Schizandra
Schizandra chinensis
Schizandra is a woody vine that is native to northern and northeastern China. It is also found in Russia and Korea.
Schizandra’s bright red berries have sweet, sour, hot, salty and bitter tastes, hence the Chinese name for Schizandra, ‘Wu Wei Zi,’ or ‘five-flavoured herb.’
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Schizandra is used to improve physical and mental performance. The Chinese consider it to be an energy tonic that can be used to restore lost vitality. Schizandra can improve overall health and increase energy levels.
In Russia it is considered to be an anti-ageing agent, a tonic to the nervous system and a tonic to the adrenal gland which will improve energy and fatigue.
It is often suggested as a reproductive tonic which tones the sexual organs of both men and women as it is thought to increase the production of sexual fluids, improve male sexual stamina, improve low sex drive and treat premature ejaculation.
Research has shown that Schizandra has ‘adaptogenic’ properties; that is, it modulates the stress response and increases the body’s ability to withstand all forms of stress by supporting adrenal function. In other words, Schizandra may help the body to fight disease and adapt to stresses from physical, mental, chemical, and environmental sources.
Schizandra also stimulates the nervous system by increasing the speed of nervous responses, leading to quicker and stronger reflexes.
Schizandra has also been shown to stimulate breathing, lower blood pressure, act as a vasodilator (causing blood vessels to dilate), improve blood circulation, improve heart function.
It may thus help to reduce fatigue, improve endurance, improve work performance, and build strength; a useful herb for those who need high levels of energy, such as athletes.
In a double blind clinical trial of race horses and show jumpers, the group given Schizandra was shown to have improvement in performance compared to the placebo group. This was measured by reduced heart rate, reduced respiration rate and reduced lactate levels.
Another trial in poorly performing race horses showed improved performance compared to placebo.
Trials in Russia reported that Schizandra
- improved performance and adaptation to heavy exercise in athletes. This was indicated by increased biochemical markers in their blood.
- helped the body cope better with stress. Flight attendants on seven to nine hour non-stop flights showed no increase in blood pressure and pulse rate compared to those without treatment.
- improved mental clarity, concentration, and coordination. Schizandra reduced forgetfulness, irritability, and nervous exhaustion.
- relieved insomnia and dream-disrupted sleep.
- increased physical endurance in factory workers.
Schizandra contains at least thirty different lignans. Lignans are known to have liver-protective action and to regenerate damaged liver tissue. In addition, lignans interfere with a compound called ‘platelet activating factor’, which promotes inflammation. Schizandra is thus used to treat hepatitis and poor liver function.
In one clinical study, Schizandra successfully treated 76% of the patients with hepatitis. It has been shown to improve both virally and chemically induced hepatitis.
More recently, Schisandra has been found to protect the liver against the side effects of medications used to treat Alzheimer’s disease.
Cautions and Contraindications.
Safety in pregnancy not established.
May increase clearance of prescription drugs.
Avoid in early stages of cough or rash.
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