Chaga
Inonotus obliquus
Mushrooms. Folk & home remedies and Western & European.
Also called Clinker polypore, Black mass, Birch conk
Spanish: Chaga
High oxalate, kidney stone riskA dark, crusty fungus that grows on birch trees in cold northern forests and is brewed as a tea.
Did you know? Chaga is not a mushroom cap at all. It is a hard, charcoal-like mass that grows out of birch bark and can take many years to form.
What it may help, and how strong the proof is
- Colds, flu & immunity. Lab and animal studies suggest immune effects. There are almost no good human trials.Traditional proof
- Inflammation. Lab and animal studies show anti-inflammatory activity. Human evidence is lacking.Traditional proof
- Blood sugar. Some animal studies show lower blood sugar. No good human trials have confirmed this.Traditional proof
- Cleansing & detox. Sold as a detox tonic. There is no good evidence that it removes toxins from the body.Not supported
Parts of the body
Immune system, Joints, Pancreas & blood sugar, Liver, Kidneys & bladder
Traditional use
In Siberia, northern Russia and parts of Scandinavia, people have brewed chaga into tea for generations for general health and warmth in winter.
How it is classified
- Herbal actions
- Antioxidant, Immune balancer, Anti-inflammatory. Energy: neutral.
How people take it
Usually brewed as a tea from chunks or powder, or taken as an extract. Human dosing is not well studied, so there is no standard amount.
Tea, powder, tincture and capsule.
Where to get it
Grows on birch trees, mostly in cold regions of Russia, Siberia, Canada, northern Europe and parts of Asia. Sold as dried chunks, powder, tea and tinctures.
Be careful
Chaga is high in oxalate, which can raise the risk of kidney stones in people prone to them. Tea and extracts can be very high in oxalate. It may also affect blood sugar and clotting, so use caution with diabetes or blood-thinning medicines.
Avoid if: kidney stones; kidney disease; pregnancy; breastfeeding; bleeding disorders; diabetes medicines.
Mixing with other things
- Use cautionBlood thinners (warfarin, Eliquis, Xarelto, Plavix, daily aspirin)
May add to blood-thinning effects in lab studies. Use caution with warfarin or similar drugs.
- Use cautionDiabetes medicine (metformin, insulin, glipizide, Ozempic)
May lower blood sugar. Insulin or diabetes pills could drop it too far.
Adds up with others that may slow blood clotting: , , , , , , , , , , , , , and 40 more.
Adds up with others that may lower blood sugar: , , , , , , , , , , , , , and 39 more.
Found in these formulas
Mushroom coffee (Modern)
The honest take
Chaga has antioxidant compounds, but human research is very thin. Claims that it cures cancer or detoxes the body are not supported by good evidence. Its high oxalate content is a real concern for some people, and wild-harvested chaga is often mixed with bark.