Chaga has been all the rage lately–packed with antioxidants and with a multitude of health benefits including slowing down the aging process, lowering blood sugar, fighting inflammation and more, it’s no wonder this fabulous fungus is making headlines. But what exactly is chaga tincture, and why should you take it?
Chaga tincture is an extracted liquid form of chaga mushroom, usually dissolved in ethanol alcohol. Typically, chaga tincture comes in a small glass bottle with a dropper for easy measuring and administration.
Chaga tincture has been utilized for centuries for its natural and functional benefits which is why it's often called the king of medicinal mushrooms.
Tinctures that contain chaga are believed to help lower stress, detox the body, improve your immunity, and more.
You can buy it at a specialty store or from your local apothecary. But chaga tincture is also fairly easy to mat at home!
There are a few ways to make tincture, which have different benefits. Don’t be intimidated by the process–it’s actually quite easy!
Let's first cover the type of tinctures, and then dive into each method.
Chaga mushroom has been traditionally used in various cultures for its medicinal properties. Some of the potential health benefits of taking chaga tincture may include:
Boosting the immune system: Chaga is rich in beta-glucans and other compounds that have been found to have immune-stimulating effects.
Anti-inflammatory effects: Chaga has been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects, which may help to reduce inflammation in the body.
Antioxidant properties: Chaga contains high levels of antioxidants, which can help to protect cells from damage caused by free radicals.
Cancer-fighting properties: Some studies have suggested that chaga may have anti-cancer properties, although more research is needed to confirm this.
Supporting liver function: Chaga has been found to have a protective effect on the liver, helping to detoxify it and improve its function.
Supporting cardiovascular health: Chaga may help to lower cholesterol levels and improve blood sugar regulation, which may help to reduce the risk of heart disease.
Research on chaga tincture is limited and more research is needed to confirm these potential benefits. As always, it's important to consult with your doctor before taking any supplement or making any changes to your diet or medication regimen.
Head over to our guide on the benefits of chaga mushrooms here.
There are tree types of tinctures:
Dual-extraction is the most common type of tincture.
Tinctures are great because they are easily absorbed by your body, are easy to use, and are a quick addition to your drinks and recipes. Let’s take a look at how you can extract the good stuff with each method type.
Since water extraction and alcohol extractions have different benefits, why not combine them for the maximum effect? The good news is, it isn’t as hard as you may think.
Dual-extraction tinctures offer a powerful extraction combination of both methods.
There are a many methods to create a dual chaga extraction but the most popular method involves soaking the chaga in alcohol before the hot water extraction–this method provides maximum bioavailability of the active and functional compounds and is our recommendation.
Let's dive in!
In comparison to an alcohol or hot water extraction, a dual extraction takes a bit more time but it isn’t as complicated as it sounds. Dual-extraction is the most common method for at-home tinctures as it combines the medicinal benefits of both hot water and alcohol together.
Chaga is notoriously difficult to harvest, cut up, and grind. Many a coffee grinder has been sacrificed in the effort to get a nice chunky-powder for tincture making.
If you've just scored some fresh chaga and want to use it in your tincture, it's a good idea to dry it before using it in the tincture. Drying mushrooms before use in tinctures and powders helps to remove excess moisture from your end-product. This can help to make your product more shelf-stable. Not to mention, your mushrooms will be able to absorb and hold more alcohol/hot water when dried.
If you have a big chunk of chaga, try cutting it into thin slices or cubes to dry first.
We sometimes find that (carefully, of course) using a cutting board and knife in a repeated rocking motion can get you to where you need. The benefit to this is that you can sharpen your blade as you go.
If you've got a big ol' hunk of chaga, try gently rocking the knife back and forth with some downward force. Be careful of your fingers.
We've also tried a sharp and serrated bread knife and had some success.
Of course, traditional grinding methods are always available. But the density of this mushroom may lower the quality of these tools faster.
If you don't want to make your own chaga powder, consider buying it! We LOVE Real Mushrooms quality mushroom powders. They're perfect for making teas, tinctures, and so much more. Quality grown and 3rd party tested.
