Other Names: Magnolia vine
Schisandra chinensis is a deciduous woody vine hardy to USDA Zone 4 and is dioecious, meaning individual plants
are either male or female, thus both male and female plants must be grown if seed are desired. It is very tolerant
to shade. Its Chinese name "five taste". comes from the fact that its berries possess all five basic flavors:
salty, sweet, sour, pungent (spicy), and bitter.
Its berries are used in traditional Chinese medicine, where it is considered one of the 50 fundamental herbs. They
are most often used in dried form, and boiled to make a tea. Medicinally it is used as a tonic and restorative
adaptogen with notable clinically documented liver protecting effects. The primary hepatoprotective (liver
protecting) and immuno-modulating constituents are the lignans schizandrin, deoxyschizandrin, gomisins, and
pregomisin, which are found in the seeds of the fruit.
Because of its adaptogenic properties, Schisandra has been applied next to some herbal medicines like Ginseng as
a stimulator for the central nervous system, increased brain efficiency, improved reflexes, and an accelerated
rate of endurance.
In the Far East, everyone from Chinese emperors to family herbalists has long recognized the remarkable powers of
the herb schisandra to promote longevity and increase stamina. Its strengthening effect is combined with
system-balancing properties, making it ideal for such conditions as fatigue, nervous exhaustion, and lack of energy.
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