Schizandra Fruit

Schizandra Magnolia or Schizandra Chinensis is a plant with woody vine like stem. It bears berry like fruits which are red and grow in clusters. This plant is mainly found in the north and north-eastern regions of China and also in some part of Japan, Korea and Russia.

The berries of this plant are also called ‘Wu Wie Zi’ which means ‘fruit of five flavors’. This is because the fruit actually tastes sour, sweet, bitter, spicy and salty. The seeds of this berry taste pungent and bitter. Schizandra is rich in essential oils, minerals, phytochemicals and vitamins.

Schizandra: An ‘adaptogenic’ herbal medicine

The Schizandra fruits are used for medicinal purposes and are known as ‘adaptogenic’ drugs. This means that the drug can be administered for potentially contradictory symptoms and it would still recognize the kind of effect it should have on the body. For example, a concoction of this fruit can be used in place of tea or coffee in the mornings to wake you up or it can be given to insomnia patients to induce restful sleep.

This traditional Chinese herb has been used as a Chinese medicine for thousands of years to treat a variety of diseases. It is used to cure insomnia, improve skin and beauty, fight infections, cure common cold and flu etc. Schizandra has many varieties. Chinese medicines like bupleurum, ligusticum, ginseng and astragalus are extracted from the berries of Schizandra once they are dried.

How Schizandra fruit works

Schizandra berries contain lignans, essential oils and acids which are known to help regenerate tissues in the liver which are damaged by diseases like hepatitis or jaundice or excessive intake of alcohol. The adaptogenic property of this medicine helps improve and build stamina, increase mental performance and relieve stress and fatigue.

Research shows that Schizandra helps fight against various lung diseases in relation to bacterial infections. It increases oxygen absorption ability of cells and strengthens the immune system of the body. It is also used as an aphrodisiac as it is known to increase libido in men and genital sensitivity in women.

Medical benefits of Schizandra

Oriental countries have a long history of using Schizandra as a traditional herbal medicine. Schizandra is used as a key ingredient in a herbal Chinese medication called Shenmai which is utilized to treat different types of heart related diseases. Schizandra is also used as a general component in tonics used to cure skin diseases or disorders. It is also used as a mild sedative and can be taken by insomniacs. It is also used to treat other different diseases like irritability, dyspnea and palpitations etc.

Current research shows that this medicine contains anti-oxidant, anti bacterial, anti-depressant and anti-aging properties. It also contains chemicals which can be used as cardiac tonics. It is also used to treat cardiovascular disorders in menopausal women because the medicine contains traces of a chemical called phytoestrogens. Other chemicals which might be aiding this treatment are still unidentified but research is on to unravel further specifics. Schizendra herb is registered to cure vision related problems in countries like Russia and Korea.

Some studies have revealed that this fruit is known to help cure a disease called the irritable bowel syndrome when administered with herbal preparations like ginger, wormwood, danshen and buplerum. However, there are not enough cases to substantiate this research.

The schizendra fruit is known to activate estrogen receptors which could indicate why it has an effect on vasorelaxation mediated by nitric oxide.

Stamina booster

Schizendra is known as an adaptogenic herb and tonic. According to experience and as per scientific research, this Chinese medicine has demonstrated its ability to have an increased effect on mental capacity, physical capacity, stamina levels etc. Human and animal based experiments have also shown that this drug has positive effect on the ability to tolerate increased environmental stress levels and surprisingly also an increased ability to adapt to darkness.

Schizendra for the liver

Research also shows that schizendra berries protect and enhance the working of the liver by activating glutathione producing enzymes. Some human studies also show that this herb helps to fight viral disease like jaundice and hepatitis.

Brain tonic

It is also noted that herbal tea containing the mixture of schizendra fruit and other herbs like Fo-Ti-Tieng, Cayenne, Senega and Gotu Kola prevents and minimizes the effect of mental retardation, increases mental capacity and fuels the brain to preserve its working. It is used to treat Alzheimer’s as well. This mixture is also given to growing children to increase their intellectual ability. It is also known to relieve stress. The mixture of schizendra and ginseng is also known to increase memory power.

Side-effects of Schizandra

Schizandra fruit is not known to have any toxic elements.