What is punk in Alaska?

Iqmik, also called blackbull, is a smokeless tobacco product. It is used in parts of Alaska mainly among Native Americans. Iqmik is made using a mixture of tobacco and the ash of Phellinus igniarius, informally called punk ash.

What is ARAQ Alaska?

In Yup’ik, the punk or fungus ash is called ‘araq,’ and the fungus ash and tobacco mixture is called iqmik’, meaning “thing to put in the mouth”. The mixture is also commonly called “blackbull”.

What is punk fungus?

Piptoporus australiensis, commonly known as curry punk, is a polyporous bracket fungi. It is found in Australia. Often found on dead eucalypt trees and logs, often favouring fire-damaged wood. Curry Punk is named for its persistent curry smell which develops with age.

How do you make Iqmik chew?

Some people make iqmik by chewing the ash and tobacco together, then storing the mix in tins or boxes for later. Others mix it by hand in a bowl, adding water or tea. Some people mix it up with a coffee grinder, which is known as electric iqmik.

What is Birch punk?

Birch punk is a valuable natural resource for us Alaska Natives in the interior. Birch punk smolders for hours and the smoke is a natural bug and bear repellent. We especially use this during late spring and early summer months when the mosquitoes, gnats and bears are most hungry and bothersome.

Is chaga legal?

Are Chaga mushrooms legal? Chaga is not on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) list and is legal all around the world. Functional mushrooms have been used over 5,000 years so it is very unlikely that they will ever make the list or become illegal. Chaga is not a psychedelic mushroom.

Can I sell my chaga?

As soon as larger amounts are collected and they have an intent to sell it, a permit needs to be obtained. Minimum permits are available for $25; up to 100 pounds of chaga can be collected with it.

Do polypores harm trees?

In living trees, the presence of a polypore can often signify the beginning of the death process for trees as the mushroom’s mycelium (strands of hyphae slightly like roots) slither into the heartwood of trees to eventually produce a brownish-red rot.

What is polypore used for?

It has long been known that the Birch Polypore has medicinal uses, it has been used as a tonic for the immune system, as an antiseptic to clean wounds and promote healing, a plaster that is microporus, antifungal and antiseptic and probably was used by Bronze Age man to get rid of parasitic worms.