What is Schisandra
Schisandra Chinensis is a fruit-bearing vine. It’s sometimes called “the five-flavored berry” due to the unique and complex taste of its berries which properties are bitter, sweet, sour, salty, and hot.
Schisandra is used as an adaptogen for increasing resistance to disease and stress, increasing energy and physical performance and endurance.
This plant has long been used in traditional Chinese medicine. Here are some of its benefits.
Schisandra Health Benefits
1 – Enhances Brain Performance
Schisandra enhances memory and focus and improves attention and speed of thinking through its cholinergic functions and as an acetylcholine esterase inhibitor.
This means that your body will increase its levels of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine which is important for parasympathetic (rest and digest) nervous system, memory, learning, attention span, and REM-sleep. (1)
A 2017 study found that Schisandrin B had a positive effect on Alzheimer’s disease. This is due to its ability to block the formation of excess amyloid-beta peptides in the brain, which are one of the components responsible for forming amyloid plaque, a substance found in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease. (2)
2 – Eases Stress and Depression
The adaptogenic properties of this plant mean that it’s able to help the body resist the effects of anxiety and stress. (3)
Schisandra protects the body from stressors by modulating the severity of the stress signals from such things as inflammation, toxic exposure, immune activation, etc.
Then Schisandra helps to reduce the excessive cortisol release and subsequent hormonal and nervous system imbalances that occur in response to the stress triggers.
Also, an animal study found that Schisandra extract had an antidepressant effect on mice. (4)
3 – Boosts Sexual Performance
Schisandra has a positive effect on the sexual glands and organs in both men and women. (5)
It’s known to increase Water Qi in the kidney and to support the sexual fluids of the genital organs. This in turn will increase orgasms and satisfaction.
Also, Schisandra has been shown to enhance vasodilation which improves sexual performance and enjoyment in both genders.
4 – Alleviates Liver Injury
Schisandra contains compounds that alleviate oxidative stress on the liver and improve liver function.
A 2013 animal study found that pollen extracted from the Schisandra plant had a strong antioxidant effect against toxic damage in mice. (6)
Schisandra C was effective against liver damage in people with acute and chronic hepatitis.
Safety and Side Effects
Schisandra is generally a well-tolerated herb. However, it’s not recommended for people who have epilepsy and peptic ulcers. It’s also not recommended for women who are pregnant or nursing.
If you have a specific condition or are on medication, it’s always important to consult your doctor first.
Conclusion
Schisandra is used as an adaptogen for many health benefits, including easing depression and anxiety, increasing energy and sexual performance, and boosting brain health.
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References
(1) https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0753332217346243(2) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28891753/
(3)https://www.researchgate.net/publication/5336030_Pharmacology_of_Schisandra_chinensis_Bail_An_overview_of_Russian_research_and_uses_in_medicine
(4) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27225351/
(5) https://www.spandidos-publications.com/10.3892/ijo.2017.3881?text=abstract
(6) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23201450/