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What is Chaga Mushroom?
Chaga Mushroom is a nutritious fungus, used in traditional Russian and Chinese medicine as a remedy for various conditions. These days it is primarily enjoyed for its high nutritional value and antioxidant properties, while initial scientific research suggests that at least some of its purported health benefits could prove to be true.
Despite the name, chaga is not technically a mushroom, but a cluster of a different type of fungi that live on the bark of trees in colder climates. It is black on the outside, like a lump of charcoal, with a softer, amber-coloured center.
Chaga is traditionally taken grated into a powder and steeped in hot water to create mushroom tea, which has an earthy, slightly bitter flavour. Mushroom tea can be an acquired taste, so if it’s not your thing, chaga is now also available in capsule form.
Chaga Mushroom is a nutritious fungus, used in traditional Russian and Chinese medicine as a remedy for various conditions. These days it is primarily enjoyed for its high nutritional value and antioxidant properties, while initial scientific research suggests that at least some of its purported health benefits could prove to be true.
Despite the name, chaga is not technically a mushroom, but a cluster of a different type of fungi that live on the bark of trees in colder climates. It is black on the outside, like a lump of charcoal, with a softer, amber-coloured centre.
Chaga is traditionally taken grated into a powder and steeped in hot water to create mushroom tea, which has an earthy, slightly bitter flavour. Mushroom tea can be an acquired taste, so if it’s not your thing, chaga is now also available in capsule form.
What are the Health Benefits of Chaga?
Chaga is a ‘nutrient dense’ food, meaning that it contains a high proportion of nutrients per calorie. It provides several important vitamins and minerals, including B-complex vitamins, Vitamin D, potassium, rubidium, cesium, copper, selenium, zinc, iron, manganese, magnesium and calcium, and is also a good source of dietary fibre, which is vital for a healthy digestive system.
Another benefit of taking chaga is the high antioxidant content. Antioxidants are known to protect your body from certain types of call damage. Studies on mice suggest that chaga may provide a helpful boost for your immune system. Results show that chaga may be effective in stimulating white blood cells to fight off infections, although more human studies are needed before we can know for sure.
Despite the potential health benefits of chaga, there are also a few possible side effects, particularly for people with certain conditions. The ways in which chaga interacts with blood sugar levels and the immune system is not yet fully understood, so if you are diabetic, or suffer from autoimmune disease check with your doctor before taking chaga. Likewise, chaga contains a protein that can prevent blood from clotting, and so may not be suitable for people with bleeding disorders, anyone taking blood-thinning medication, or those about to undergo surgery.
What is Reishi Mushroom?
Reishi is another mushroom popularly used in traditional Chinese medicine. It is a brightly-coloured orange, red and gold mushroom that can be found growing on the hemlock tree in tropical and temperate climates. Unlike chaga, reishi is a true mushroom, and can be eaten fresh or taken in powdered form.
What are the Benefits of Reishi?
Reishi has been hailed as a cure for all manner of ailments, but as yet there is relatively little research available, and the results that we do have are decidedly mixed.
There is some evidence that reishi can help boost your immune system, particularly if you are already ill. There has been research into the effect of reishi on healthy people, but here results have been mixed, with some studies suggesting that reishi can also boost immune function in healthy people, while other studies showed no effect.
Some people also take reishi to help with depression and anxiety, and it is often referred to as ‘nature’s Xanax’. As ever, research is scarce, but the little evidence we do have appears to be positive in this regard. A study into sufferers of neurasthenia, a disease associated with dizziness, headaches and irritability showed that patients given reishi extract experienced less fatigue and a greater sense of well-being after 8 weeks of treatment.
There have also been studies into the effect of reishi on heart health, but here early results suggest that reishi has little or no effect. One study suggests that reishi may help increase ‘good’ HDL cholesterol, but most studies in this area have shown no effect at all. Similarly, some studies suggest that reishi may help lower blood sugar levels, but the majority of research contradicts these findings.
There is also some concern that reishi may have unwanted side-effects, including digestive discomfort or upset stomach. These effects are usually relatively minor, although there have been at least two cases of serious liver problems. In both cases, the problems occurred when switching to powdered reishi.
Taking reishi is not recommended if you have low blood pressure, a blood disorder, are preparing to undergo surgery, are pregnant or breastfeeding. If you are unsure, you should always check with your doctor.
Should I Eat Chaga or Reishi?
Neither of these mushrooms should be used in the place of conventional medicine, but there’s nothing to stop most people (with notable exceptions mentioned above) from using them as a health supplement. At the very least, they’re a good source of nutrition, and as for the rest, the jury is still out - perhaps they will prove to have important health benefits after all. Choose chaga for its antioxidant properties, and reishi to boost your mood and immune system.