Now it's time to make your dual-extraction!
Once your alcohol extract has been sitting for 3-8 weeks, it's time to put the 'dual' in 'dual-extraction'. What you have in your jar right now is an alcohol extraction. Adding water and further extracting is what makes it a dual-extraction.
This is when you'll need your fine mesh strainer, large sauce pan, reserve jar for alcohol, and a measuring stick.
There isn’t one correct way to make chaga tincture, including a double extraction. Feel free to experiment with different methods or even create your own!
While a dual-extraction process is the most popular, you may need to choose one or the other for what you're making.
Let's talk about hot water and alcohol extractions separately:
Extracting chaga via hot water releases beneficial compounds such as beta-glucans and triterpenoids. This is the traditional method of extracting chaga. Hot water and chaga have a long history, which is why chaga tea is incredibly popular.
It’s the most common method of extraction because it’s the cheapest. All you need is your mushroom and hot water to make a great chaga extraction.
Many of the beneficial compounds, like beta-glucans, are trapped underneath chaga's tough cell wall exterior. This call wall is called chitin and is also found in shrimp and crab shells. As you can imagine, chitin is VERY hard for our bodies to digest. Hot water helps to break down these tough exterior walls, allowing us to access all the medicinal compounds hidden underneath.
You can learn more about mushroom extraction with our complete guide here.
While it's true that boiling chaga may remove some of the nutritional benefits of chaga, the medicinal compounds are released with hot water.
You can enjoy your extract as a tea, or save it to combine with your dual extract below. Save both the liquid AND the chaga chunks if you are going to continue your extraction process.
Alcohol extraction for chaga utilizes an alcohol soak (usually ethanol alcohol or high-quality vodka) to extract beneficial compounds like terpenoids.
Although you can use rum or vodka for alcohol extraction, many commercial products use ethanol alcohol. Whichever you choose, the alcohol isolates the water insoluble components phytosterols and betulinic acid but it can’t break down the chitin on its own because heat is necessary.
In other words, alcohol makes additional medicinal compounds available to our bodies.
NOTE: Alcohol extraction is not often done on its own. Dual-extraction is the most common method for tinctures. Dual-extraction combines both alcohol and hot water extractions. However, some people may want to use a pure alcohol extract in combination with other remedies, tinctures, or applications, so we've included it here.
To perform an alcohol extraction on your own, you’ll need 190 proof ethanol. It’s safe for consumption and because you won’t be consuming a vast amount of tincture, the amount of alcohol used is negligent.
A huge benefit to an alcohol extraction is that the body absorbs the nutrients quickly. These tinctures are extremely fast-acting because of the capillaries on our tongues and cheeks that have the ability to absorb alcohol quickly.
And you’re all done! As you can imagine, alcohol extracts of chaga aren't ideal for daily intake because of the volume of alcohol. However, many people may choose to add this to other tinctures, fire cider, or other natural remedies at this stage.
Chaga tea is used for its endless health benefits. Easter Europeans have been consuming it for centuries as a natural remedy to fight against viral infections, treat cancer, and more. These mushrooms are packed with nutrients and can be consumed regularly. No wonder they’re seen as the king of mushrooms.
Chaga tea provides a multitude of benefits, including:
Another great aspect of chaga is that it generally doesn’t have many side effects. It’s not entirely immune to them, and there have been occurrences of serious side effects such as kidney damage, weakness, and confusion, but this is usually seen when chaga is consumed alongside specific medications.
If you're interested in trying chaga tea using powder, then you'll love Fresh Cap's chaga powder. Fresh Cap is a Canada-based company whose primary focus is on product quality. Check it out below.
Now that you have learned about chaga, how much should you take? Many sources recommend a single dropper (about 1.5 ml) per day. For medicinal applications, the dose may be double that or potentially higher.
The answer depends on quite a few things such as your health status, your weight, and your size. Most scientific studies agree that consuming less than 5 grams (or 1 teaspoon) of chaga a day is best, but don’t overwhelm your body with too much of it too soon.
