What is schisandra and what is it for?
The schisandra or schisandra (Schisandra chinensis) is one of the great tonic and stimulating plants of the traditional chinese medicine.
His vernacular name, Wu Wei Zimeans «the fruit of the five flavors«: acidic, sweet, slightly salty, spicy and very bitter, which we will successively experience as soon as we put one of these berries in our mouth, and which has parallels with the five elements and flavors of traditional Chinese medicine.
Schisandra is a very aromatic vinewith woody stems, which reaches 8 meters high. It has lanceolate leaves and pink flowers, grouped in terminal spikes.
For medicinal purposes the berries are usedred when fresh, harvested when ripe in late summer or early fall.
Is native to northern and northeastern Chinaas well as neighboring areas in Russia and Korea, but today its cultivation has spread to other parts of the world and in Europe it is common in parks and gardens.
Medicinal properties
Schisandra contains lignans such as schizandrin, phytosterols, vitamins C and E and essential oil. This composition gives it its adaptogenic properties, among others.
- For the liver: Recent studies have confirmed that the lignans contained in its seeds have the ability to regenerate damaged tissues in the liver due to the action of viruses, as in the case of viral hepatitis, the incidence of toxins or excessive alcohol consumption. For this reason It is used in the treatment of chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and alcoholism, and in general, in liver dysfunctions.
- For stress, anxiety and convalescence: Its virtue has also been proven as an adaptogenic plant, similar to ginseng, which makes it very useful for dealing with situations of stress and anxiety, as well as for regaining strength after a long convalescence, as it has a toning and repairing effect about the organism.
- For the brain: Schisandra has been recommended as a psychic stimulant, for improve the ability to concentrateintellectual performance, strengthen memory and reduce nervous irritability.
- Sexual tonic: Traditional Chinese medicine attributes to it the ability to maintain balance in the levels of the different fluids in the body, normalizing the rate of urine emission, reducing night sweats and increasing the secretion of sexual fluids. For this reason, it is recommended as an interesting support to improve sexual vigor in man.
- Other indications: This plant is also indicated against respiratory conditionswith cough and difficulty breathing, against digestive disorderswith diarrhea, and even as a natural remedy to improve view.
How to take
It is common to find schisandra in the form of supplements, but it can also be taken as an infusion or by salivating the seeds for different purposes:
- Herbal tea to increase defenses: This infusion is prepared with a level dessert spoon of schisandra seeds per glass of water. It is boiled for 2 minutes and taken in the morning. You should avoid doing it at night, as it could cause insomnia.
- As a stimulating tonic: A simple way to capture the tonic and stimulating potential of this plant is to take 3 or 4 seeds and salivate on them until they melt in the mouth.
- Invigorating infusion for men. For this purpose, a decoction of 5 grams of schisandra berries – which will have been macerated overnight – per 1/4 liter of water is recommended. Let it rest for 10 minutes and take a daily dose. Tradition states that consumption must be continued for a hundred days to appreciate its effects.
Presentation
Schisandra is taken as a fresh and dried berry, in decoction and tincture.
Jordi Cebrián. Advisor: J. Mª Teixé, herbalist from “El Manantial de Salud”