How Chaga Mushrooms Can Improve Your Pet’s Health: Top 5 Benefits
Exploring the Wonders of Chaga for Pets
Hello everyone, Dr. Andrew Jones here. Today, I’m excited to delve into a remarkable topic: the Chaga mushroom. Known for its exceptional health benefits in humans, Chaga can also be incredibly beneficial for your dogs and cats. I’ll guide you through how to find Chaga, prepare it, and use it effectively to enhance your pets’ health.
My Discovery of Chaga
I must confess, I’m quite fond of coffee, especially the ones from our local roastery, Senegro. It was during a casual conversation that someone mentioned Chaga to me, claiming it has great health benefits and even resembles the taste of coffee. Skeptical yet intrigued, I learned that this unique mushroom grows on birch trees right in my own backyard.
A Foraging Adventure Gone Awry
Eager to try it out, I ventured into the forest, thinking how hard could it be to find a birch tree and some fungi? I returned with a mushroom that looked promising but soon realized the importance of knowing your mushrooms before harvesting. It wasn’t Chaga. Thankfully, my son pointed out my mistake. So, I opted for a safer route and bought some dried Chaga from my local health food store.
Chaga: A Nutritional Powerhouse
The real Chaga is distinct with its black, gnarly exterior and a nutty, brown, chalky texture inside. It differs greatly from what I initially found, which was smooth and reddish with white pulp.
Why Chaga is Incredible
Chaga has been consumed for centuries in Eastern Europe, believed to combat serious diseases like cancer. Here’s why I find Chaga so promising:
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Anti-Cancer Properties: Research shows Chaga’s potential against various cancers by inducing selective apoptosis—targeting harmful cells while sparing healthy ones.
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Anti-Inflammatory Benefits: Many diseases in pets, such as allergies, arthritis, and diabetes, stem from inflammation. Chaga is a powerful agent in preventing the production of harmful cytokines, which trigger inflammation.
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Potent Antioxidant: Chaga holds the highest known antioxidant capacity, significantly higher than blueberries. This makes it an extraordinary supplement for reducing oxidative stress in pets.
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Immune System Modulator: Chaga contains beta-glucans which can both stimulate and downregulate the immune system as needed, which is beneficial for conditions like cancer or chronic allergies.
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Diabetes Management: Studies suggest that Chaga can lower blood sugar levels and reduce insulin resistance, making it a valuable natural therapy for diabetic pets.
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Gut Health Improvement: With its anti-inflammatory properties, Chaga supports gut health by normalizing the gut microbiome and inhibiting harmful bacteria like Helicobacter, which is linked to ulcers.
How to Use Chaga for Your Pets
You can either forage Chaga yourself, ensuring it’s the correct type, or purchase it dried. Grind it into a powder using a pestle or a blender. The easiest way to administer Chaga is by mixing a quarter teaspoon per 20 pounds of your pet’s body weight into their food daily. Alternatively, you can brew it into a tea, which can be mixed into their food in a dose of two tablespoons per 20 pounds.
Conclusion
Thank you for joining me on this exploration of Chaga for pets. If you’re interested in natural health options for your pets, consider trying Chaga. Don’t forget to subscribe for more pet health tips and click below for a free copy of my book. Until next time, keep your pets healthy and happy!
Have you heard of ozone treatment for dogs and cats with cancer?
Hi Dr. Jones,
I read we have to be careful with giving chaga to pets, since it contains xylitol, which is lethal for pets. Can you explain which form would be best?
My cat has malignant lymphoma and I want to boost his immune system as much as possible, after his radiation therapy. There were no signs of metastasis at that time. I read cancer cells hold a lot of iron, which gets blasted into the surrounding cells, after the cancer cells die. Do you have tips on how to get rid of iron overload? Will it be processed through the liver and should I do a liver detox? And should I not give him iron/ferritine for a certain period? And what about vitamine C? It increases iron uptak, I read.
And do you know of an alternative for prednisolone? I’m supposed to give him 5mg every day for a long, long time, which I don’t like. I have declined chemo therapy. It’s been 3 months since the radiotherapy, and he seems to be doing fine, no loss of appetite, but I can hear him snoring a little sometimes, so I’m still worried. Before the treatments he was snoring a lot and almost choked. Should I give him calcium or better not, since there can be an increased calcium level in cancer patients?
