Birch Velvet (scientific name: Inonotus obliquus), also known as birch mushroom (English: Chaga mushroom), birch mushroom, Inonotus, Siberia fungus, birch tree holes Velvet and mushrooms, is a bacterium belonging to stab leather purpose fungi, mainly in temperate regions. The fungus is medicinal fungi, in Russia and Eastern Europe used as folk medicine.

Since the sixteenth century, has been used as folk medicine and herbal Birch Velvet with examples. At the time of the birch Velvet Eastern European countries as drugs to treat cancer, gastritis, ulcers and bone tuberculosis and other diseases. 2010 There are comments that: "In the 16th century, Birch Velvet in Russia and Scandinavia to be used as an effective folk medicine, in the absence of humans can not bear the side effects, for the treatment of cancer and many other diseases. "in the same review, also mentioned birch Velvet rich in secondary metabolites, including phenolic compounds, such as melanoma. Some of these ingredients have antioxidant, antitumor, antiviral activity and reduce improve human immunity, prevent infection. However, because only distributed in tropical and slow growth, so Birch Velvet rare. In 1958, the Finnish and Russian scientists have also found that birch Velvet prevent breast cancer, liver cancer, uterine cancer, stomach cancer, diabetes and high blood pressure effects.