Can Chaga Get You High?
If you are at all familiar with superfoods or the alternative health world, you have probably heard of chaga. Chaga is a mushroom that is harvested from the northernmost extremities of the world and has been used as a folk remedy in Alaska and Siberia for generations. Chaga is capable of boosting immune system health, aiding digestion, slowing aging through the elimination of free radicals, combating cancer, and much more. However, some users might be curious: can chaga be used to get high?
The answer is no. While chaga use has noticeably positive effects on your body, it is not a psychotropic, doesn’t induce euphoria, and cannot be used in the fashion of magic mushrooms, marijuana, or other illegal drugs. Read on to find out more about chaga and how it affects the body.
Chaga, Drugs, and Highs
In recent years, a number of substances that purport to provide euphoria, dull pain, or reshape the user’s perception of reality have become popular in the Western market. One well-known substance in this vein is kratom, a Southeast Asian plant that induces a pain-deadening effect similar to, but not as strong as, commercial opioids. Many opioid addicts have used kratom to help wean them off of drugs, and individuals with chronic pain issues have used kratom as a substitute for fentanyl and other prescription painkillers.
Other legal substances in this vein are salvia and blue lotus. Salvia is a hallucinogen noted for bringing on powerful delusions and trips when smoked, while blue lotus is a mild hallucinogen used just prior to sleep in order to induce lucid dreaming. Due to the similarities that these substances have with many illegal drugs, they have been banned in some countries and jurisdictions, though they are still generally legal in most places.
Chaga has little in common with these edge substances or illegal drugs. The closest analogue to chaga tea is green tea in terms of how it affects the human body. Chaga does not provide users with a sudden jolt of energy like caffeinated drinks do, nor does it induce euphoria or an altered state of perception. What it does do is promote overall wellness through injecting the body with much-needed antioxidants and other nutrients.
Chaga’s effects are subtle and require some time to notice. For example, while chaga does naturally increase energy levels, it doesn’t do this by providing a sudden jump like coffee or energy drinks do. Instead, you will naturally feel more energetic over the course of a day, staying alert for longer periods than without drinking chaga. This is better for you than binging on caffeinated drinks, which cause a debilitating crash after the initial boost and have also been linked to heart problems in some users.
Another effect you will notice with using chaga over time is that you will get sick less often. One of chaga’s most notable effects is boosting immune system health, which is why it has been used for millennia by native peoples in Alaska and Siberia. When using chaga, you will get sick less frequently, and when you do get sick, you will be able to heal much more quickly. While subtle, you will definitely notice the difference if you are a long-term chaga user.
One of chaga’s other most notable effects is that it slows aging and can even reverse it in some cases. Aging is caused in part by free radicals, free-floating particles that roam through your body and collide with your cells, causing cellular damage. Chaga is rich in antioxidants, which eliminate free radicals on contact, reducing the effects of aging on your skin and internal organs. Depending on your lifestyle and body, you will reap major benefits from consuming chaga for its anti-aging properties.
Users of chaga report a generally warm or satiated feeling with consuming it. This is due to its nutrient-rich nature, full of antioxidants and other substances that provide much needed sustenance for the body. It is also rich in fiber, which allows it to act as an appetite suppressant by filling you up, which has spurred its popularity as a weight-loss tool. The overall effect of chaga on the body is one of improved wellness over time.
Conclusion
Users who are looking for a high or trip from chaga will invariably be disappointed, as the mushroom entirely lacks hallucinogenic or euphoric effects. However, those who are looking for a full-spectrum means of improving their overall health will find much to enjoy in chaga’s rich suite of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.
While chaga won’t get you high, the nutritional benefits it brings to your daily routine will help you get high on life. Everyone can benefit from chaga’s numerous qualities, whether they’re looking to protect against disease, guard against aging, combat cancer, or any number of other things.