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Mushrooms are having a moment, for sure. Their versatility only adds to their appeal: You can cook them, incorporate them into your skincare routine, or drink them as a coffee alternative. While you hear a lot about reishi or shiitake mushrooms, there’s another variety of fungi that’s beginning to steal the spotlight: chaga. In particular, people are talking about chaga tea benefits. Here’s the, ahem, tea on the buzzy beverage.
Experts in This Article
doctor of Chinese medicine and author of Myung Sung: The Korean Art of Living Meditation
naturopathic doctor
Harvard-trained nutritional psychiatrist, professional chef, and nutritional biologist
William W. Li, MD, is a physician, scientist, and author of “Eat to Beat Disease: The New Science of How Your Body Can Heal Itself.”
Chaga—also known as Inonotus obliquus—is a mushroom that grows on birch trees in cold climate areas such as Northern Europe, Russia, and Asia. It’s then dried and ground up into a powder, which you steep in hot water to make tea, says Melanie Keller, a naturopathic doctor.
Curious about chaga? Keep reading to learn more about chaga tea benefits, potential side effects, how to choose the best chaga tea, and how to make it.
6 chaga tea benefits to know
1. It’s packed with antioxidants
With chaga tea, you can sip happily knowing one cup of the hot drink is full of antioxidants that do your body good. “Chaga mushrooms are packed with adaptogenic properties, antioxidants, and nutrients that can improve your overall wellness and increase longevity,” says Jenelle Kim, DACM, LAc, a certified herbalist, doctor of Chinese Medicine, and founder and lead formulator for JBK Wellness Labs.
2. Chaga tea may aid in cancer treatment and prevention
In many cultures, it’s believed that chaga can help prevent and aid in cancer treatment. “In Norway, chaga mushrooms are even called ‘kreftkjuke’ which translates to ‘cancer fungus,’” Dr. Kim says. Although more research is needed to confirm this benefit, initial studies do seem promising.
“There have been a number of studies on the aqueous extract of chaga that demonstrate its potent anti-tumor and anti-cancer activities in several countries,” Keller says. “Chaga has also demonstrated an ability to suppress the progression of cancer. One study found a 60-percent tumor reduction was observed in tumor-bearing mice, while in metastatic mice, the number of nodules decreased by 25 percent compared to the control group. However, the actual effect and underlying mechanisms are still unclear.”
3. It supports the immune system
“Several in-vitro studies have also shown the extracts from chaga mushroom can help regulate the immune system and the body’s ability to fight off illness and allergies,” says Uma Naidoo, MD, a nutritional psychiatrist, professional chef, nutrition specialist, and author of the bestselling book This Is Your Brain on Food. “Animal studies on these claims confirmed that mice who consumed chaga extracts before exposure to food allergens had less of a reaction than those that did not consume the extract, suggesting that chaga mushroom may be used as an anti-allergic functional food.”
4. Chaga can help with stomach ulcers
If you deal with painful sores that develop on the inside lining of your stomach, consider adding chaga tea to your rotation—after checking with your primary care doctor, of course. “Chaga has shown an effective, antiulcer activity in stomach ulcers,” Keller says.
5. Chaga tea has potential antiviral effects
There’s been buzz around functional mushrooms such as chaga and how they can potentially support your immune system. And Keller points out that some initial reports have revealed insights into chaga’s antiviral effects in relation to Covid-19, which seem promising. But again, more research is needed to confirm, and you should be consulting with a doctor regarding any treatment protocol.
6. It’s anti-inflammatory
“Many studies have also shown that metabolites from chaga mushroom extract interact with cells to suppress their inflammatory responses in both in vitro and mouse studies,” says Dr. Naidoo; however, she notes that these studies use a highly concentrated chaga mushroom extract—not chaga tea in particular, and these claims haven’t yet been tested on humans.
Side effects of drinking chaga tea
According to Dr. Kim, most people don’t experience any adverse side effects when drinking chaga tea. But people with the conditions listed below are advised to avoid it.
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