This thing lives by sucking tree sap and is called tree cancer, yet abroad it is regarded as the king of herbs.

It is a fungus that grows on birch trees. Calling it "birch tree cancer" may sound alarmist, but it is actually well deserved. Although it is a well-known wild mushroom, it is the chief culprit that sucks the life out of birch trees and ultimately causes their death, so such a nickname is not an injustice to it.

A fungus killing a tree is truly unheard of. It is "chaga mushroom," also called "birch gall" by some, and it is a well-known fungus that Russians like to eat. In Japan, some also call it "birch hole mushroom." It has many alternative names and is a medicinal fungus. Its appearance is like a lump of black charcoal, and it mainly grows in China, Russia, Europe, and Japan.

First, let's talk about why it is called "tree cancer." Its growth method is very peculiar, and it exists as a kind of plant vampire. It grows on birch trees and continuously absorbs the sap and liquid of the birch tree. Its vitality is extremely strong, far more tenacious than ordinary parasitic fungi.

Once it takes root on a birch tree, over the following fifteen years or so, it continuously absorbs nutrients from the birch tree day and night until the tree itself dies. Is this not just like cancer in the human body, which destroys normal human cells and ultimately leads to human death? It follows the same pattern as cancer, which is why it is called birch tree cancer.

It grows at a node on the birch tree like a tumor, constantly enlarging, and finally taking on a black charcoal-like appearance. Although it runs wild on birch trees and causes their death, which is hateful, in Russia, Europe, America, and other places it is treated as a treasure by local people, who call it The King Of Herbs, which translates to: king of herbs.

In widespread public understanding, birch gall is a natural blood sugar-lowering medicine. Local people slice chaga mushroom and steep it in water to drink, and its smell is similar to coffee. Some also crush and grind chaga mushroom into powder, then decoct it three times back and forth, finally keeping the medicinal broth and storing it, drinking it three times a day, or taking the powder directly mixed with water.

In addition to its medicinal effects, scientific research has found that birch gall performs excellently in fermented mycelium and other areas, and as a food processing ingredient it is added to various foods, such as fermented flour-based foods, food colorants, meat processing, and so on.

Due to the growth characteristics of birch gall, it is almost impossible to cultivate artificially. Although after extensive research, those cultivated through artificial domestication are very rare, and it cannot produce a second yield, with almost all attempts ending in failure. But with current research and development, birch gall has achieved good results in various fields. Although its birth is the misfortune of birch trees, people still cannot resist their fondness for it.