Chaga: King of the Medicinal Mushrooms Book

An Introduction to Superherbs xiii

David Wolfe's Top 25 Superherbs xv

Hail to the King! An Introduction to Chaga 1

Chaga's Unique Healing Powers 5

Chaga Safety 8

Denizen of an Enchanted Realm 9

Part I Facts and History of Use 13

Chaga in the Wild 14

Is Chaga an Extremophile? 19

The Birch Tree: A Most Excellent Host 20

Chaga: History, Literature, Legend 24

Secrets of the Iceman 26

Other Traditional and Practical Uses 27

Chaga's Literary Debut 31

More Polypore Lore, Geology Mythology, and Atmospheric Spores 33

Chaga's Nutrients 44

Antioxidants 44

Vitamins, Minerals, and Other Nutrients 46

Chaga's Health Benefits 48

Korean Experts on Chaga 50

Russian Experts on Chaga 51

The Anticancer Arsenal 51

Chemotherapy and Radiation Protection 53

Chaga vs. Cancer 55

Cancer-Fighting Diets 56

Prostate Cancer and Chaga 56

Traditional Anticancer Chaga Diet 56

Present-Day Anticancer Chaga Diet 57

Meanwhile, Back in the Cancer Ward 60 l Part II Preparing and Enjoying Chaga 63

Harvesting Your Own Wild Chaga 63

How to Store Wild Chaga 69

Chaga Products on the Market 71

Commonly Used Kitchen Equipment 74

Stove Choices 74

Blender 77

Mortar and Pestle 77

The Double-Boiler System 78

Types of Water and Mycelium 79

Mixing Chaga with Other Herbs and Medicinal Mushrooms 80

Recipes 82

A Note about Sweeteners 82

Xylitol 83

Teas 84

Preparing Chaga Tea 84

Russian Chaga Tea 87

Chaga Superbowl Boil Tea 88

Maximizing Wild Chaga Tea Extractions 89

Nut and Seed Mylks 90

Alcohol Extracts 91

How to Make a Chaga Tincture 91

A Drop of Chaga for Every Year of Life 92

Oil Extracts 94

Chaga Oil Exfoliating Body Scrub 96

Chaga Beverages 97

Chaga Coffee 98

Fermenting Chaga 98

Summer Blueberry Chaga Surprise 99

Chaga Huang-Qi 100

Double Chaga, Double Reishi Espresso 101

Elegy to Bubbling Springs 102

Divine Chaga Chai 103

Quick Chocolate Chaga Charge-Up! 104

Superfood Superherbal 105

Superhero Chaga Activator 106

Chaga as Food 107

Chagalagadingdongs 108

Wild Chaga Cherry Torte 109

Chaga as a Broth 110

Berry Chaga Breakfast 111

Chaga Chips 111

The Maine Man Creamy Choco-Chaga Kefir 112

Poetic Interlude "Chaga, Philosopher-King" 113

Part III The Science on Chaga 121

Betulin, Betulinic Acid, and the Healing Properties of Birch 121

How Beta Glucans Help Us Heal 127

The Power of Beta Glucans 130

The Essential Role of Macrophages in the Immune System 132

The Antioxidative Power of Beta Glucans 135

Skin-Regenerative Effects of Beta Glucans and Chaga 136

Chaga's Melanin Content 137

Chaga vs. Cancer: Let the Science Talk 142

Wild Chaga: Nutrition and Medicine 154

Part IV Resources 155

Recommended Websites 155

Books 156

Scientific Articles 156

General 156

Antioxidant Properties 157

Antiviral Properties 157

Anticancer Properties 157

Antitumor Properties 159

Melanin Content 159

Chaga Products, Superherbs, and Superfoods 160

Sacred Chocolate 162

Peak Performance Archives: Enhance Your Health and Life 165

Notes 169

Index 185

About the Author 195

The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation 199

Final Words 203