Schisandra chinensis (five flavor fruit) is a fruit-bearing vine. It’s purple-red berries are described as having five tastes: sweet, salty, bitter, pungent, and sour. The seeds of the Schisandra berry contain lignans. These are substances which may have beneficial effects on health.
Schisandra is considered an adaptogen. Adaptogens are a class of natural substances that are believed to stimulate the body's resistance to physical, environmental, and emotional stressors. The chemicals in schisandra also improve liver function and might increase energy, which can improve endurance and coordination.
People use schisandra for menopause, exercise performance, pneumonia, and many other purposes, but there is no good scientific evidence to support any use.
Schisandra has been used for preventing early aging and increasing lifespan, normalizing blood sugar and blood pressure, stimulating the immune system, and speeding recovery after surgery. It is also used for treating liver disease (hepatitis) and protecting the liver from poisons.
In traditional Chinese medicine, Schisandra is considered beneficial to qi, the life force or energy inherent in all living things. It’s thought to have a positive impact on several meridians, or pathways, in the body, including the heart, lungs, and kidneys.
The packages come in 1, 2 or 3oz bags.