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Schisandra
Schisandra chinensis is a deciduous woody vine native to northern China and Siberia. The Chinese name is wu wei zi, which means “five-flavor berry”, which is appropriate considering that its fruit has all five basic flavors – salty, sweet, sour, bitter, and pungent.
Schisandra grows best in moderate sun and humidity, and in soil that is moist but well drained. In North America it will grow in USDA zone 4, which means if you live in the northern areas of the continent, you can consider it for your garden.
The bulk of the benefits are found in the berries, so let’s just assume that when I say “schisandra,” I’m referring to the fruit.
Schisandra is extremely popular in Russia, and can be found in juice, wine, sweets, and extracts. In 1998, Russia even commemorated these bright red berries by putting them on a postage stamp.
Russian scientists have been studying schisandra for years, after discovering that the Nanai people in Siberia used it to improve night vision for hunting, and to reduce hunger, thirst, and exhaustion.
Animal testing has confirmed that schisandra has powerful adaptogenic properties, as it builds resiliency against all types of physical stress.
Schisandra has also been a valued herb in Traditional Chinese Medicine for over 2000 years, and is one of the 50 fundamental herbs in TCM. It is said to support healthy lungs, kidneys, and the heart, while also helping to calm the spirit.
Schisandra Benefits
Schisandra’s greatest benefit lies in its adaptogenic properties. As you now know, an adaptogen is any food or herb that reduces the effects of all kinds of stress placed on the body, including not only physical, but also mental and emotional.
Adaptogens pretty much do everything, as they support the body in whatever way the body needs, including improved concentration, energy, stamina, and endurance. Adaptogens improve immune function, liver health, and the cardiovascular system.
Schisandra is considered one of the most powerful adaptogenic herbs on the planet, as it contributes to a healthier and longer life. The natural health industry often uses words like longevity and anti-aging, but when using them to describe this super berry, it appears justified.
Schisandra increases energy and stamina by stimulating the central nervous system, and by boosting nitric oxide levels in the body, which improves the flow of blood and oxygen. This in turn decreases exercise-induced lactic acid buildup, which reduces fatigue during exercise, and recovery time after.
And though it seems contradictory, schisandra can also calm the nervous systems in times of stress, which is what an adaptogen does, making this herb a powerful weapon for stress reduction.
Schisandra benefits the body in numerous ways, including …
- Improved mental function
- Stress reduction
- Increased energy and stamina
- Skin beautification
- Improved liver health
- Treatment for ADHD
- Improved concentration and memory
- Lower blood pressure
- Anti-cancer properties
- Treatment for erectile dysfunction
- Improved circulation
- Stronger immune system
- Cardiovascular benefits
Schisandra benefits heart health in a number of ways, including a reduction in lipid oxidation, and an increase in nitric oxide production. Nitric oxide relaxes blood vessels, which lowers blood pressure. It combats the formation of arterial plaque by reducing the production of superoxide radicals. And it reduces LDL cholesterol. All of which significantly improve cardiovascular health.
This 2008 study of schisandra found that it exhibits strong antioxidant activities.[34] Researchers noted that, “Schizandra increases endurance and accuracy of movement, mental performance and working capacity, and generates alterations in the basal levels of nitric oxide.”
Because nitric oxide helps to increase circulation, it can also aid erectile dysfunction.
Schisandra increases the production of glutathione, a powerful antioxidant with cognitive benefits. This 2014 study found that the lignans in schisandra significantly improved learning and memory in mice induced with neurodegeneration.[35] Researchers also discovered an increase in superoxide dismutase (the antioxidant capable of eliminating superoxide radicals), and improved levels of glutathione.
In this article for the Huffington Post, Dr. Mark Hyman calls glutathione the mother of all antioxidants.[36] He says …
In treating chronically ill patients with Functional Medicine for more than 10 years, I have discovered that glutathione deficiency is found in nearly all very ill patients.
This 2013 study on the cognitive-enhancing effects of schisandra discovered several powerful lignans believed to be responsible for brain health, including schizandrin and gomisin N.[37] Oral administration of schisandra increased production of glutathione in mice and improved cognition, leading researchers to conclude:
Schisandra chinensis fruits rich with dibenzocyclooctadiene lignans may be useful in the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.
Cancer is probably the most studied disease on the planet, and for good reason, as incidences of it continue to rise. Numerous studies have shown that schisandra exhibits anti-cancer activity on many human cancer cells, including renal cell carcinoma, colon cancer cells, and breast cancer cells.[38][39][40]
I believe superfoods, especially adaptogens like schisandra, chaga, shilajit, and rhodiola, hold the key to superior health and wellbeing. The more of these you can substitute for unhealthy food choices in your diet, the better you’re going to feel and look.
Schisandra Uses
How you use schisandra will depend on whether you buy the berries in dried or powder form. Dried berries are far more versatile as they can be used the way you would any dried berries – added to smoothies, oatmeal, cottage cheese, yogurt, salads, or as an ingredient in homemade trail mix by combining it with other superfoods like hemp seeds, raw cacao nibs, coconut, bee pollen, goji berries, and your favorite raw nuts.
One of the traditional uses of schisandra was to make tea from the berries. Therefore, you could always try combining them with a few other super herbs to create a powerful health-promoting beverage. You can also chill it in the refrigerator after brewing for a refreshing cold beverage.
Though slightly more work, loose leaf tea is generally higher quality than what you’ll find in tea bags. Often, much higher quality. And at a much better price. Seems like a no-brainer, no?
If working with powdered schisandra, try mixing it into your favorite beverage or a smoothie. Even water will work fine. Check out this Pinterest page for more schisandra recipe ideas. And check out this video, as medicine hunter Chris Kilham will tell you a bit more about this powerful herb.
Lost Empire Herbs is my source for Schisandra. Their schisandra powdered extract is produced from organic berries grown in the northern U.S. Ideally, I would like to get it from Siberia or a similarly harsh climate, as the adaptogenic properties are usually enhanced. However, I trust their quality more than the risk of getting ripped off elsewhere while looking for the perfect schisandra product.
If you’re interested in making tea or an infused cold beverage using dried schisandra berries, check out the schisandra berries at Starwest Botanicals. Their berries are organic and come from China. However, I’d certainly contact them first to inquire where exactly in China they come from. Again, the harsher the climate, the more powerful the adaptogenic properties will be. Therefore, if it comes from Tibet, you probably can’t go wrong.