Medicinal Ingredients:
Chaga (Inonotus obliquus, Mycelia) …… 1 Drop (50 mg)

Non-Medicinal Ingredients:
Water, Glycerin, Potassium sorbate

Recommended Dose:
Adults: 2-3 Drops, 1-2 time(s) per day.

Cautions and Warnings:
Consult a health care practitioner prior to use if you have a medical condition or if you are taking medication.
Consult a health care practitioner prior to use if you have diabetes or if you are taking anticoagulant medications.
Consult a health care practitioner prior to use if you have an autoimmune condition or are taking immunosuppressants.

Contraindications:
Do not use if you are pregnant or breastfeeding

Q: What are the Health Canada approved uses for this product?
A: This product is approved by Health Canada (NPN 80074307) for the following uses: source of fungal polysaccharides with immunomodulating properties; and provides antioxidants. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Q: Why is this tincture alcohol-free and why does that matter?
A: Traditional herbal tinctures use ethanol (alcohol) as the solvent and preservative. This tincture uses vegetable glycerin instead of alcohol, making it completely alcohol-free. This matters for several groups: individuals avoiding alcohol for personal, religious, or health reasons; those in recovery from alcohol use disorder who wish to avoid any alcohol exposure; individuals taking medications that interact with alcohol; those who prefer not to taste alcohol in their supplements; and children when used under healthcare practitioner guidance. Vegetable glycerin is a naturally occurring compound derived from plant oils with a mild natural sweetness that does not raise blood sugar the way sugars do. It is an effective solvent for water-soluble herbal compounds and provides a stable, shelf-stable base for liquid herbal extracts.

Q: What is hot water extraction and why is it used for this tincture?
A: Hot water extraction is an extraction method that uses hot water as the solvent to extract bioactive compounds from the raw chaga material. It is specifically suited to preserving the water-soluble bioactive compounds in chaga particularly the fungal polysaccharides and beta-glucans responsible for its immunomodulating properties. Chaga's bioactive compounds fall into two broad categories based on their solubility: water soluble compounds including polysaccharides, beta-glucans, melanin complexes, and water-soluble polyphenols; and alcohol-soluble compounds including triterpenoids such as betulinic acid and inotodiol. Hot water extraction selectively extracts the water soluble fraction the polysaccharides and beta-glucans that are the primary compounds responsible for chaga's immunomodulating properties as approved by Health Canada. This is also why traditional chaga tea preparation always involved simmering in hot water the traditional method was intuitively optimized for polysaccharide extraction long before the chemistry was understood.

Q: Why does hot water specifically extract polysaccharides better than cold water?
A: Polysaccharides are large, complex carbohydrate molecules embedded within the dense fungal cell wall matrix of chaga. Cold water extraction is less efficient for polysaccharides because cold water cannot penetrate the cell wall matrix as effectively. Hot water breaks down the cell wall matrix more efficiently and solubilizes the polysaccharides into the extraction liquid. The heat also helps disrupt the beta-glucan-protein complexes in the cell wall, releasing the beta-glucans into solution. This is why effective polysaccharide extraction from medicinal fungi requires hot water — and why a brief cold steep of chaga would not effectively extract its immunomodulating polysaccharides.

Q: What is vegetable glycerin and is it safe?
A: Vegetable glycerin (glycerol) is a naturally occurring compound found in all fats and oils. Vegetable glycerin is derived from plant oils typically coconut, palm, or soy oil through a hydrolysis process. It is a clear, odourless, viscous liquid with a naturally mild sweetness (approximately 60% as sweet as sucrose) that does not raise blood sugar in the way that sugars do, making this product sugar-free despite glycerin's natural sweetness. Glycerin is widely used as a solvent, humectant, and preservative in food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic products and is generally recognized as safe. It is metabolized in the body similarly to carbohydrates and does not present safety concerns at the concentrations used in herbal tinctures.

Q: What is potassium sorbate and why is it in this product?
A: Potassium sorbate (E202) is a food-grade preservative widely used in food, beverage, and supplement products. It inhibits the growth of mold, yeast, and some bacteria in water-based products, extending shelf life without the need for alcohol as a preservative. Because this tincture is alcohol-free, potassium sorbate is used to maintain the microbiological stability of the product. It is one of the most commonly used and well-studied food preservatives, is generally recognized as safe at the concentrations used in food and supplement products, and is approved for use in Canada, the United States, and the European Union.

