Meet the Plants: Chaga

The Black Gold of the Birch, Keeper of Ancient Fire

Each winter, as the birches stand bare and still, my eyes instinctively scan their trunks for the telltale dark, charred-looking growths of Chaga. At first glance, she appears like burnt wood,  a scar or wound upon the tree. Yet within that rugged exterior lies one of the forest’s most revered gifts. For me, the discovery of Chaga always brings a quiet reverence, a reminder of the patient strength of northern woods and the enduring bond between human and tree.

A Glimpse into Her History

Chaga has been cherished for centuries by the peoples of Siberia, Russia, and northern Europe, where birch forests stretch for miles. Often called the “Gift from God” or the “King of Mushrooms,” Chaga was brewed into a rich, earthy tea to sustain health during long winters. Russian folk healers, the reindeer-herding Sámi, and traditional Finno-Ugric peoples all recognized its warming, fortifying nature.

But Chaga was more than medicine, it was fire. Literally. In Indigenous and early survivalist traditions, dried Chaga was used as tinder to carry or start fire. Once ignited, a chunk of Chaga could smolder slowly for hours, making it possible to transport a live coal across long distances. In this way, Chaga became both symbol and source of survival - keeper of flame in frozen northern lands.

In Siberian shamanic practice, Chaga was also a sacred offering, burned in ceremonial fires and used in spiritual work. Its name may derive from the Komi-Permyak word čaga, meaning “fungus.” In recent decades, Chaga has traveled westward, embraced by herbalists and wellness seekers alike as a potent ally for resilience, grounding, and immune balance.

(Note: While Reishi is known in Chinese tradition as the “Mushroom of Immortality,” Chaga holds her own powerful legacy as a northern forest healer, fire tender, immune guardian, and sovereign of the birch.)

Herbal & Traditional Uses

• Immune Support - Traditionally decocted as a long-brewed tea to support the body through cold winters
• Digestive Soother - Used for gastritis, ulcers, and inflammation in folk herbalism
• Cancer Support - Historically used to support those facing serious illness. Modern research explores its antioxidant-rich compounds and immune-modulating potential
• Skincare Benefits - Chaga contains melanin, betulinic acid, and antioxidants that may soothe and support aging or irritated skin when used in oils, masks, or balms
• Hair & Scalp Support - Often added to herbal shampoos and infusions to help nourish the scalp and protect hair from oxidative stress
• Fire Medicine - Traditionally used as tinder fungus for carrying embers or starting fire
• Energetic & Spiritual Use - Associated with grounding, ancestral connection, and inner endurance
• Common Preparations - Decoction (tea), tincture, infused oils, compresses, facial masks, powdered blends

“From the wound of birch, a keeper of flame; Chaga, black ember, teacher of endurance.”

Why I Work With Her

Chaga has quietly made her way into a few of my favorite creations here at Willow Moon. I love the grounding, woodsy energy she brings to blends, but it’s not just energetic. She offers real, skin-loving benefits that make her a valuable ingredient for both hair and body care.

• Elderfire Elixir Tea- A warming tea blend where Chaga mingles with elderberries, rose hips, cinnamon, and lemon balm. This one feels like sitting near a hearth in the middle of winter.

• Chaga Double-Extracted Tincture- Crafted slowly using both water and alcohol extractions to capture the full spectrum of Chaga’s benefits. This tincture supports immune health and resilience during the colder months, and I often reach for it as a forest-tonic ally during times of depletion.

• Woodland Alchemy Shampoo Bar - This earthy bar includes Chaga along with Reishi for scalp-calming, antioxidant-rich nourishment

• Irish Stout & Reishi Shampoo Bar - Chaga brings a forest-like depth to this nourishing formula, a nod to old-world brewing and woodland apothecaries

I’ve found that when infused into oils, Chaga lends a beautiful golden hue and a silky quality, making it ideal for lotions, balms, and hair care products that support dry, irritated, or mature skin.

Harvesting Chaga reminds me to move slowly and with intention. She asks for patience, hours preparing, simmering, weeks of infusing and in return offers quiet, sustaining power.

Harvesting Chaga

• Found growing almost exclusively on birch trees in colder northern forests
• Appears as a rough, black, cracked growth, not a true mushroom, but a hardened sterile conk (sclerotium)
• Best harvested in late fall to early spring, when sap is not flowing
• Always harvest ethically: take only a portion from a living tree, leaving the base of the conk intact when possible, this may allow the Chaga to regrow over time. Never harvest from fallen or dead trees, as their Chaga is no longer potent and may be contaminated. Use a sharp knife or hatchet, and leave plenty behind so the Chaga and the birch can continue to grow
• Remember: Chaga takes years to form. Offer thanks. Harvest with reverence

---

Myth vs. Truth & Safety Notes

Myth: You can steep Chaga like a normal tea.
Truth: Chaga needs long simmering (decoction) to fully extract its benefits.

