Schisandra…
Oh my goodness…how could I have forgotten about this amazing berry!!! …by Juanita Shield-Laignel MFHT Recently a friend asked for help to identify which
mushrooms and ginseng root, now all commonly
supplements might help improve her natural
used and understood and not just by Taoist masters
wellbeing and always being an advocate for nature’s
employed by Chinese emperors. In 1960 it was
own apothecary, I was delighted to oblige.
discovered, well documented and even ofHcially
We quickly identiHed she could use some help with her nervous system and a simple B-complex would make all the difference to that, but her glandular system was holding it’s hand up for help too. I immediately started sorting through my memory for the best solution but the usual stalwarts of ginseng,
published that it helps Hght adrenal fatigue, heart problems and the negative effects of stress, improves liver function, and impacts nearly every organ and system within the body and as such it has dozens of uses and beneHts especially strong antioxidant activity.
liquorice root, dong quai, kelp, uva ursi and others
Other beneHts also include but are not exclusive to:
that have come under my close scrutiny over the
acting like a brain tonic (improving focus,
years, just weren’t sitting comfortably; I knew there
concentration, memory and general mental energy),
was something else.
improving digestion and gut microbiome, reducing
I decided to use my go-to sources of herbal and supplementation knowledge and quickly looked down the list of well-known nutrients, herbs and palnts that have shown to help the glandular / hormonal system and Schisandra leapt out at me.
allergic reactions, balances blood sugar, protective against infections, helps increase enzyme production, helps Hght free radical damage and lowers in(ammatory responses, supports hormonal balance and nourishes the skin. In short I am so pleased I have rediscovered this
What Is It?
Schisandra, (Schisandra chinensis) also called Schizandra and the Magnolia Vine or most commonly “the Hve (avoured berry”, is a hardy perennial that produces fragrant (owers and as its common name suggests, complex (avoured berries that are also well
amazing berry and all it does, not only will I be recommending it to my friend but it will now be Hrmly on my own daily supplement list.
How to Use
Traditionally Schisandra has been imbibed as a tea,
known as an ‘adaptogen’ or herbal / plant
but these days we can Hnd it as an encapsulated
pharmaceutical. Native to Asia and North America, it
supplement or in powdered form. Unlike some herbs
will grow in most cool temperate climates and as
or supplements, it has
such has been no stranger to Traditional Chinese
been shown to be safe to
Medicine (TCM) for thousands of years where is
take it long term and in
regarded as a medicinal berry with multiple healing
fact, there seems to be a
properties.
general school of
Historically Schisandra sits comfortably on the herbal shelf with other ancients such as, goji berries, Reishi
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thought that being a natural adaptogen, the effects are cumulative.
QUESTION? Want to have more energy, better digestion and skin that’s resilient to the signs of aging? Then you’ll want to learn about Schisandra
