About
Inonotus obliquus, widely known as Chaga, is a parasitic medicinal fungus that grows primarily on birch trees in cold climates across Northern Europe, Russia, Canada, and Alaska. With its charcoal-black, crusty exterior and deep brown inner mass, Chaga has been used for centuries in traditional medicine, especially in Siberian and Scandinavian cultures, where it’s prized for its immune-boosting, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties.
History
Chaga has a long-standing role in traditional herbal medicine. In Siberian folklore, it was called the "Gift from God" or "Mushroom of Immortality," and was used as a tea to treat digestive issues, cancer, and to enhance overall vitality. Indigenous peoples of North America also used it for its cleansing and energizing effects.
It gained global attention in the 20th century following the publication of Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn’s novel Cancer Ward, where Chaga was referenced as a folk remedy. Since then, modern science has validated many of its traditional uses, confirming the presence of powerful compounds like betulinic acid, melanin, and polysaccharides.
Overview
Chaga appears as a blackened, irregular mass on birch trunks, often resembling burnt charcoal. Inside, it reveals a softer, rust-colored interior. Unlike typical mushrooms, it does not produce visible fruiting bodies and is instead harvested for its sclerotium—a dense mass of mycelium.
Chaga is consumed almost exclusively as an extract, tea, or supplement. It is not eaten raw due to its hardness and bitter taste. It’s rich in antioxidants, particularly superoxide dismutase (SOD), and is commonly used to support immunity, reduce oxidative stress, and promote skin and liver health.
Physical Characteristics
Caps:
Irregular, crusty, black
Gills:
None
Choosing the Right Products
• Check whether Wild or Cultivated Mycelium:
Wild will be more potent, but cultivated is much more sustainable. If cultivated verify seller has testing for beta-glucan / triterpene levels.
Cognitive Effects
Calm
Chaga mushroom has been shown to have calming effects.
Memory
Demonstrated improved learning and memory in mice with scopolamine-induced amnesia
Helps With
Immune System
Shown to stimulate immune system function
Cancer
May help prevent cancer
Diabetes
May help lower blood sugar levels
Inflammation
May help reduce inflammation
Oxidative Stress
Chaga mushroom (Inonotus obliquus) is a powerful natural remedy known for its exceptional antioxidant properties, making it highly effective in combating oxidative stress. Rich in bioactive compounds like polysaccharides, melanin, and superoxide dismutase, Chaga helps neutralize harmful free radicals in the body, thereby protecting cells from damage and reducing inflammation.
Injury Recovery
Chaga is one of the most antioxidant-rich foods on the planet, and helps to stimulate the most powerful antioxidant in the body: superoxide dismutase, which helps to protect against oxidative stress. Exercise, especially intense or long-duration forms, creates a lot of free-radicals in the body which can cause damage, and Chaga mushroom with its antioxidant powers can help to combat this. Anti oxidents have also been shown to help with injury recovery.
Ulcers
Chaga mushroom has anti-inflammatory, immune-boosting, metabolism-stimulating, and antioxidative properties that can help heal a gastric ulcer.
Arthritis
Chaga mushroom has anti-inflammatory, immune-boosting, metabolism-stimulating, and antioxidative properties that can help heal arthritis.
Medicinal Chemistry
Similar Species
Species: Phellinus igniarius
Edibility: Inedible and could cause digestive issues if consumed.
Key Differences: This fungus has a hard, woody texture and grows as a perennial conk on trees. It can be dark in color, somewhat similar to Chaga.
Species: Phellinus igniarius
Edibility: Inedible and could cause digestive issues if consumed.
Mushroom Ratings
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01/30/2025
Noah Schlickeisen
References
How Chaga can Change your Health
Medicinal Mushrooms: Their Bioactive Components, Nutritional Value and Application in Functional Food Production—A Review
Chaga mushroom: a super-fungus with countless facets and untapped potential
Mycelial growth of Inonotus obliquus on malt extract media and on wood of different host species
Water Extract of the Chaga Medicinal Mushroom Inonotus obliquus (Agaricomycetes) Inhibits the SARS-Cov-2 Replication at Vero E6 and Vero Cell Cultures Experiments
Comparison of Polysaccharides Extracted from Cultivated Mycelium of Inonotus obliquus with Polysaccharide Fractions Obtained from Sterile Conk (Chaga) and Birch Heart Rot
Stimulatory Effects of Oleci Acid and Fungal Elicitor on Betulinic Acid Production by Submerged Cultivation of Medicinal Mushroom Inonotus obliquus
Synergistic effects of surfactant-assisted biodegradation of wheat straw and production of polysaccharides by Inonotus obliquus under submerged fermentation
Inonotus obliquus Extract as An Inhibitor of α-MSH-Induced Melanogenesis in B16F10 Mouse Melanoma Cells
Chemical Characterization and Hypoglycaemic Activities In Vitro of Two Polysaccharides from Inonotus obliquus by Submerged Culture
Chaga (Inonotus obliquus), a functional mushroom primarily found on birch trees, has been revered for centuries in traditional medicine and is now gaining scientific attention for its remarkable health benefits. This article explores chaga's unique bioactive compounds, including beta-glucans, antioxidants, polyphenols, and triterpenes, which collectively contribute to its immune-boosting, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and potential anti-cancer properties. Chaga is also rich in vitamins and minerals that promote overall wellness, skin health, and blood sugar regulation. The article delves into various consumption methods, including tea, capsules, powders, and tinctures, and provides guidance for those who should avoid its use due to potential interactions with medications or health conditions. While promising research highlights chaga’s therapeutic potential, further clinical studies are needed to validate its efficacy in disease prevention and treatment. This comprehensive analysis underscores the growing recognition of chaga as a natural supplement for enhancing health and vitality.
