Siberian chaga mushroom appears as a black mass on birch trees, dead or alive. Occasionally, it may also be seen growing on hornbeam, ash, elm or beech.

Europeans have used chaga for centuries as a cure for digestive ailments, tuberculosis, and cancers of the liver and heart. [121]

Traditionally, the black “skin” of the mushroom was removed and the light inside boiled into tea. As a naturally compact remedy, it was conveniently portable to ancient healers.

Modern research on chaga has mainly focused on its potential application as an anti-cancer remedy. In Russia, this usage was already approved as early as 1955 to treat lung, stomach, breast and cervical cancers. [122]

A modern study conducted in 1998 showed that chaga extract does indeed inhibit the growth of cervical cancer cells under laboratory conditions. [123] Another study from the mid-90’s found the active compound betulin to cause growth inhibition and death of melanoma cells, also in lab. [124, 25]

Other research papers also confirm that some of the active compounds of chaga help retard the growth of cancer cells. [125, 126]

The black color of chaga is caused by betulin, a medicinally active compound that makes up 30% of the skin. [127] The lighter inside of the mushroom is rich in fungal lanostanes. So chaga tea may be more effective if made with the whole mushroom, including the skin.

The best chaga extracts are made not only from the whole mushroom fruit body but also the mycelia (“roots”), which contain more medically active protein compounds than the fruit bodies.

Research on chaga has also reported potent anti-viral properties. Two studies on influenza virus [127] and HIV [128] were published with positive results in 1996. Chaga probably works on viruses indirectly by enhancing the human immune system, as indicated by two papers published in 2002 and 2005. [25, 129] Historical use of chaga as an anti-inflammatory may be attributed to that same mechanism. [130]

Furthermore, alcohol extract of chaga mushroom has been found to lower blood sugar levels. [131] Chaga also demonstrates significant antioxidant properties that help protect the genetic integrity of the cells. [132, 133]

As an interesting aside unrelated to human health, a Quebec arborist uses a chaga poultice to cure chestnut blight. The trees later even become immune to the blight and resistant to future infections. [134]

Note: The statements on this page have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This article is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Never use any medicinal mushroom or herb without prior approval by medical doctor.

Credit to Paul Stamets for research and source material.

Dr. Markho Rafael has worked with natural health since finishing Chiropractic College in the mid-90’s. He currently specializes in medicinal mushrooms in cooperation with Cordyceps Reishi Extracts, LLC, an NC business offering Siberian Chaga Mushroom Extract and much more. For the research references to this article, go to the Chaga Extract page and click on any number indicating a reference.

Diabetes is becoming a more common disease and using Ayurvedic diabetes herbs is one way of improving the lives of diabetics. Diabetes occurs when there is an abnormally large amount of sugar present in the person’s bloodstream. This can be observed in the urine and will manifest many unpleasant symptoms and several warning signs.

Although Diabetes cannot be cured according to modern medicine, that does not mean that those who are suffering from the disease should give up hope of leading happy and healthy lives. There are several methods and remedies for controlling blood sugar and lessening the resultant symptoms caused by Diabetes.

Ayurveda is a well-known and effective system for healthy living that was developed in ancient India. Certain Ayurvedic herbs are known for their ability to decrease sugars in the bloodstream as well as other anti-diabetic effects. These herbal remedies are powerful methods of improving the quality of life for diabetics.

One of these Ayurveda diabetes herbs is the bael. The leaves of this plant have been known to have anti-diabetic elements. With a tiny pinch of black pepper, diabetics can consume the extract of the bael leaves.

The bitter gourd or the ampalaya is also a popular plant that is known to treat diabetes. It is perhaps the most popular and widely used Ayurvedic diabetic herb that has proven results to over thousands of diabetics worldwide. The charantin that the seeds of the plant contain greatly helps normalize the level of sugar in the blood. The downside of this herb though is that it tastes bitter but that’s just the way you have to eat it because the more bitter it is, the more compact and complete its anti-diabetic properties are.

Fenugreek is commonly known and is also often used by diabetics. This plant suppresses the release of sugar in diabetics’ urine; an uncomfortable symptom of the disease.

Garlic, which is a known spice that is widely used, is also known to produce beneficial results to diabetics. It reduces blood sugar and even aides in the disintegration of harmful cholesterols in the body.

Jamun, the Indian plum, stimulates the pancreas to control the metabolic conversion of foods into sugar. By normalizing the sugar levels entering the body’s systems, the blood sugar levels can be balanced and consequently this prevents dangerous conditions for sufferers of Diabetes.

There are many other herbs that have a proven effect against diabetes. These include neem, onions and turmeric which, aside from providing relief from the symptoms of the medical condition, also give other health benefits and promote well-being.

