Have you heard about schisandra berries? They are lignan-rich berries that have been used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for over 2,000 years. The Chinese name for schisandra is “Wu Wei Zi”, which means "five flavor seed." Schisandra gets its name due to its complex taste; it holds five distinct flavor properties: bitter, sweet, sour, salty, and spicy. Each of these flavors corresponds to particular actions in the body. Schisandra berry is one of the rare herbs that contain all five flavors. This is why schisandra is sometimes called “the five-flavored berry.” This makes schisandra berry so precious because it can benefit multiple systems due to its unique taste, which means it works in multiple meridians within the body to restore the internal balance of energy. It can help restore kidney, heart, spleen, and lung health, and boost liver health.
Schisandra berry plant requires a cooler climate to seed. They bloom in spring and become ready for harvest in mid-summer when they show a deep red color. Currently, schisandra berries are produced mainly in the northern Asian regions, southern Russian regions, and some places in North America.
In TCM, schisandra is considered an "adaptogen" that balances the body's functions and maintains homeostasis. Schisandra berries contain various antioxidants and plant compounds called lignans that benefit our health. The adaptogens in schisandra berries are plant compounds that promote natural recovery and help the body manage stress. According to TCM, the heart houses the mind and the spleen meridian governs thinking, overthinking can weaken a person’s digestive system and also affects sleep quality. The adaptogen properties of schisandra berry can calm the mind and reduce stress, which helps restore hormone balance and prevents insomnia.
Here are a few amazing health benefits of schisandra berries.
Heart Health
Schisandra berries contain the lignan gomisin A, which has been shown to help
open the blood vessels and reduces high blood pressure.
Mental Health
The adaptogen properties of schisandra berry help relieve stress, anxiety, and
symptoms of depression. Schisandrin B is a mineral found in Schisandra Berries,
which has a positive effect on Alzheimer’s disease. It is also an
anti-inflammatory mineral that further reduces neurotoxicity and the
severity of Alzheimer’s disease.
Liver Protection
The antioxidants in schisandra berries reduce inflammation in the liver,
protect liver against liver damage such as hepatitis and fatty liver.
Schisandra berry also reduces the levels of a specific enzyme called glutamic-pyruvictransaminase,
or SGPT, which is a marker for liver damage.
Menopause Symptoms
Schisandra berries reduce menopausal symptoms such as hot flushes, sweating,
and heart palpitations.
Skin Health
The anti-inflammatory properties of schisandra berries protect the skin against
common skin issues such as psoriasis and eczema.
Physical Health
The phyto-adaptogenic and stress-protective effects of schisandra berries
increase our physical work capacity. They reduce inflammation in the body and
allow the body to recover faster and lead to more efficient repair to occur.
Schisandra berry is a great remedy to reduce both physical and mental fatigue.
Asthma
Schisandra Berries demonstrate anti-asthma properties by inhibiting
immunoglobulins that trigger allergy reactions. The berries also reduce our
body’s hyper-responsiveness that causes airways to spasm and close.
Schisandra Berries can be consumed or used in a number of ways:
- Eat them raw or dried
berries
- Make a tea
- In a supplement form, such
as extracts or tablets
Precautions: Avoid taking schisandra berries
while pregnant because it might stimulate the uterus.
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