I’m doing a lot of research on everything, but things can be very confusing sometimes. I don’t use iron bowls anymore, they can seep, and I feed him grain free, organic, canned food (always did). I am reading Hulda Clarks’s book The cure for all cancers, and am currently doing a parasite cleanse with black walnut, wormwood and cloves (bought from a trusted website), and also removed all chemical solvents from my home, as advised by Dr.Clark. I would like to give him reishi, but I’m not sure about the xylitol in it. I also gave my cat colostrum a few times, but his liver values were very high, so my vet advised against it for a while, to see if there was a liver problem, which there wasn’t, fortunately. Any tips would be very welcome.
With high regards,
Julia.
Any form of Xylitol is bad for pets, please stay away from it.
Here’s an article for Lymphoma that can help:
SIGNS
Lymphoma is cancer of the lymph cells (lymphocytes), and lymphoid tissues. Lymphoid tissue is found in: lymph nodes, spleen, liver, intestinal tract and bone marrow. The type of lymphoma depends upon where the cancer originates: it may be the Skin form, the Intestinal form, or Generalized and spread throughout the lymph nodes (called multicentric). Signs for you to watch for include a firm lump that grows and won’t go away. Some pets have an increased appetite but continue to lose weight. Others have problems breathing and may show overall weakness if they are becoming anemic.
CAUSES
Pets get the same types of cancer that people get. It is usually a disease of older dogs and cats. It causes half the deaths of pets 10 years and older. The exact causes of cancer are unclear. Certainly there is a genetic correlation as we are seeing an increased incidence in certain breeds. Golden Retrievers are now the number one breed to be diagnosed with cancer. Boxers are a close second. Environment also plays a big role with exposure to smog, herbicides, and insecticides being contributing factors. Food is of utmost importance – preservatives and other chemical additives may also cause cancer.
SOLUTIONS
A VETERINARY DIAGNOSIS AND STAGING. Your vet will perform blood tests, X-rays, and a needle aspirate of the lymph nodes to confirm lymphoma. It can then be staged, and here are the stages:
Stage I – Involvement limited to a single lymph node, or lymphoid tissue in a single organ (excluding bone marrow).
Stage II – Involvement of many lymph nodes in regional area.
Stage III – Generalized lymph node involvement.
Stage IV – Liver and/or spleen involvement.
Stage V – Manifestations in the blood and involvement of bone marrow and/or other organ systems.
Your veterinarian will discuss your options. These will include chemotherapy, with the most common protocol being the Madison Wisconsin Protocol of COAP – Cyclophosphamide, Oncovin, Adriamycin and Prednisone. These chemotherapeutic drugs will only provide a temporary remission, not a cure, so cancer treatment must include other alternate remedies to increase your pet’s chance in dealing with lymphoma.
WHAT ARE YOU EATING? Cancer cells thrive on carbohydrates and proteins, but cannot grow as fast with fats. Certain veterinary diets have been designed for this, but you can also make your own low-carbohydrate, high-fat cancer diet. See Cancer (previous section) for a home cancer diet.
KEEP HER EATING. Pets with cancer often have a reduced appetite. It is of utmost importance that they keep eating. Try warming up the food. Add a tasty liquid or broth. Some dogs and cats will respond to the smell of garlic; try adding garlic powder.
ANTIOXIDIZE. Antioxidants have been shown to slow the growth and spread of some types of cancer. Vitamin C, Vitamin E and Selenium are the most effective. Vitamin C dose: dogs 100 mg per 10 lbs of body weight twice daily; cats, 250 mg twice daily. Vitamin E dose: dogs and cats 100 IU per 10 lbs body weight twice daily. Selenium dose: dogs and cats, 25 ug per 10 lbs twice daily.
FLAVONOIDS. These are compounds in a class of their own. They compose the thousands of structures that give the bright color to fruits and vegetables. They are antioxidants as well as having anti-cancer properties. These include flavones, (apigenin), isoflavones (genistein), and flavonols (quercetin). Purchase a mixed bioflavonoid product that contains polyphenols, particularly EGCG (epigallocatechin-gallate), which is the specific flavonoid isolated from green tea. The dose for a 10 lb dog or cat is 250 mg daily.
FATTY ACIDS ARE ESSENTIAL. Omega 3 fatty acids are great anti-inflammatories and have been shown to prevent the spread of cancer. Ground flax or flax oil is the best source for dogs: the dose is 1 tsp of ground flax per cup of dog food, or 1000 mg of flax oil per 10 lbs of body weight daily. For cats, the liquid form is the only option, and they should receive 500 mg twice daily of flax or fish oil, or a supplement such as EFA Caps purchased from your veterinarian.