There is a particularly powerful blend of Ayurvedic herbs that includes Mamejava, Kariyatu, Methi, Amalaki, Jambu Beej, Karela, Galo Satva, Neem Chhal, Gudmar, Kadu, and Haridra. It has been proven to be a powerful remedy for even the worst cases of Diabetes.

This disease is seriously debilitating and is becoming more and more common. By implementing appropriate herbal remedial treatments and healthy dietary routines, there is hope in achieving a normalized day-to-day life. By controlling daily habits and being patient, those diabetics who are persistent in their quest for health will find lasting results that are much better than the alternative.

Nicole Kerala has been studying Ayurveda and alternative medicine for over 10 years. Nicole has found that using ayurvedic herbal remedies has helped countless people to enhance their quality of life. More information about Ayurvedic herbal treatments can be seen here: Natural Ayurvedic Care

Medicinal mushrooms, hugely popular for thousands of years in the Orient, are coming in vogue today also in the West. On the coattails of their increasing popularity follow issues of quality and ethical representation between competing brands.

All medicinal mushroom species are plagued by this. Most fiercely debated is red reishi (Ganoderma lucidum), the most popular of all medicinal mushrooms. So this article will primarily focus on that species, but it’s generally applicable to all species of medicinal mushrooms.

First off, stay clear of cheap, mass-produced medicinal mushrooms. If they are just dried and pulverized, then the medicinal compounds are still inaccessible behind the mushrooms’ cell-walls. You’ll be wasting your money on inert matter.

There are many real therapeutic brands on the market, though. But even among them, there are significant differences. They all claim to be the best, naturally, because they all want to sell their particular brand. So let’s sift the data, get the facts straight, and clear up misleading information that is out there.

Following are the three primary ways of creating reishi extracts. Each method yields different medicinal compounds, all of which are shown in scientific studies to have important properties.

1. Water (Hot) Extraction (polysaccharides, etc.)

2. Alcohol Extraction (triterpenoids, etc.)

3. Fermentation (arabinoxylanes, etc.)

The most important hot water extracted compounds are the polysaccharides. Studies have shown them to possess strong anti-tumor properties, help boost immune system and be powerful antioxidants. [1]

Through alcohol extraction, we get triterpenoids, a large group of lipids with many sub-groups. Research shows triterpenoids help regulate clotting, blood pressure and cholesterol. More importantly, they are the anti-inflammatory compounds that are the reason why reishi often gets recommended for arthritis, asthma and allergies. [1]

Finally, by fermenting the red reishi, the original medicinal compounds break down to form new compounds with unique healing properties. These “secondary metabolites” have among other things been shown to be immune enhancing and help regulate blood sugar, as well as having unique anti-tumor properties. [2]

Since this article is not intended to elevate any one brand over another, no brand names will be mentioned. Nevertheless, the author does know of two highly reputed brands (American and Japanese) that claim only hot water extracted red reishi is of any value and that alcohol extracts are useless.

They do that, of course, because they wish to sell their products. However, there is no scientific validity to those claims. All three extraction methods listed above yield important medicinal compounds.

When looking for the best reishi extract, find one that uses at least the first two extraction methods in combination: Hot Water and Alcohol Extraction. Even better may be a brand that includes all three methods listed.

An additional point to keep in mind is the form the reishi comes in. Reishi that dissolves completely in a water-based liquid such as coffee probably only contains reishi from hot water extraction. As a substitute for regular coffee, this would be a superb health-choice. However, it will not contain the water-insoluble triterpenoids so valued for their anti-inflammatory properties.

Surprisingly, though, alcohol tinctures may include both hot water extract and alcohol extract. You will know if the alcohol tincture contains polysaccharides because when the alcohol and hot water extracts are blended, the polysaccharides fall out of solution and the tincture becomes cloudy. (Just shake it before you take it.) A cloudy medicinal mushroom tincture is an indication of high polysaccharide content. Capsules and tablets may be either hot water extract or alcohol extract or both.

[1] Boh B, Berovic M, Zhang J, Zhi-Bin L. “Ganoderma lucidum and its pharmaceutically active compounds.” Biotechnology Annual Review 2007;13:265-301.

[2] Tang YJ, Zhang W, Zhong JJ. “Performance analyses of a pH-shift and DOT-shift integrated fed-batch fermentation process for the production of ganoderic acid and Ganoderma polysaccharides by medicinal mushroom Ganoderma lucidum.” Bioresource Technology 2009 Mar;100(5):1852-9.

Dr. Rafael has worked in the health field since the early 90’s, currently specializing in medicinal mushrooms. He partners with Davida Sara on premium reishi extract and cordyceps extract plus the newly popular mesima mushroom and more.