Myth: It’s safe for anyone in any amount.
Truth: Chaga is high in oxalates, which can contribute to kidney stone risk in some people.

Additional safety notes:

• Avoid overuse if you are prone to kidney stones or have existing kidney issues
• May interact with blood-thinning medications, diabetes medications, or immune therapies
• Do not use as a substitute for professional cancer care or chronic disease management
• Consult your healthcare practitioner before use, especially with long-term or concentrated dosing

Working with the Plant Spirit

Chaga feels like ancestral wisdom made tangible. When I simmer a pot of Chaga tea or rub an infused oil into my palms, I feel as though I’m sitting with a very old teacher, one who speaks slowly, but with great strength.

Chaga spirit is resilient and rooted. She teaches us how to transform hardship into medicine and how to carry our inner fire even through the longest winters.

Affirmation: “I carry the ember of the forest within me. I am rooted, enduring, and whole.”

Chaga Monograph

Name: Chaga
Latin Name: Inonotus obliquus
Family: Hymenochaetaceae
Parts Used: Sterile conk (sclerotium) harvested from living birch trees

Energetics:

• Cooling
• Drying
• Grounding, calming
• Deep, sustained tonic action

Taste:

• Earthy
• Slightly bitter
• Mildly vanilla-like when simmered

Actions:

• Immunomodulating
• Antioxidant
• Adaptogenic
• Anti-inflammatory
• Anti-ulcerogenic
• Hepatoprotective
• Antiviral (traditionally)
• Skin regenerative (topical)

Uses:

• Traditionally used to support the immune system, digestion, energy, and overall vitality
• Applied topically to support skin health and tissue repair
• Historically used to support individuals facing chronic illness and cancer
• Utilized in fire-starting as a smoldering coal
• Used spiritually for grounding and ancestral connection

Preparations:

• Long-simmered decoction (tea)
• Infused oil for skincare or haircare
• Powdered for masks and blends

Contraindications & Safety:

• High in oxalates; caution with kidney issues or stones
• May interact with blood thinners, diabetes medications, and immune therapies
• Do not harvest from dead trees (may be contaminated or inactive)
• Not a substitute for professional medical care

---

Simple Chaga Recipes to Try

These traditional preparations let you experience Chaga in everyday care:

🍵 Chaga Forest Tea (Decoction)

Ingredients:

• 1–2 tbsp dried Chaga chunks or coarse powder
• 4–6 cups water

Instructions:

1. Simmer in a covered pot for 1–2 hours
2. Strain and enjoy warm or chilled
3. Reuse the same chunks up to 3 times — just simmer longer each time
   Optional: add cinnamon, orange peel, or ginger

🧴 Chaga-Infused Oil (For Skin & Hair)

Ingredients:

• 1 part dried Chaga (powdered or small chunks)
• 3 parts carrier oil (olive, sunflower, or jojoba work beautifully)

Instructions:

1. Infuse using a warm method (slow cooker or double boiler) for 4–6 hours
2. Or use a cold method (let sit 4–6 weeks, shaking daily)
3. Strain and store in a dark glass bottle

Use as a facial or scalp oil, balm base, or massage oil

Chaga & Clay Forest Mask

Ingredients:

• 1 tsp Chaga powder
• 1 tsp kaolin or French green clay
• 1–2 tsp Chaga decoction (or floral water)
  Optional: 1/2 tsp  honey or oil

Instructions:

1. Mix into a smooth paste
2. Apply to clean face or hands
3. Let sit 10–15 minutes
4. Rinse with warm water and moisturize

---

Final Thoughts

Chaga is more than a mushroom, she is a medicine of survival, patience, and the alchemy of time. Each time I brew her or infuse her into my products, I feel connected to something ancient and enduring. If you’ve never worked with her before, start with a slow simmer and a quiet morning. Let the forest speak.

More “Meet the Plants” features are on the way.
Subscribe to the Willow Moon newsletter or follow along on Facebook @WillowMoonSoaps or Instagram for the next plant ally spotlight.

🌿 Image Use Notice
Many of the images on this blog are my own original photography, taken during my herbal practice and seasonal wanderings. Others are thoughtfully selected from a licensed image library. All photos are shared here for inspiration and education only.  Please do not copy, download, or reuse any images without written permission. Thank you for honoring the time, energy, and spirit woven into this space