Description.
Chaga (birch black fungus) is a fungus of the Tutic family, growing in our country mainly in birch forests, but it can also occur on the trunks of other trees, more often in the northern regions. It also occurs in Canada, the United States, Korea and Eastern Europe.
Outwardly, the chaga is a formless black growth that grows from under the broken tree bark, covered with cracks. The weight of the chaga can reach several kilograms, and the fungus can have impressive dimensions. The inner part is woody, has a yellowish-brown color with a lot of light veins.
Reproduction of chaga occurs with the help of a dispute. And in order for the spores to germinate, they must get to the damaged area of the cortex. In this case, the mushroom threads grow deep into the tree, destroying it. Chaga sometimes can grow for many years, which causes the tree to die. When it dies, spores develop in the body of the fungus under the bark.
Composition.
Chaga contains tar, phenols, fiber, sterols, polysaccharide lignin, pterins, organic acids (acetic, oxalic, formic, vinyl and many others), and also mineral elements such as iron, manganese, zinc, magnesium, calcium, etc.
How to collect medicinal raw materials.
Only the chaga mushroom growing on birches is a medicinal raw material. Collect the mushroom all year round, but it is better to do it in the spring or autumn. Do not pick up the mushroom from the lower parts of the trunks and from the dried trees, since such mushrooms contain few active substances. Fresh growths can be cut with an ax. Then, cut small pieces and dry in an oven at a moderate temperature or in a well-ventilated room. Store raw materials in plastic bags or in glass containers that tightly close.
In pharmacies, chaga can be bought in the form of a medicinal product "Beefungin", which is made on the basis of extract from the fungus.
Beneficial features.
Chaga has a relaxing (spasmolytic) effect on the smooth muscles of the internal organs and blood vessels, thereby removing pain. It is an antimicrobial, analgesic, diuretic, laxative. Slows the growth of various tumors. If the tumor is at the initial stage, then the properties of chaga can stop its growth. It increases the body's immunity, strengthens protective properties, normalizes the work of the gastrointestinal tract. The composition of the fungus includes substances that are natural biostimulants, which improve metabolic processes in the body.
The course of treatment with drugs based on chaga lasts several months, during which you can make small breaks. The use of chaga should be combined with medication and other types of treatment prescribed by a doctor.
When taking medications on the basis of chaga, it is worth sticking to a milky-vegetable diet. Limit the content of animal fat, meat, sausage and smoked foods, canned food.
Contraindications.
Contraindication for the use of drugs on the basis of chaga is an individual intolerance to the body of the fungus. With prolonged and continuous administration of chaga, in some patients it is possible to observe an increased excitability of the autonomic nervous system, which manifests itself in the form of changes in blood pressure and mood. Also, attacks of palpitation are possible. All these symptoms occur when the drug is discontinued.
Recipes for the preparation of medicines.
From the chaga you can make infusion and tea.
Tea is prepared this way. Take one tablespoon chopped chaga and pour a glass of boiling water. Let it brew for 30 minutes, and you can drink tea.
The infusion is prepared in the following way: take the dried mushroom and pour cold boiled water for four hours. Then pass the softened mushroom through a meat grinder or grate on a grater. After that, chopped mushroom pour water, at a temperature of 50C, for one part of the chaga, five parts of water, and put the infusion for two days. Drain the liquid, wring out the residues and add the water in which the mushroom was soaked. Shelf life is four days. Take three times a day, half an hour before meals, half - one glass.
Take chaga infusion is useful for stomach ulcers and duodenal ulcers, with gastritis with decreased secretion, malignant tumors of different localization, with the formation of polyps on the mucosa of the intestine and stomach. You can also use infusion in the form of enemas in tumors of the gastrointestinal tract.
Chaga is an amazing folk remedy.