'Tis the chaga season!

[Jim Uran]

After all of the deer hunters leave the woods I like to get out and find and harvest chaga! Has anyone had any experiences with this amazing fungus? I've got a friend that is drinking this a few times a day and the tumor on his lungs has shrunk by 75%. No other drugs, just chaga, labrador tea, and some sort of medicine called bear root. 

 

Chaga is supposed to be one heck of medicine, or one heck of a healthy tea to drink. I've been picking it the last couple of years, and still haven't drank any lol. I just give it away to friends and family who request it. Anyone have any good preservation and preparation methods?

[pikestabber]

I'm curious about preservation, too. Where I deer hunt it is LOADED with chaga, but by the spray paint on the trees it looks like my whole area is getting logged off this year. Would like to harvest this chaga before it goes to waste...

[Jim Uran]

Ok, I'll give what I've learned. Don't pick chaga from a dead tree, there is a relationship chaga and the tree have while the tree is alive, there are healing characteristics that the fungus have while the tree is alive that don't accompany the tree when it is dead. I've heard from western science folks that while there is some brown inside the chaga it is still usable. 

[Henry Scotts]

Not sure, but I bet you tube could tell you. How far north in Minnesota is it found? I have some I got in the mail from Alaska, paid dearly for it too.

[minky]

I have some on my land by willow river. I plan to harvest some this year and make the tea. I have heard really good things about chaga.

[minky]

After using tea made from chaga for awhile, I am not sure I have realized any positive health benifits. I plan to keep using the chaga tea through out the winter. I would also like to try a chaga tenture. If anyone has any tips or advice please share.

[Wanderer]

Been sick at all since starting to use it?  Friends of mine have been using it for a few years religiously for one reason or another.  They keep a jug of it next to the coffee pot.

[minky]

Nope can't say I have been sick. I visit my parents in the old folks home so maybe that will be a good test. I may need to find another chunk of two to last me the winter. I kinda enjoy being in the woods and looking for it.