Wildcraft ~ Find, Identify, Harvest Chaga in Alaska

[kwo1972]

do you eat the black part or just the brown? About how much should you use to make tea? About the same as in a regular tea bag? do you get all the helath benefits from the first boil or can you reuse it? Thanks.

[StarFlower99654]

@kwo1972 You use the all of it. The black is the part with the most health benefits; at least that is what David Wolfe said. I use about a 1/4 - 1/2 cup per 4 qt pot. Simmer and as it reduces, add more water until it is dark like coffee, or darker. Reuse it as long as it turns the water color, then I dry it, powder it in a coffee bean grinder and add to other dishes.

[martinaraff]

Holla! Have you thought about intellectus 424 diet (do a google search)? Ive heard some amazing things about it and my sister lost crazy amounts of weight with it.

[seanwagner]

Moose nuggets :P. I wouldn't want to eat that nugget. Im going hunting for chaga today :D

[Omnignosis]

I can't find any in Northern IL?! Does it grow around me?

[Stever494]

If you pound the chaga on it's side with a rock a club of wood, it will break off deeper into the tree and you will not lose the thick base.

[TalvellaMaa]

It wont let me watch after 3:57. Why?

[Lovnpce]

cool video .

[BettyboopAK45]

I would love to go ! and I have a secrete place to get moral mushrooms here in AK.. LOL Hey I really did watch the whole video and relized it was back in oct. that you shot the video, no wonder you found dru ground

[StarFlower99654]

@BettyboopAK45 OMG. I hve been wanting to go moral hunting since I left Ohio!! Definitely a deal!!!!!

[mrsmelzbad]

@StarFlower99654 Is this the same fungi that the natives burn & mix it with chewing tobbacco to get a "buzz"?

[StarFlower99654]

@mrsmelzbad No, I dont believe it is. My husband knows more about that than me, tho. He has been to alot of the remote villages and been offered it as well as told how it is made. However he isnt available to ask what they do use.

[BettyboopAK45]

Ok lady friend where the heck did you even find dry ground to go chaga hunting anyway this time of year?

[StarFlower99654]

@BettyboopAK45 LOL, this was last fall. But yesterday we went for a walk off Nelson out by the new school. Most woods are clear of snow, just alittle muddy in places. Want to go next time??

[cre8edin6]

what is the growing season for chaga in central AK?

[StarFlower99654]

Chaga isnt like the typical mushroom that has a season then dies. It is present on the tree all the time and takes years to grow and eventually kills the host tree upon which it grows.

[lovemerawTV]

will another mushroom grow where you have cut that one? love this vidoe, thanks for posting!

[hgates101]

awesome video!! Chaga is said to be the "king" of herbs...the most powerful earth grown substance known to man and everybody should no about this miracle mushroom

[histerics3]

wonderful! I made a tincture out of birch polypore a month and a half ago, and took it for the first time last week, the very same day, I found chaga for the first time, it was right in front of my nose - I'm tincturing some of it and I made a strong decoction out of the rest, I love the taste of it - it reminds me of coffee (which I quit drinking last summer). I found a really great specimen in the same area, but it's too high. I'll get it somehow, though. Now all I have to do is find Reishi

[rawutah]

AWESOME!! Looks like you're getting really good at that hunting/harvesting process! That's beautiful Chaga!

What types of trees are you seeing them on..other than Birch?

[StarFlower99654]

As far as I know, only birch trees. It absorbs some of the healing properties thru the birch trees. I am learning more and more and loving every minute of it!!

[crosspecans]

very interesting. now are you gonna show us what you did with it?? thanks

[313HealthyMe]

GREAT vid sis! How does the tonic taste? Are you going to vid the process of making the tea tonic? I would love to see it. I have never made my own tea so this really has me interested.

[StarFlower99654]

Yes I plan on showing the tonic prep video. I make it so darned early in the morning, or my husband does it and I never get it videoed before I have it on simmering. Taste: seems nondescernable and I mix it with two other herbals for an immune booster tonic. Together is very pleasant without any added sweetner or flavors.

[medicinesocks]

ever since you introduced me to chaga it has come up again and again. my friend babz happened to have one in a basket on the counter in her rv, freshly harvested, which she planned to tincture... she said, guess what this thing is and i knew immediately!

another friend mentioned chaga the other day in conversation, and i was all about it!

[StarFlower99654]

You know what that means...the Universe giving you a sign. I am so happy I was able to bring this information to you.

[323desi]

love these vids. trying to learn with ya. how are you using them?

[StarFlower99654]

Thanks desi. I am going to make a video on how I learned NOT to dehydrate them, but freeze them for storage. I use them in a 'tea' tonic I make to aid my poor immune system.