Compound or practice · Supplement
Chaga
An antioxidant-rich fungus with essentially no human trials — and a real oxalate/kidney caution.
- Overall grade
- Grade D
- Last revised
- 1
- graded outcome
- 0
- references listed
A structured monograph in Prometheus's bundled library. Its grades are the monograph's own reading of the evidence, not a peer-reviewed review.
1 at grade D — 1 graded row
What is known
Each outcome with its grade (how strong the evidence is, A to D), the size of the effect where the entry records one, and how often studies agree.
- Immunity / antioxidant (humans)Evidence grade D
No trials
Unclearlow
What is uncertain
Read off the same rows as above. Nothing here is added that the entry does not itself record.
- Thin evidence: Immunity / antioxidant (humans) (grade D).
The evidence in words
What it is
Chaga (Inonotus obliquus) is a birch fungus marketed for immunity and antioxidant support.
How it works
High in antioxidants and beta-glucans; human effects unstudied.
What the evidence shows
Human clinical evidence is essentially absent (mostly cell and animal work). Chaga is also very high in oxalates, with case reports of kidney injury at high intake.
How to use it
Not recommended in high doses given the oxalate risk.
Safety & interactions
Oxalate load — kidney-stone/injury risk; caution with anticoagulants and diabetes drugs.
Bottom line
No human evidence and a genuine kidney-oxalate risk. Not worth it.
How it is used
As the entry records it, from the studies it summarises. Not a recommendation for you — doses that suit a trial population may not suit you.
- n/a
- Avoid high doses (oxalates).
Related reading
Entries that share this one's tags or conditions.
- Chaga for Immunity / antioxidant (humans)Evidence grade D — No trialsEvidence grade D
- Chaga: dosage and how to take itAvoid high doses (oxalates).Evidence grade D
- Chaga: side effects, safety & interactionsOxalate load — kidney-stone/injury risk; caution with anticoagulants and diabetes drugs.Evidence grade D
- ReishiA calming medicinal mushroom with immune and sleep signals — better data as a cancer-care adjunct than as a daily tonic.Evidence grade C
Sources
This entry lists no references of its own.
Last revised . A grade is this entry's reading of the evidence, not medical advice.