Start your chaga consumption with a small dose recommended by your doctor and adjust the dosage if you need to. There is a small potential for toxicity, and although chaga tea is usually taken for helping your digestive system there have been some instances of it causing an upset stomach.
For more about the potential side effects of chaga, check out this article.
Since tincture is consumed in small doses, a jar of your own tincture should last quite a long time. It can also make a great gift to your friends and family, and can be a fun bonding activity to do together. The small doses can pack a punch to not just your daily routine, but to your food and drinks as well. Some easy ways to incorporate chaga are:
Chaga mushroom is generally considered safe. But there are a few things you should keep in mind before taking chaga tincture at high doses or for an extended period of time.
As with any supplement, there may be some side effects or drug interactions associated with its use.
Possible side effects of chaga may include:
Stomach upset: Some people may experience stomach discomfort or diarrhea when taking chaga.
Allergic reactions: In rare cases, people may experience an allergic reaction to chaga. Symptoms can include hives, rash, itching, and difficulty breathing.
Interference with blood sugar: Chaga may lower blood sugar levels, so people with diabetes should use it with caution and under the guidance of a healthcare professional.
Interference with blood pressure: Chaga may also lower blood pressure, so people with low blood pressure or taking blood pressure medication should use it with caution and under the guidance of a healthcare professional.
Interference with blood-thinning medication: Chaga may also increase the risk of bleeding in people taking blood-thinning medication, so it should be used with caution and under the guidance of a healthcare professional.
Chaga mushrooms may interact with certain medications, such as blood thinners, blood sugar-lowering medications, and blood pressure-lowering medications. If you're taking any of these medications, it's important to consult with a healthcare professional before using chaga.
Additionally, some commercial chaga products can be contaminated with heavy metals and pesticides. Make sure to purchase chaga products from reputable sources and to always check the label for certification.
If you are curious about adding chaga to your daily routine, it’s important to run it by your primary care physician to ensure that it’s a good fit for you, especially if you take certain medications such as:
When purchasing chaga tincture, there are a few things to keep in mind to ensure that you are getting a high-quality product. Here at Remeday, we spend a lot of time researching the best products on the market.
When buying chaga tincture, here are some tips:
Look for certified organic products: Organic certification ensures that the chaga mushroom was grown without the use of pesticides and other harmful chemicals.
Check the ingredients list: Avoid products that contain artificial preservatives, sweeteners, or other unnecessary ingredients.
Check the alcohol content: The alcohol content of chaga tincture should be at least 30-50% for a proper extraction, so be sure to check the label for the alcohol content.
Look for dual extraction: A dual extraction process involves extracting both the water-soluble and alcohol-soluble compounds from the mushroom, which can provide a more comprehensive range of benefits.
Check for third-party lab testing: Look for chaga tincture that has undergone third-party lab testing to ensure purity and potency. This is sometimes called a Certificate of Analysis, or COA. The COA is not only going to look for purity and potency in the mushroom, but will also test for heavy metals and chemicals.
Check the source of the chaga: Make sure the chaga is from a reputable source, ideally from wild harvested and not mass produced, which can be of lower quality.
Check the expiration date: Make sure that the tincture has a reasonable shelf life, and it is not expired.
By following these tips, you can help ensure that you are purchasing a high-quality chaga tincture that can provide the potential health benefits you are looking for.
If you're looking for an easy way to incorporate medicinal mushrooms into your routine, then you're going to love Mushroom Revival's tincture: Daily 10 Mix. This tincture combines the power of 10 functional and medicinal mushrooms in a single tincture.
With chaga, the possibilities are endless. This super fungi provides a multitude of benefits with little side effects, is fairly easy to extract as a tincture, and lasts a long time. It’s no wonder that chaga has been used for centuries and hailed for its properties.
If you’re curious about introducing chaga into your life, check out our other articles on this wonderful shroom and talk to your doctor to determine the proper dosage. And if you find another unique way to incorporate it into a recipe, let us know!