Chaga - funghi - 50g

Plant description

A species of fungi, found in various types of forests, less often in parks. It develops on trunks of deciduous trees, mainly on silver birch and aspen, but it has also been recorded on maples, alders, hornbeams, beeches, rowans and elms. It is a parasite that causes intense white rot of wood. It takes many years to develop and usually causes the tree to die. It penetrates the tree through wounds.

Properties

In folk medicine in Eastern Europe, asexual fruiting bodies are used to make an infusion that improves mood, has anti-inflammatory properties and heals stomach ailments. In some countries, an extract with medicinal properties is produced from its fruiting bodies - incl. regulating metabolism and blood pressure, and increasing the body's resistance. This preparation has the trade name chaga. The efficacy of extract in the treatment of HIV-1 and gastric ulcers, as well as its cytostatic activity against some neoplasms, has been confirmed.

The healing properties have been known since at least the 16th century. According to legends, it cured lip cancer of the Russian prince Wolodimir Monomach. In the 1950s in Russia, preparations under the trade names Befungin, Binchaga (Bin-Chaga), and Binan -8 were introduced into treatment.

Due to its structure, the lit chaga can smolder and glow for several hours. For this reason, the ancient peoples of the northern regions of Eurasia and North America, who did not yet know the art of starting fire, used it to carry fire.