Schizandra Berry (5% Schizandrins)

Botanical:  Schisandra chinensis
Family: Schisandraceae (schisandra)

Other common names: Schizandra, Gomishi, Magnolia Vine, Schisandra Fruit, Wu-wei-zi, Fruit of Five Flavors, Sandra Berry Vine, Omicha

You feel tired, but your body doesn't want to sleep, and you are stressed and fatigued. Consider Schizandra, an adaptogen like the ginsengs, which may help you regain your balance by calming frazzled nerves and redirecting energy where you need it.  It's no wonder that the Chinese have a centuries-long tradition of using Schizandra to sustain youthful vigor.

Disclaimer:
The information presented herein by Viable Herbal Solutions is intended for educational purposes only. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent disease. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.

History and Uses:
Schizandra, also spelled Schisandra, is a woody vine with numerous clusters of tiny, bright red berries.  It is found throughout northern and northeast China and the adjacent regions of Russia and Korea. The fully ripe, sun-dried fruit is used medicinally, and it has a sour, sweet, salty, hot and bitter taste.  This unusual combination of flavors is reflected in Schizandra's Chinese name, wu-wei-zi, meaning "five taste fruit."  In China, Schizandra is also used to increase "the water of the genitals," referring to its use in nourishing sexual fluids.  It is also said to "calm the heart and quiet the spirit."  Long term use is said to help to beautify the skin.  Schizandra is also said to build wei chi, the defense energy of the body, so one is better able to resist infection.  Schizandra is listed among China's most important herbs, and Chinese herbal medicine described Schizandra as a high-grade

herbal drug useful for a wide variety of medical conditions - especially as a kidney tonic and lung astringent.  Chinese herbalists still use Schizandra for coughs, night sweats, insomnia, thirst and physical exhaustion.  Schizandra is currently popular worldwide as a tonic, and in Asia, it is used as a food source.  Schizandra Berry helps the body adapt to stress and nourishes the nervous system.  Modern Chinese research suggests that lignins in Schizandra regenerate liver tissue damaged by harmful influences such as viralhepatitis and alcohol.  Lignins are thought to lower blood levels of serum glutamic pyruvic trans-aminase (SGPT), a marker for infective hepatitis and other liver disorders.  Schizandra

fruit may also have an adaptogenic action, much like the herb Ginseng (Panax), but

with weaker effects.  Laboratory work suggests that Schizandra may improve work performance, build strength and help to reduce fatigue.  It is also used as a mild sedative. Using the berries internally is thought to help the body to better utilize oxygen, thereby improving human endurance.  In China, a few berries are chewed daily for one hundred days in a row as a tonic to improve co-ordination and concentration.  In the treatment of hepatitis, Schizandra has demonstrated a 76% success rate without harmful side effects. The primary chemical constituents of this herb include sesquicarene, lignins (schizandrin, deoxyschizandrin, gomisin), schizoandrol, citral, phytosterols (stigmasterol, beta-sitosterol), vitamins C and E, essential oils and numerous acids. 

Recommended Dosage:
Take two (2) capsules, two (2) to three (3) times each day with water at mealtimes.

Contraindications:
Pregnant and nursing women should not use Schizandra (it is a uterine stimulant).  People who have gallstones or blockages of the bile ducts and those with peptic ulcers, epilepsy and very high blood pressure should also avoid Schizandra.  Do not take Schizandra if you have intracranial (in the head) pressure.

Capsule Information:
Our Schizandra Berry supplements are encapsulated in 100% Gluten-free, Vegetable Cellulose, Certified Kosher, size "00" Capsules. (click here for size comparison) Each capsule contains approximately 600 mgs.