Chaga
Herb ·Exploratory record · not publication-reviewed ·Updated July 13, 2026
Birch tree fungus rich in antioxidants and immune-modulating compounds.
Exploratory record, not a reviewed medical publication.
See the editorial and medical-review policies for the publication gate.
This generated database record has not completed a claim-level review by a qualified human medical reviewer. Bibliography links and evidence labels are not approval. The page remains available for reference and is excluded from search indexing.
What the research says.
A quick, data-only summary. The full evidence, dosing, and sources are below.
Chaga is a herb most often used for antioxidant, immune modulation, skin health. NutriStack rates the overall evidence as emerging. A typical adult dose is 500-1,500 mg daily, commonly taken as hot water or dual extract (water + alcohol). This profile indexes 18 sources.
The bottom line
Evidence rating emerging. Most-documented uses: antioxidant, immune modulation, skin health. 18 sources indexed (2004–2026), with 0 interaction records on file.
How it works, mechanistically.
Core mechanism
Contains betulinic acid, melanin, and beta-glucans. Betulinic acid has anti-tumor properties. Beta-glucans activate innate immunity via Dectin-1 receptors. Among the highest ORAC scores of any food.13
Dosing & protocol.
Can take any time; hot water extract preferred
What it actually costs.
Real-world pricing across three quality tiers. Assumes Hot Water / Dual Extract.
Assumes 500-1,500 mg/day. Vendor basis: iHerb mushroom extracts, Vitacost, Amazon marketplace, and specialty dual-extract brands; fruiting-body extracts are premium. Updated 2026-05-28.
The same dose, as food.
How much you'd eat to match a supplemental dose.
Chaga is a tough fungus typically consumed as tea or powder; beta-glucan and polyphenol content varies widely.
Full safety detail.
Sources, by evidence tier.
Numbered references. Citations throughout the page link here.
Reviews & position papers
11- 1Inonotus obliquus Polysaccharides: Preparation, Structural Characteristics, Structure-Activity Relationships, Biological Activities and ApplicationsPMIDZhang S, Zhang W, Wu X et al. · Nutrients · 2026
Zhang S, Zhang W, Wu X et al.. Inonotus obliquus Polysaccharides: Preparation, Structural Characteristics, Structure-Activity Relationships, Biological Activities and Applications. Nutrients. 2026
- 2Comparative Study of Chaga (Inonotus obliquus) Dietary Supplements Using Complementary Analytical TechniquesPMIDWindsor C, Kreynes AE, Chilton JS et al. · International journal of molecular sciences · 2025
Windsor C, Kreynes AE, Chilton JS et al.. Comparative Study of Chaga (Inonotus obliquus) Dietary Supplements Using Complementary Analytical Techniques. International journal of molecular sciences. 2025
- 3Therapeutic properties of Inonotus obliquus (Chaga mushroom): A reviewPMIDSzychowski KA et al. · Mycobiology · 2024
Scientific evidence supports anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, anti-diabetic, anti-obesity, hepatoprotective, and immunomodulating properties of chaga extracts
- 4Chaga mushroom: a super-fungus with countless facets and untapped potentialPMIDSzychowski KA et al. · Nutrients · 2024
Chaga possesses remarkable anticancer, antioxidant, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and immunomodulating properties attributed to polysaccharides, triterpenoids, and polyphenols
- 5A review on the cultivation, bioactive compounds, health-promoting factors and clinical trials of medicinal mushrooms Taiwanofungus camphoratus, Inonotus obliquus and Tropicoporus linteusPMIDTee PYE, Krishnan T, Cheong XT et al. · Fungal biology and biotechnology · 2024
Tee PYE, Krishnan T, Cheong XT et al.. A review on the cultivation, bioactive compounds, health-promoting factors and clinical trials of medicinal mushrooms Taiwanofungus camphoratus, Inonotus obliquus and Tropicoporus linteus. Fungal biology and biotechnology. 2024
- 6Recent developments in Inonotus obliquus (Chaga mushroom) polysaccharides: isolation, structural characteristics, biological activities and application.PMIDLu Y, Jia Y, Xue Z, Li N, Liu J, Chen H · Polymers · 2021
Review of I. obliquus polysaccharides documenting antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, anti-tumor, anti-diabetic, and hepatoprotective activities, with structural characterization and mechanisms of action.
