← Back
3Medicinal

Chaga

Also sold as Inonotus obliquus, chaga mushroom

A birch fungus sold as a tea and antioxidant — human evidence is almost nonexistent, and its high oxalate content has been linked to kidney damage.

TrustedSupp Tier System™ · Tier 3Take as a defined course
Check before you startThis one has documented interactions with medication classes where the consequences are serious. If you take any prescription medicine, run it past a pharmacist before starting.

Evidence strength

8/100Weak
WEAKLIMITEDMODERATESTRONGVERY STRONG

What the evidence supports: antioxidant activity in lab studies; human evidence is essentially absent.

This scores how well-supported the claim above is — not how much benefit you personally would get. A high score on a narrow claim does not extend to everything the product is marketed for.

How long to take it

Not established.

Who it's actually for

Hard to justify on current evidence, and a clear avoid for anyone with kidney disease or kidney stones.

Safe upper limit

Unverified
No formal upper limit; no human dosing evidence exists
Chaga is very high in oxalates, and case reports describe kidney damage from regular use. It may also lower blood sugar and showed blood-thinning effects in lab studies.
No source or citation attached yet.

Interactions to know about

Run your full list through the interaction check.

Practical notes

  • High oxalate content is the key risk — avoid with kidney stones or kidney disease.
  • Human trials are essentially absent.
  • Stop before surgery.