Functional Mushroom
Chaga Mushroom
Inonotus obliquus CHAH-guh
Chaga is a dark, woody fungal growth found most often on birch trees in cold northern forests.
Wellness products generally use a prepared extract so its naturally occurring fungal compounds can be included consistently.
MIND
ENERGYIngredient guide
What is Chaga Mushroom?
Chaga (Inonotus obliquus) is a fungus best known for forming a dark, woody mass on birch trees in cold northern forests. The harvested growth is commonly described as a sclerotium or sterile conk rather than a conventional cap-and-stem mushroom. It has a long history of traditional use in parts of Northern and Eastern Europe and Asia.
Modern Chaga research focuses on complex polysaccharides, beta-glucans, polyphenols, triterpenoids and other compounds found in extracts. Reviews describe antioxidant, immune-related and metabolic activity in laboratory and animal models, but human clinical evidence is still very limited. That gap is important: Chaga is frequently marketed using strong health language that runs ahead of what has actually been demonstrated in people.
Extraction method and source material can substantially change a Chaga ingredient. Polysaccharide-rich water extracts are chemically different from extracts designed to concentrate less water-soluble constituents, and wild-harvested material can vary naturally.
At The London Dispensary, Chaga belongs to our Boost formula alongside Lion’s Mane, Ginseng and broad-spectrum CBD. Our current product sourcing copy states that the Chaga used in Boost is sourced in Scotland and collected by professional foragers under controlled wild conditions.
Source to formula
Botanical profile
The Chaga used in our Boost mushroom gummies is sourced from Scotland, grown in controlled wild conditions and collected by professional foragers.
Key compounds
Polysaccharides and beta-glucans
Complex carbohydrates that are a major focus of Chaga extraction and preclinical research. Their structure and yield depend on material and extraction conditions.
Polyphenols
Chaga contains polyphenolic compounds that contribute to its chemical antioxidant activity in laboratory testing.
Triterpenoid compounds
Triterpenoids are another group studied in Chaga research. Their concentrations and biological relevance vary by extract and should not be assumed from the ingredient name alone.
Evidence, carefully read
What the science says
Chaga has a large preclinical literature but comparatively little high-quality human evidence. The strongest responsible description is therefore what researchers are studying, not what Chaga has been proven to do clinically.
Polysaccharide research
Recent reviews describe beta-glucan-rich heteropolysaccharides as an important Chaga research area, including work on immune and gut-organ signalling in experimental models.
Antioxidant and inflammatory pathways
Extracts show antioxidant and inflammation-related activity in laboratory and animal studies. These findings do not establish a clinical treatment effect in humans.
Human evidence remains sparse
Despite extensive traditional use and preclinical research, well-designed human supplementation trials are still limited, making confident claims about outcomes or dosing premature.
View research references
- Therapeutic properties of Inonotus obliquus (Chaga mushroom): A reviewPubMed, 2023
- Preparation, bioactivities, structure-activity relationships, applications, and safety concerns of Inonotus obliquus polysaccharides: A reviewInternational Journal of Biological Macromolecules / PubMed, 2026
Inside our formulas
How we use Chaga Mushroom
Why we use it
Chaga is one of the three named functional ingredients in our Boost mushroom gummies and gives the formula a second functional-mushroom component alongside Lion’s Mane.
The form we use
The current ingredient record lists water extraction and an extract final form.
Where we source it
The Chaga used in Boost is sourced from Scotland, grown in controlled wild conditions and collected by professional foragers.
Why we pair it
In Boost mushroom gummies Chaga is combined with Lion’s Mane, Ginseng and broad-spectrum CBD.
From the dispensary
Products containing Chaga Mushroom
BOOST
Boost CBD Mushroom Gummies | 2000mg
CBD gummies with Lion’s Mane, Chaga and Ginseng; approximately 33mg CBD each.
The botanical notebook
Read more about Chaga Mushroom
What Is Chaga Mushroom: An Introduction to the Fungus and Its Origins
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Good to know
Questions about Chaga Mushroom
What is Chaga mushroom?
Chaga is Inonotus obliquus, a fungus that forms a hard, dark growth on birch and other trees in cold northern regions.
What part of Chaga is commonly used?
The harvested material is commonly the woody sclerotial growth or sterile conk rather than a conventional mushroom cap.
What compounds are studied in Chaga?
Research commonly examines polysaccharides, beta-glucans, polyphenols and triterpenoid compounds.
How strong is the human evidence for Chaga?
Human evidence is still limited. Much of the published research is laboratory or animal-based, so strong clinical claims are not justified.
Where does TLD source its Chaga?
The Chaga used in our Boost mushroom gummies is sourced from Scotland and collected by professional foragers under controlled wild conditions.