The Magic of Mushrooms: 5 Benefits of Chaga

We are excited to finally announce the release of our first new addition to our capsule range, a blend of Himalayan Shilajit extract combined with four of the world's most beneficial medicinal mushrooms. Each of the ingredients included in our Altai Mountain Shilajit Mushroom Blend have been specifically selected for their vast range of health benefits. We have scoured the planet to find supreme quality extracts of Chaga, Lion's Mane, Cordyceps and Reishi. All of these medicinal mushrooms have been used in holistic healing cultures for thousands of years from the shamanic rituals in a wintery Siberian taiga to the towering mountains of ancient China, for preventing and treating illness and disease, increasing longevity, boosting the immune system and improving cognitive function among many others.

Let's dive in and take a look at each of the mushrooms, what qualities they possess and what health benefits they provide, starting with the birch dwelling Chaga.

Chaga (inonotus obliquus)

Native to the Circumboreal region of the Northern Hemisphere, Chaga is a fungi that can be found growing in Birch forests. Its appearance is rather ugly, an irregular shaped conk which resembles burnt coal. It is usually black in colour due to the high amounts of melanin. Known as the 'intelligent mushroom', due to the number of benefits is has stored with it, Chaga can grow in cold, harsh conditions. It’s very tough and durable and has been used medicinally in Siberia and across Asia to boost immunity and fend off illness and is commonly ground and prepared in a tea. It is high in minerals and antioxidants including:

Copper

Zinc

Potassium

Calcium

Iron

Selenium

Phytosterols

Protocatechuic acid

Polysaccharides

Triterpenes

Botulin

Ergosterol peroxide

P-hydroxybenzoic acids

These chemicals have been extracted from chaga for use in the development of anti-oxidising treatments and cancer treatments. Phytosterols and Triterpenes amongst the Ergosterol peroxide are the forerunners for alleviating mutations in the body such as tumours. Phydroxybenzoic acid can be used to restore balance within the blood and helps the flow of circulation in the blood stream improving vital organs and the lymph nodes.

Amongst other adaptogens used for therapeutic aid and not like other fungi, due it’s flavour chaga goes well with hot chocolate or rich drinks. The taste of chaga is similar to vanillin found in vanilla beans, earthy and slightly bitter.