- 7Inonotus obliquus - from folk medicine to clinical use.PMIDSzychowski KA, Skora B, Pomianek T, Gminski J · Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine · 2021
Review documents traditional use and modern pharmacological evidence for Chaga including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and anticancer properties with potential mechanisms of action discussed.
- 8Development of End Stage Renal Disease after Long-Term Ingestion of Chaga Mushroom: Case Report and Review of LiteraturePMIDLee S, Lee HY, Park Y et al. · Journal of Korean medical science · 2020
Lee S, Lee HY, Park Y et al.. Development of End Stage Renal Disease after Long-Term Ingestion of Chaga Mushroom: Case Report and Review of Literature. Journal of Korean medical science. 2020
- 9The pharmacological potential and possible molecular mechanisms of action of Inonotus obliquus from preclinical studiesPMIDBalandaykin ME et al. · Mycobiology · 2019
Chaga can scavenge reactive oxygen species, inhibit tumor growth, decrease inflammation and insulin resistance, and stimulate the immune system
- 10Synthesis of porous Pd nanoparticles by therapeutic chaga extract for highly efficient tri-modal cancer treatmentPMIDGil YG , Kang S , Chae A et al. · Nanoscale · 2018
Gil YG , Kang S , Chae A et al.. Synthesis of porous Pd nanoparticles by therapeutic chaga extract for highly efficient tri-modal cancer treatment. Nanoscale. 2018
- 11Review on Inonotus obliquus (Chaga mushroom): bioactive compounds and health benefitsGlamoclija J et al. · J Ethnopharmacol · 2015
Observational studies
1- 12Chaga mushroom-induced oxalate nephropathyPMIDKikuchi Y et al. · Clin Nephrol · 2014
Case report documenting oxalate nephropathy caused by excessive chaga mushroom intake, highlighting the high oxalate content as a kidney risk factor
Mechanistic & preclinical
4- 13Chemical characterization and biological activity of Chaga (Inonotus obliquus), a medicinal mushroomPMIDGlamoclija J et al. · J Ethnopharmacol · 2015
Characterized polysaccharides, triterpenoids (including betulinic acid), polyphenols, and lignin metabolites responsible for chaga's health-benefiting properties
- 14Anti-inflammatory and immunomodulating properties of Inonotus obliquusSource linkedPMIDVan Q, Nayak BN, Reimer M et al. · J Ethnopharmacol · 2009
- 15Immunomodulatory activity of the water extract of Inonotus obliquus in vitro and in vivoSource linkedPMIDKim YR · J Med Food · 2005
- 16Chaga mushroom extract inhibits oxidative DNA damage in human lymphocytes as assessed by comet assayPMIDPark YK et al. · Biofactors · 2004
Chaga mushroom extract showed protective effects against oxidative DNA damage in human lymphocytes when challenged with H2O2
Reference material
2- 17Wu Y, Liu J, Luo J et al.. Molecular Mechanisms of Phytochemicals from Chaga Mushroom (Inonotus obliquus) Against Colorectal Cancer: Insights from Network Pharmacology, Molecular Docking, and Bioinformatics. International journal of molecular sciences. 2025Source linkedPMID
- 18Endo T, Nakagomi Y, Kawaguchi E et al.. Anti-malarial activity in a Chinese herbal supplement containing Inonotus obliquus and Panax notoginseng. Parasitology international. 2022Source linkedPMID
Common questions.
Quick answers about Chaga, drawn from the data on this page.
What is Chaga?
Birch tree fungus rich in antioxidants and immune-modulating compounds.
What is Chaga used for?
Commonly cited benefits of Chaga include: Antioxidant; Immune modulation; Skin health. NutriStack rates the overall evidence as emerging.
What is a typical dose of Chaga?
A typical adult dose of Chaga is 500-1,500 mg daily. The commonly recommended form is Hot water or dual extract (water + alcohol). These are general ranges, not personalized advice; confirm the right dose with a clinician.
What are the side effects of Chaga?
Reported side effects include may lower blood sugar, oxalate nephropathy and kidney failure risk from high oxalate content, especially with high-dose or long-term use. This is educational information; check with a healthcare professional before use.
How strong is the evidence for Chaga?
NutriStack rates this as Emerging, meaning early RCT signal, mechanistic data, or limited human evidence. Full tier criteria are at https://nutristackapp.com/methodology/evidence-tiers.
Use this with your stack
Chaga in NutriStack.
Add it to your stack, see how it interacts with everything else you take, and get a Stack Score that updates the moment it does.