Chaga Tea Benefits

Chaga tea benefits have long been known by people in the Russian, Polish, Baltic and Siberian regions. Chaga is taken as a health and longevity tonic by people from these regions and its health benefits are derived from the remarkably high concentration of antioxidants in this mushroom.

The healing properties of the chaga mushroom have been written in text by the Chinese herbalist Shen Nong in the 1 st century B.C. However, it is in the Russian and Baltic regions where these properties have been used extensively and the tea made from the chaga mushroom has been embraced as a tonic for various ailments.

Chaga is an irregularly-shaped polypore fungus (most commonly known as mushroom) that grows on the wounds of birch trees and occasionally on elm trees, alder trees and ironwood trees. The chaga mushroom resembles the appearance of charred wood. The interiors of the chaga mushroom have a rusted brown color while its veins are white or cream colored. It has a craggy texture and is known to hold much less water than other types of mushrooms.

The active constituents of the chaga mushroom are the following: polysaccharides, flavonoids, triterpenes, germanium, betulinic acid, saponins, amino acids, lignins, iron, chromium, magnesium and beta-glucan. This rich antioxidant content is what imbues the chaga with considerable amounts of healing properties and makes the mushroom potentially valuable in the search for ways to heal and treat many of today's acute ailments.

Chaga tea has attained a considerable following in the Russian and Baltic regions. This tea is typically made by shredding the chaga mushrooms and then softening it in cold water for about five hours. Then get the softened mushrooms but save the liquid. Add heated water to the softened mushrooms and let it stand for about 2 days. When ready to drink, mix the resultant chaga tea with the saved liquid from the softening process as it contains a rich amount of antioxidants. Chaga tea may be drunk thrice a day.

The following are the health benefits attributed to chaga tea:

Chaga tea may help boost and strengthen the immune system.

Chaga tea may be helpful in the treatment of various stomach diseases.

Chaga tea may be helpful in expelling intestinal worms.

Chaga tea may be helpful in the treatment of liver problems.

Chaga tea may be helpful in the treatment of certain heart ailments, including hypertension.

Chaga tea may be helpful in fighting tumors and lowering the risk of certain cancers, like                     those involving the breast, liver, uterus and stomach.

Chaga tea may be helpful in the treatment of diabetes.

Chaga tea may have actions against HIV.

Chaga tea may have anti-inflammatory properties.