Chaga is not a mushroom! The sclerotium of Inonotus obliquus is a hardened black mass of woody/fungal tissue packed with lipids (stored carbohydrates), melanin, antioxidants, and a bevy of bioactive compounds. It can be found on birch trees in the Northern Hemisphere. Chaga has a long history of use in traditional/indigenous practices but has gained popularity with practitioners of herbal medicines. While it definitely contains a multitude of polysaccharides, organic acids, and terpenes - I’m no