Chaga (not technically a mushroom but rather pre-mushroom growth) possesses immune-system-enhancing nutrients that revitalize white blood cell count by increasing the production of lymphocytes, monocytes, neutrophils, basophils, and eosinophils, so that your body can battle invaders such as toxins, viruses, and bacteria, as well as fungi such as yeast and mold. This incredible wild food also strengthens red blood cells and bone marrow, balances blood platelets, and staves off cytokine storms, which are the result of the body overreacting to a pathogen or toxin.

This type of reaction occurs because the immune system is racing to die out a fire. As when putting out a real fire, attending to the emergency can come at a cost; cytokine storms can result in blood vessels expanding (which can lead to hemorrhaging), hives, rashes, and fever. With chaga on your side, the body is much better equipped to deal with pathogens and toxins.

Chaga is one of the most medicinal tools and overall tonics of the century. The phytochemicals in chaga are wonderful for fighting cancer, regulating blood sugar, boosting the adrenals while regulating the rest of the endocrine system, breaking down and dissolving biofilm (that is, a jelly-like substance that’s a by- product of certain viruses and fungi; more on this in “Rose Hips”), and destroying unproductive fungus in the intestinal tract. Speaking of which, there’s a trending misconception that mushrooms and other edible fungi are bad for you, because people fear that ingesting fungus results in fungal overgrowth in the body. This couldn’t be further from the truth.

Mushrooms are some of the best fighters of unproductive fungus that we have. CONDITIONS If you have any of the following conditions, try bringing chaga into your life: Bladder cancer, bone cancer, breast cancer, liver cancer, leukemia, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, autoimmune diseases and disorders, Lyme disease, lupus, multiple sclerosis (MS), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, bursitis, sciatica, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), hypertension, fatty liver, pneumonia, psoriasis, eczema, Graves’ disease, immune system deficiencies, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)/mononucleosis, shingles,adrenal fatigue, mold exposure, migraines, anemia, multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS), electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS), celiac disease, gum infections, rosacea, thrush, vaginal strep SYMPTOMS

If you have any of the following symptoms, try bringing chaga into your life:

Inflammation, shoulder pain, frozen shoulder, neck pain, back pain, headaches, head pain, pre-fatty liver, iron deficiency, joint pain, muscle fatigue, Bell’s palsy, sluggish liver, stagnant liver, fever, rashes, hives, fingernail and toenail fungus, body fungus, hypothyroid, all neurological symptoms (including tingles, numbness, spasms, twitches, nerve pain, and tightness of the chest), jaw pain, body stiffness, bruising, dark under-eye circles, eye floaters, foot pain, joint inflammation, liver heat, hyperthyroid, swelling, fluid retention, neuralgia, poor circulation, sore throa.

EMOTIONAL SUPPORT

For those who feel like they’re missing out on something, who feel trapped in their life’s direction, emotionally stagnant and numb, and can’t make decisions—even when there’s only one decision to make and they don’t like the choice they’ve been handed—chaga is an invaluable tool. Bring it into your life when you need help envisioning what you want for the future, and how to make it happen.

SPIRITUAL LESSON

Chaga lives in harmony with the trees it grows on. Once it takes up residence on a tree, it grows very slowly so as not to disrupt its host. Chaga offers strength to its tree during times of storm and deep freeze, because it provides a living frequency of loyalty. Chaga possesses patience and intelligence of survival, knowing that if its host tree goes down, it does too. We can all learn about loyalty from this wild food. If you believe in someone or something, chaga teaches not to let go. To help our loved ones survive and thrive, we must do the same. When a situation warrants it, go all in and meditate on chaga’s nature to support you. Like the chaga-tree relationship, we must all stay strong for each other—and for the greater good. (If you’ve heard that chaga has a reputation for harming its host tree, note that irresponsible harvesting of chaga—not the chaga itself—is what so often damages the tree, ultimately taking both down.)

William, Anthony. Medical Medium Life-Changing Foods