(image: indigo herbs)
Mushrooms mushrooms mushrooms. Autumn is just around the corner and I can't wait for the fungi fun to get underway. For most of us mushrooms are something we buy at the store to chuck into that tasty Italian dish. But there are fungi out there that have amazing properties in regards to health and well being. So in this write up I'm going to cover the king of the medicinal fungi, the not so pretty but oh so useful Chaga fungus.
(image: zenjenskin.com)
Identifying:
So the good old Chaga fungus isn't much for looks. In fact it's down right ugly. The exterior is black as soot and the inside has a rusty coloration to it. But this does make it easy to identify and not confuse with anything else dangerous. When you find a specimen a good rule is to make sure you're taking it from a healthy host. I.e not a tree that has been sprayed with pesticides. All species of fungus take properties from their hosts and surroundings so caution is always the word of the day.
(images: dengarden.com/foragerchef.com)
How to harvest:
Hunting for this humble fungus will definitely give you a sore neck from looking up all the time, but when you spot one it's worth the ache. There are a number of ways to harvest Chaga and bringing the right tools is essential. The most important thing to keep in mind is never never never cut into the tree. Chaga predominantly grow on Silver Birch, and the growth of the Chaga is often an indicator of underlying health problems with the tree. So try not to add to this by hacking away. The Silver Birch gives us its xylitol rich sap (amazing sugar substitute) in the spring and the Chaga in the autumn so giving it courtesy in exchange for what it provides is always a good practice. When harvesting some use a hammer but I tend to use a pruning saw and gentle motion to free this little treasure from the trunk.
Uses:
So I've tried a number of approaches with Chaga and found making a vodka tincture the way to go. I simply pop into the vodka and leave it to sit for eight to nine weeks and presto. A super immune system booster to have every evening with a meal. Most prefer to use it in a tea but I'm a fan of the vodka combo.
Another way to approach preparation I tried was to grind it down using my electric coffee grinder after drying it. I then crammed it into capsules but it was a lot of work compared to the vodka approach. If you want to try the vodka tincture simply heat up two cups of vodka until there is steam rising from the pot, add a cup of sugar, and poor it over your dried Chaga then seal in an air tight sterilized container. Leave it sit and in two months you've got a powerful immune system ally during those bleak dark months of winter.
(image: spoonuniversity.com)
So to outline the health benefits of this remarkable fungi ally:
Stimulates and regulates the immune system
Nutritional support in the fight against cancer
Reduce inflammation
Anti-aging & Skin care
Ulcers and Gastritis
Supports normal cholesterol levels & Blood pressure
High in Amino Acids, Dietary Fiber, Ionized Trace Minerals (Copper, Selenium, Zinc, Magnese, Iron), Ionized Essential minerals (Magnesium, Potassium, Calcium, Chloride, Sodium, Phosphorus), Vitamin B1 (Thiamine), B2 (Riboflavin), B3 (Niacin), Vitamin K, Vitamin D2 (Ergosterol), which is not found in vegetables.
All of these are confirmed health plus points of consuming the Chaga. ... Which is why it's probably so bloody expensive. But you don't have to pay out the nose to keep your nose unblocked during the cold and flu season. Simply take a walk and go inspect some Silver Birch trees.
So fellow Steemonians that's it for this post. If this is the first time you have visited and have an interest in all things health and plant related I can't recommend strongly enough that you visit #naturalmedicine. They are a new hashtag here on Steemit and run by 
Thank you so much for reading and best of luck with all you're posts. Keep on Steeming folks.
