develops, is nourished by useful microelements contained in birch sap and directly in the tree itself.
Useful properties of the tinder mowed:
- antimicrobial;
- antiseptic;
- diuretic;
- immunostimulating;
- metabolic
- anti-inflammatory;
- analgesic;
- healing;
- hemostatic;
- antispasmodic.
Due to the content of a large number of useful microelements, tinder fungus helps to normalize the intestinal microflora, accelerate scarring of damaged tissues, restore the functioning of the heart and strengthen the human immune system.
Chaga-based medicines also benefit the nervous system and neurohumoral regulation. Some people take a decoction or infusion from a healing "growth" as a vitamin complex.
In addition, the fungus is widely used in cancer, as it is believed that it slows the growth of pathological cells and helps to alleviate the general condition of the patient.
Harm of tree fungus and contraindications to it
Despite the many useful properties that the mushroom possesses, its thoughtless and improper use can harm the body. For the safe and effective use of the fungus, it is necessary to become familiar with the diseases and conditions in which its intake is limited.
Contraindications for use:
- dysentery;
- colitis;
- diseases accompanied by diarrhea;
- allergic to the fungus or to one of the components that it contains.
It is also not recommended to use tinder fungus for children under 12 years of age, pregnant and lactating women. Such limitations are due to the fact that some substances of the fungus suppress the processes necessary for the growth of the child and the fetus in the womb.the slanted inotus cannot be taken during antibiotic therapy or, if necessary, in the \ in the introduction of glucose.
During the use of tinder, it is necessary to refrain from eating fatty, fried and smoked foods. It is also recommended to reduce the amount of fast carbohydrates and fast food. The basis of the diet during treatment should be vegetable and dairy products. Such dietary restrictions will help to avoid unwanted adverse reactions from the digestive system.
Rules for the collection of raw materials
You can collect "growths" at any time of the year, since their growth does not depend on climatic conditions. But in the summer it is much more difficult to find mushrooms, in the fall and in the spring on bare trees without foliage the “growth" is noticeable better.
During a quiet hunt, the main thing is not to confuse the chaga with other parasites that are toxic to the human body. True or false polypants have a clear and pronounced form, unlike chaga.
Also, other tinder fungus quite easily separated from the tree, but to cut the healing "growth" you need to make an effort. It is also worth remembering that the chaga has a black color in contrast to the false tinder.
The inotus is fairly tightly attached to the cortex, so you can cut it with either a very sharp knife or an hatchet. It is recommended to cut off those mushrooms that grow at a distance of 0.5–2 m from the ground. The higher they grow, the more useful they are considered.
Pipers do not gather from the dead trees, because together with the "master" the parasite also dies. Dead "growth" does not have any useful properties.
Chaga needs to be cleaned of tree bark and a reddish-brown loose layer. It is best to clean it at home. After cleaning, the chaga is cut into pieces 1.5–4 cm in size and dried at a temperature of no more than 60 degrees.
Store chaga blanks in a place protected from light and moisture. It is not recommended to harvest a large amount of raw materials, since the beneficial properties of the mushroom after cutting are preserved only for 4 months.
Indications for the use of chaga for medicinal purposes
In order to use the mushroom for medicinal purposes, at home, you can prepare an infusion, oil or extract.
Means are used for diseases and conditions such as:
- Periodontal disease.
- Stomatitis.
- Toothache.
- Peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum.
- Gastritis.
- Biliary dyskinesia.
- Oncological diseases, regardless of localization.
- Reduced body resistance to infections and viruses.
- The postoperative period.
- Insomnia.
- Obesity.
- Hypertension.
- Psoriasis, eczema and other skin diseases.
- Burns and frostbite.
- Skin wounds.
- Herpes.
- Diabetes.
Cooking oil
For the preparation of butter, 2.5 tbsp. tablespoons of olive oil with 1 teaspoon of chaga infusion. The oil is infused in a cool place, protected from light, for 24 hours.
It is used to lubricate problematic or damaged areas of the skin, joints and muscles. Chaga oil solution is also used to treat tumors that are superficial (breast, skin, and others).
Decoction
There are several ways to brew a mushroom. For the first method, you need 2 liters of water and 250 g of mushrooms. Raw materials are soaked in water until soft. Next, the chaga is grinded and put back into the water.The resulting mixture must undergo heat treatment within 1 hour. Boil the liquid over low heat.
The resulting infusion is filtered immediately after cooling. You can add honey, lemon, infusion of viburnum and other auxiliary components of plant origin to it. You can take the product several times a day for 30-60 minutes before eating.
For alcoholic infusion, you need a dry wood parasite mushroom (50 g) and 330 ml of vodka. The components are mixed and infused for three weeks in a dark and cold place. Tincture before use must be filtered.
You need to drink tincture several times a day, half an hour before a meal. A single dose of alcohol tincture - 1 tablespoon + 50 ml of water.
Preparation of the extract
To prepare the extract, both freshly cut and dry "growth" are suitable. To do this, take 2 tablespoons of crushed raw materials and pour it with warm boiled water (150 ml). Insist the resulting mixture for 2 days. Before use, the concentrated solution is filtered. The extract is taken 1 tablespoon 10-15 minutes before eating.
Reviews of people taking the drug
Reviews from people who used inonotus to treat certain diseases are usually positive:
Galina, 31 years old: “This mushroom is really a panacea. Thanks to him, I got rid of a duodenal ulcer and insomnia. He was still treated by my grandmother and was delighted. I recommend taking it as an infusion, even just as a tonic. It perfectly launches metabolic processes in the body. "
Lyudmila, 45 years old: “A wonderful remedy. I take it inside as a tea or infusion, and I smear it with oil, wounds and even burns. Not a single medicine has relieved me of as many health problems as this mushroom. I could even lose weight! It just perfectly affects the metabolism and microflora of the intestine. With him I completely forgot about dysbiosis. "
Answers to widespread questions
Regarding the proper use of the mushroom, people have some questions:
Chaga is a parasitic fungus that has many beneficial properties due to its high content of active components and beneficial microelements. It is well tolerated by the body and helps to alleviate the condition even in severe diseases. But its use must be agreed with the attending physician.