2025
Medicinal mushrooms, e.g., Lion’s Mane (Hericium erinaceus (Bull.) Pers.), Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum (Curtis) P. Karst.), Chaga (Inonotus obliquus (Ach. ex Pers.) Pilát), Cordyceps (Ophiocordyceps sinensis (Berk.) G.H. Sung, J.M. Sung, Hywel-Jones and Spatafora), Shiitake (Lentinula edodes (Berk.) Pegler), and Turkey Tail (Trametes versicolor (L.) Lloyd), are considered new-generation foods and are of growing interest to consumers. They are characterised by a high content of biologically active compounds, including (1,3)(1,6)-β-d-glucans, which are classified as dietary fibre, triterpenes, phenolic compounds, and sterols.
2023
Inonotus obliquus (Chaga mushroom) is an inexpensive fungus with a broad range of traditional and medicinal applications. These applications include therapy for breast, cervix, and skin cancers, as well as treating diabetes. However, its benefits are virtually untapped due to a limited understanding of its mycochemical composition and bioactivities. In this article, we explore the ethnobotany, mycochemistry, pharmacology, traditional therapeutic, cosmetic, and prospective agricultural uses. The review establishes that several secondary metabolites, such as steroids, terpenoids, and other compounds exist in chaga.
2023
Interest in the cultivation of mushrooms, including medicinal mushrooms like Chaga (Inonotus obliquus) has increased in recent years. This study provides insights into the growth rates of various strains of I. obliquus on different substrates and temperatures.
2023
The antiviral properties of water extracts from pharmaceutical raw materials of the chaga mushroom, Inonotus obliquus, were studied against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). All studies with infectious materials were carried out in an isolated virological laboratory of the State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology Vector of Rospotrebnadzor, which has a sanitary and epidemiological conclusion for the right to work with pathogenic biological agents of I-II pathogenicity groups.
2022
The polysaccharides of the sterile conk of Inonotus obliquus (Chaga) have demonstrated multiple bioactivities. The mycelium of this basidiomycete, obtained after submerged cultivation, has been considered a feasible alternative to the sterile conk for the production of polysaccharides. However, previous research has paid little attention to the differences in the structures of polymers obtained from the different resources. Moreover, the birch wood colonized by I. obliquus has never been investigated as a source of bioactive polysaccharides. In the present study, polysaccharide fractions produced from cultivated mycelium, sterile conks of different geographical origins, and birch heart rot were investigated.
2021
To evaluate the novel strategy of oleic acid and fungal elicitor (made from Aspergillus niger) to elicit betulinic acid biosynthesis in medicinal mushroom Inonotus obliquus, we conduct the stimulatory effects investigation for synthesizing betulinic acid from betulin. HPLC results indicated oleic acid and fungal elicitor were effective stimulators. The supplementation of 1.0 g/L oleic acid led to the highest increase of betulinic acid either in dry mycelia or fermentation broth by 2-fold of the control. Fungal elicitor at 45 mg/L markedly increases mycelia growth by 146.0% and enhance intracellular betulinic acid accumulation by 429.5% as compared to the controls.
2021
Current work proposes an innovative wheat straw biomass utilization strategy that connects efficient lignocellulose biodegradation with exo-polysaccharide (EPS) production in I. obliquus under submerged fermentation. The addition of Tween 80 increased the activities of ligninolytic enzymes MnP, LiP and Lac by 1200%, 125% and 39.9%, respectively. When wheat straw lignin recalcitrance was substantially reduced with the aid of Tween 80, I. obliquus was capable of utilizing the substrates and in turn accumulated EPS.
2019
Melanogenesis is a biosynthetic pathway for producing of the pigment melanin in human skin. Tyrosinase, a key enzyme, catalyzing is the first step in melanogenesis and the downregulation of the tyrosinase enzyme activity is the most reported method for anti-melanogenesis. According to the hyperpigmentation as an important issue in cosmetic industry, there is a big demand for melanogenesis inhibitors. In the present study, we identified the anti-melanogenic effect of Inonotus Obliquus in α-MSH-induced B16F10 mouse melanoma cells as a new inhibitor.
2019
Polysaccharides from the fungus Inonotus obliquus have been found to be biologically active. In this study, we carried out a preliminary characterisation and assessment of the hypoglycaemic activities of the polysaccharides (IOEP) from Inonotus obliquus obtained by liquid fermentation.
2018