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Chaga doesn’t fruit like other mushrooms. It grows as a dense, slow-forming conk on living birch trees, concentrating compounds from the bark over years — including betulinic acid, melanin complexes, and some of the highest phenolic concentrations found in any mushroom species. With an ORAC score of approximately 146,700 μmol TE/100g — roughly 31 times that of blueberries — Chaga is one of the most antioxidant-dense natural substances tested.

Chaga Benefits:

• Antioxidant Defence: Chaga’s high phenolic content gives it exceptional antioxidant properties, alongside a unique melanin complex with demonstrated genoprotective activity (Babitskaya et al., 2002). To put it in perspective: blueberries score around 4,669 on the ORAC scale. Chaga scores approximately 146,700. Recent research suggests these phenolic compounds may exert their effects through cell-signalling pathways rather than direct free-radical scavenging alone — a more targeted mechanism than simple antioxidant activity implies.
  
  
• Cellular Protection: Betulinic acid, concentrated from birch bark by the Chaga conk, has demonstrated anti-inflammatory, anti-parasitic, and antiviral properties in research settings. The outer black skin of the conk contains up to 30% betulin (Kahlos et al., 1996), which is why our extract uses the whole sclerotium. Research also indicates betulinic acid may support the body’s natural processes for managing damaged cells at the mitochondrial level.
  
  
• Immune Response: Chaga’s polysaccharides appear to regulate cytokine and interleukin response pathways, and studies suggest they stimulate macrophage and natural killer cell production (Won et al., 2011). Aqueous extracts have also shown antiviral activity, with one study demonstrating inhibition of Herpes simplex virus entry at low concentrations through disruption of viral membrane fusion.
  
  
• Digestive Support: Chaga’s melano-glucan complexes exhibit broad antimicrobial activity and have a long history of traditional use for digestive health. In Russia, Befungin — an alcohol extract of Chaga — has been licensed for the treatment of stomach and intestinal disorders, one of the few mushroom-derived preparations to achieve formal pharmaceutical licensing.

We supply one of the most concentrated Chaga extracts available, clinically dosed and third-party verified for potency. Each capsule serving contains the dry-weight equivalent of 3,600mg of Chaga.

The Functional Mushroom Company is committed to unparalleled standards—delivering scientifically substantiated, potent mushroom supplements. Each product is rigorously researched and ethically sourced, embodying our dedication to purity and efficacy for individuals who prioritise integral health and genuine quality