Q: How do I use this tincture and how many drops should I take?
A: The tincture can be used in two ways: sublingually (directly under the tongue) or added to a beverage. For sublingual use, place the directed number of drops under the tongue and hold for 30 to 60 seconds before swallowing — this allows the active compounds to be absorbed directly through the mucous membranes under the tongue. Alternatively, add the directed number of drops to water, tea, coffee, juice, or any other beverage. Each drop delivers 50mg of hot water extracted chaga mycelia. Consult your healthcare provider to determine the appropriate number of drops and frequency of use for your individual needs.

Q: What is sublingual absorption and why might it be preferred?
A: Sublingual administration means placing a substance under the tongue, where it is absorbed directly through the mucous membranes into the bloodstream, bypassing the digestive tract and first-pass metabolism in the liver. This can result in faster onset compared to oral ingestion, where the substance must pass through the stomach and small intestine before being absorbed and then processed by the liver before reaching systemic circulation. For individuals who want the most direct and rapid absorption of chaga's bioactive compounds, sublingual administration is an option that the liquid tincture format uniquely enables — capsules, powders, and tea grinds cannot be administered sublingually.

Q: How does this tincture compare to the chaga tea grind and extract powder?
A: The three chaga formats serve different consumer needs. The tea grind (whole dried wild chaga in pebble form) requires slow simmering for 15 to 20 minutes and straining, but preserves all naturally occurring compounds in their native ratios and provides the traditional brewing ritual. The extract powder (4:1 concentrated extract) dissolves in hot beverages without brewing and provides a concentrated dose per gram. This liquid tincture requires no preparation at all drops are taken directly or added to any beverage instantly and is the most portable and convenient format. It is also the only format that enables sublingual administration. The hot water extraction method used for this tincture specifically concentrates the water-soluble polysaccharides and beta-glucans responsible for the immunomodulating properties, while the alcohol-free glycerin base makes it suitable for those avoiding ethanol.

Q: Why does the product say "sugar free" if glycerin has a sweet taste?
A: Vegetable glycerin has a naturally mild sweetness approximately 60% as sweet as table sugar but it is not a sugar. Glycerin is a sugar alcohol (polyol) that is metabolized differently from sugars. It does not raise blood glucose levels in the way that sugars do and does not contribute to the glycemic response associated with sugar consumption. "Sugar free" means this product contains no added sugars (sucrose, fructose, glucose, or other sugars), which is accurate. The mild natural sweetness you may notice comes from the glycerin base, not from any added sugar.

Q: How many drops are in a 30ml bottle?
A: A standard 30ml dropper bottle typically yields approximately 600 to 900 drops, depending on the dropper size and drop volume. At 50mg of chaga per drop, the 30ml bottle contains approximately 30,000 to 45,000mg of chaga extract in total. The exact number of servings depends on the dose directed by your healthcare practitioner. Consult your healthcare provider to determine the appropriate daily dose for your individual needs.

Q: Are there any safety considerations I should know about?
A: Consult a healthcare professional before use if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, taking medications, or have a medical condition. Two specific considerations are particularly important. First, chaga contains oxalates naturally occurring compounds found in many plant and fungal foods. Individuals with a history of kidney stones, particularly calcium oxalate kidney stones, should consult a healthcare provider before using chaga, as high oxalate intake may increase the risk of stone formation. Second, chaga may have mild anticoagulant (blood-thinning) properties. Individuals taking blood-thinning medications such as warfarin (Coumadin) or other anticoagulants should consult a healthcare provider before use. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Q: Is this product suitable for vegans and vegetarians?
A: Yes, this chaga tincture is 100% vegan and suitable for both vegans and vegetarians. Chaga is a fungus entirely plant kingdom-derived. The vegetable glycerin is derived from plant oils. Potassium sorbate is a mineral salt. All ingredients are plant-derived or mineral-based with no animal products. The product is also non-GMO and free from gluten, soy, and dairy.