VITAMIN A. This has cytotoxic effects (cancer-cell killing) at high doses. The dose is 400 IU per lb of body weight daily.
ARGININE. This amino acid appears to enhance immune function and may inhibit the growth of some tumors. The dose is 250 mg per 10 lbs of body weight daily.
GLUTAMINE. This amino acid may be helpful in inhibiting tumor growth as well as in dealing with some of the adverse effects of chemotherapy. The dose is 500 mg per 10 lbs of body weight daily.
COLLOIDAL SILVER. I have had many clients tell me about successfully using Colloidal Silver to heal their pet’s wounds, along with cancers. It is a liquid suspension of minute particles of silver. You can get it at natural health food stores and pharmacies. The dose is 1/2 teaspoon per 10 lbs twice daily.
MUSHROOMS. Certain mushrooms have immune-stimulating and anti-tumor activity. Some of these include Reishi, Maitake, and Shiitake. The dose is 25 mg per 10 lbs of body weight daily.
CURCUMIN. This is part of the spice Turmeric. It may inhibit the growth as well as spread of tumors. It has also been shown to decrease the side effects of chemotherapy. The dose is 250 mg per 10 lbs of body weight daily.
DRINK YOUR JUICE. A number of veterinarians have had great success using a juice found in health food stores. Noni Juice is made from the Morinda plant of the South Sea Islands. The dose is 1/2 teaspoon per 10 lbs of body weight given twice daily.
HERBAL:
The most important herbs are ones that will help your pet’s organs rid themselves of waste products, via the liver, kidneys and lymphatics. Essiac and Hoxsey Formulas do this.
Tonic Herbal Support
1 part Red Clover, 1 part Dandelion, 1 part Garlic, 1 part Astragalus. Dose: 1 ml per 10 lbs twice daily.
ARTEMISININ (WORMWOOD). Under early research and testing for treatment of cancer primarily by researchers at the University of Washington. When the active ingredient comes into contact with high iron concentrations (common in cancerous cells), the molecule becomes unstable and cancer cells die. It has been shown to reduce new blood vessel growth. Dose: 20 mg per 10 lbs of body weight daily.
GREEN TEA (CAMELLIA). Stimulates the immune system and inhibits tumor growth: standardized green tree extract is dosed at 50 mg per 40 lbs of body weight daily.
ESSIAC TEA. Contains a combination of herbs that inhibit tumor growth and spreading.
GARLIC. Has antioxidant and immune-enhancing properties. It is best used in conjunction with other antioxidants. When given at high doses it can cause anemia in your pet, so it is best used under the supervision of your veterinarian. The dog dose is 1/4 clove per 10 lbs of body weight daily; the cat dose is 1/8 clove daily.
GINSENG. A popular immune stimulant, it also appears to decrease cancer growth. The Ginseng dose is 30 mg per lb of body weight of the dried herb twice daily or 1 drop per lb of body weight twice daily of the tincture.
ECHINACEA. This is an effective herb for stimulating the immune system. The dried herb dose is 100 mg per 10 lbs; the tincture dose is 1 drop per lb twice daily.
ASTRAGALUS. This traditional Chinese herb has been shown to stimulate certain cells important for the immune system. The dose is 600 mg per 10 lbs of the dried herb, or 1 drop per lb twice daily of the tincture.
HOMEOPATHIC:
THUJA. The first homeopathic remedy that many homeopaths advise for any type of canine or feline cancer. The dose is 30C given once-twice daily for at least 30 days.
SILICA. For common dog and cat tumor, lymphosarcoma; with weight loss. Dose 30C 1-2 times daily for 30 days.
PHOSPHORUS. For bleeding tumors, especially growths on the skin that bleed. The typical dose and schedule is 6C once daily for 4 weeks and evaluate effectiveness.
NAT MUR. Specific for cats with cancer, such as vaccine induce fibrosarcoma. Dose 6C twice daily for 2 weeks and assess if it is working.
NUX VOMICA. An effective homeopathic remedy for vomiting for pets. Many cancer patients have nausea: give 1 tablet of the 30C strength twice daily.
FERRUM PHOS. For a dog or cat with fever, but no other serious recorded symptoms. The dose is 6C every 4 hours for 2-3 days.
STAY POSITIVE. Cancer can be cured and it may happen for your pet. By keeping a positive outlook and giving off good energy you are only helping your pet. I have lost a pet to cancer; I made a point of enjoying every moment we had together.