Chaga Mushrooms Do Not Treat Chancres
Chaga mushrooms have no role in treating chancres (syphilitic ulcers) and should never be used for this purpose—the only effective treatment for primary syphilis is benzathine penicillin G 2.4 million units IM as a single dose. 1, 2
Why Chaga Mushrooms Are Not Appropriate
No antimicrobial activity against Treponema pallidum: Chaga mushrooms (Inonotus obliquus) have been studied for antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and potential anticancer properties, but there is absolutely no evidence they possess any activity against the bacterium that causes syphilis 3, 4
Serious safety concerns: Chaga mushrooms contain extremely high oxalate concentrations and have caused acute oxalate nephropathy requiring hemodialysis in multiple documented cases 5, 6
Risk of disease progression: Using ineffective treatments like chaga mushrooms instead of appropriate antibiotics allows syphilis to progress from primary to secondary and potentially tertiary stages, causing irreversible cardiovascular and neurologic damage 2
The Only Effective Treatment for Chancres
Benzathine penicillin G 2.4 million units IM in a single dose is the definitive treatment for primary syphilis. 1, 2
This regimen has over 50 years of documented clinical efficacy for achieving complete healing of chancres and preventing disease transmission 1
Parenteral penicillin G is the only therapy with proven efficacy, and no comparative trials have identified superior alternatives 1
For penicillin-allergic patients, doxycycline 100 mg orally twice daily for 14 days is the recommended alternative 2
Critical Clinical Pitfalls
Never delay appropriate antibiotic therapy: Chancres are highly infectious lesions, and sexual transmission occurs when mucocutaneous syphilitic lesions are present 1
Confirm diagnosis properly: Darkfield examination or direct fluorescent antibody testing of lesion exudate provides definitive diagnosis, supplemented by both nontreponemal (VDRL, RPR) and treponemal serologic tests 1, 2
Test for HIV: All patients with syphilis should be tested for HIV, as chancroid and syphilis are established co-factors for HIV transmission 1, 2
Treat sex partners presumptively: Anyone exposed within 90 days preceding diagnosis should receive treatment even if seronegative 1