Chaga mushroom is widely known as a powerful medicinal mushroom, but why? Let’s explore Chaga, its benefits for our pets, and how pick a top notch extract for your furry friend!
What is Chaga Mushroom?
Chaga mushroom is unique and special; there is only one species known, Inonotus Obliquus, known as the “Gift from God”, rightfully so as it’s packed with amazing health benefits!
Chaga has been around for centuries, but only in recent years has scientific research brought it to many modern people’s attention.
Resembling a crusty black piece of charcoal (but soft and orange on the inside), chaga is found throughout the world, mostly in the northern hemisphere (it likes the cold), thriving on its native substate of birch trees.
While not as well known as Turkey Tail, Chaga for dogs is seriously loaded with health benefits. Due to the harsher living environment it experiences, Chaga has an extremely high antioxidant count of 146,700 μ mol TE/100g, which is nearly double that of an acai berry, for comparison. It is loaded with beneficial polysaccharides, beta glucans, melanin, and triterpenes.
Benefits of Chaga for Dogs & Pets
Chaga mushroom has a whole host of benefits including:
Chaga for Diabetes Management:
Chaga has been shown to have anti-diabetic effects, and can help maintain healthy blood sugar levels. Not only does this help calm overall inflammation, but a balanced blood sugar will also help the immune system work more efficiently. This means less chronic illness and a better body condition.
Chaga for Heart Health:
In addition to helping maintaining healthy blood sugar levels, Chaga also helps regulate cholesterol and supports normal triglyceride levels. Chaga mushroom polysaccharides support heart health by reducing “bad” cholesterol (LDL-C) and triglycerides, while boosting antioxidant activity to protect the heart from oxidative stress and free radical damage.
Chaga for Cancer:
Chaga has cytotoxic effects, meaning it has the ability to kill cancer cells. It has been studied in multiple types of cancer, and is believed to work by interfering with the metabolism of cancer cells, and promoting the growth of healthy cells.
Additonally, chaga has been shown to reduce radiation toxicity after cancer treatments like radiaiton and chemo, so even if you go the tradtional route to fight cancer, Chaga is still complementary.
Chaga for Digestive Health:
Chaga, like other medicinal mushrooms, has the ability to regulate our gut microbiome by acting as a prebiotic fiber. This means the gut can naturally balance itself without introducing probiotics.
Chaga reduces inflammation within the gut, which is the center of all health. Early uses of Chaga were specifically for digestive concerns like ulcers, gastic pain, and inflammatory bowel disease. By balancing the microbiome, chaga can naturally ease the pain and growth of ulcers.
Chaga for Skin & Coat Health:
Chaga has some interesting benefits for the largest organ- our pet’s skin! Chaga has anti-aging effects, but also has iodine and has been shown to fight cancer cells on the skin when exposed to dangerous UV lights and radiation. It contains B-vitamins, amino acids, and minerals essential for maintaining healthy skin and coat.
Chaga for Energy:
Since Chaga is so full of antioxidants, B vitamins, amino acids and polysaccharides, they are a great source of energy. Since they regulate blood sugar, energy is more stable throughout the day as well.
Through animal studies, researchers have found that chaga enhances endurance and positively influences biomarkers associated with fatigue. They propose that chaga aids energy metabolism by promoting increased glucose uptake into cells.
Chaga's Anti-Inflammatory and Pain Relieving Properties:
As we discussed before, due to their antioxidant properties and ability to regulate blood sugar, chaga can reduce inflammation. Studies show that it reduces the production of inflammatory markers like nitric oxide and TNF-alpha, helping to alleviate swelling and discomfort. Chaga also protects the gut by calming intestinal inflammation, making it a valuable supplement for pets with chronic conditions like IBD or other inflammatory issues. It also has been shown to have some mild analgesic properties!
Chaga's Antiviral and Antimicrobial Properties:
Chaga mushroom’s antiviral and antimicrobial properties help combat harmful pathogens, supporting your pet’s immune system and overall health. Chaga is essential when dealing with almost any illness, since they have been shown to stimulate the immune response in viruses like HIV in people, and would be incredibly beneficial for our pets, especially when dealing with serious illness like canine influenza.
Chaga for Memory and Cognition:
Did you think that Lion’s Mane was the only cognition-boosting shroom? Think again! Chaga has also been shown to boost memory and learning! Chaga mushroom supports memory and cognition by promoting brain health through its antioxidant properties, reducing oxidative stress, and enhancing overall cellular function, which helps maintain mental clarity and focus.
Chaga for Immune-modulation:
Chaga is great for allergies and almost any immune dysfunction, since it has the ability to adapt to the immune system’s needs. If the immune system is overactive, like in allergies, Chaga will work to gently down-regulate the overactive response.
And in under-active immune response, like cancer, will help to boost production of immune cells to fight disease and illness. Chaga also contains Vitamin D, an essential hormone for immune strength and wellness.
Is Chaga Safe for Dogs & Pets?
Yes! As long as it is sourced and extracted properly, Chaga for dogs is perfectly safe and loaded with benefits. If your dog is taking blood thinners (anticoagulants), Chaga may increase these effects, so please consult your holistic veterinarian before starting Chaga if your dog has blood-clotting disorders.
Chaga products made specifically for pets, like MycoDog tinctures, are a safe choice, since our extraction process ensures any toxin amounts in the product are eliminated. For more information about Chaga and the myths surrounding it (including the myth that Chaga contains xylitol).
Sourcing Chaga Extract for Dogs
It is essential to find a chaga extract for dogs that is grown ethically and in an area low or free of environmental pollutants or toxins. Since all mushrooms are bioaccumulators, they will pull any toxin out of their substrate. So look for sourcing that is clean, and wild harvested.
Using substrates that are not natural (sawdust logs, oats, etc) will not only create a weak medicinal content, but will likely contain the pollutants that their substrate contains.
Chaga isn’t easily absorbed in its powdered form, so finding a liquid extract is best to reap all the benefits. Ideally look for a dual extraction, from the fruiting body, and an extract not suspended in alcohol.
There is also an ethical component to the product you choose. Many companies choose to destroy the native trees Chaga grows on in the process of harvesting the mushroom. This is a crude way to get the mushroom, and results in the death of the tree it grew on. Look for products that do not harm the trees, and use hands, not machines, to gently pick off the mushroom.
MycoDog Chaga for Dogs & Mushroom Extract Blends for Pets
If you’re looking for the benefits of Chaga for dogs in an easy to dose, potent tincture, you’re in luck! MycoDog offers Chaga as a single extract tincture, and all MycoDog mushroom extracts are dual extracted from the fruiting body of mushrooms naturally grown and wild harvested in the U.S.
Or, if you prefer mushrooms like Chaga for dogs to be in synergy with other medicinal mushrooms and herbal adaptogens, three of our mushroom extract blends, Breathe, Digest, and Vitality, contain Chaga, along with other mushroom extracts & adaptogens for a wide range of benefits.
Final Thoughts
Chaga mushrooms are a true powerhouse of health benefits for pets, supporting everything from immune modulation to energy, skin health, and cancer management. By choosing ethically sourced, high-quality Chaga products like those from MycoDog, you can ensure your pet receives the best care nature has to offer.
Transform your pet’s health with the incredible benefits of Chaga mushrooms today!
