Although my favorite herb tends to fluctuate with the seasons, I always come back to beloved Schisandra. Her exquisite flavor, coupled with countless healing benefits, makes you want to take her magic all the time.
Schisandra berry is one of the queen’s within tonic herbalism as she embodies the unique trait of containing the five flavors. In Traditional Chinese Medicine flavors are seen as energetic symbols within a plant, demonstrating its distinct healing traits. The five flavors it contains are, sweet, bitter, salty, sour and pungent, directly signaling its all encompassing and highly medicinal nature. In TCM the five flavors directly relate to its ability to target the five yin organs, Liver, Lungs, Heart, Kidneys and Spleen. Back in the day it was favored by emperors and court ladies due to its reputation as a youth preserver, beautifier, and sexual tonic. It was revered for its longevity chemistry along with its’ inner and outer beautifying abilities.
One of Schisandra’s key elements is its adaptogenic nature. Adaptogens are herbs that directly target the neuroendocrine system, encompassing the infamous HPA axis, Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenal axis, along with the sympathy-adrenal system (our fight or flight response). In other words, its a masterful herb that helps us cope with stress, and the oxidative damage it creates on a biological, mental and emotional level. Adaptogens also target our hormonal and limbic system, which directly influences our mood, perception and overall feeling.
There are many more impressive benefits that have been validated through extensive scientific studies, such as being a powerful anti-inflammatory, demulcent, astrigent, hepatoprotective (liver protective and cleanser), chemoprotective (helps against radiation), antineurotoxic (protects against nervous system toxicity), antitoxic (cleanses heavy metal toxicity), anti-HIV, supports adrenal function, improves mental performance, balances hormones and protects the skin.
Scientifically studied benefits of
Schisandra berry
. . . .
- Anti-inflammatory
- Anti-viral
- Dual action: demulcent + astrigent
- Hepatoprotective (liver protective and cleanser)
- Chemoprotective (helps against radiation)
- Antineurotoxic (protects against nervous system toxicty),
- Antitoxic (cleanses heavy metal toxicity),
- Supports adrenal function
- Improves mental + cognitive performance
- Balances hormones
- Protects the skin
- Increase stamina and endurance
- Helps curb menopausal symptoms
JING. QI. SHEN
primal forms of life energy known as JING, QI and SHEN:
Qi: vitality, energy, force; air, vapor; breath; spirit, vigor; attitude"
Shen: spirit; soul, mind; god, deity; supernatural being
JING.
Jing is our primal energy that determines how strong we are, how much stress our body can handle, and even how we age and how long we can live. It must also be noted that Jing is the driving power of your sex life. Jing can be replenished by consuming certain foods and tonic herbs, and schisandra is one of the greatest of the Jing tonic herbs. Jing tonic herbs have a common trait for boosting brain power, nourishing our bones and marrow (which produces our blood, including our immune cells), and our sexual and reproductive functions. Jing tonic herbs like schisandra support our adrenal glands, and this adrenal support is important for those of us, who live busy and stressful lives.
QI.
Qi is our day-to-day living energy. We feel it as our vitality, our functional energy, and our immune capacity. Your organs, your blood, and your tissues rely on Qi to do their thing. We produce Qi by breathing and from the food we eat. Qi tonics help our bodies produce an abundance of Qi, primordial energy. Qi also determines our adaptability, and adjustment to our direct environment, as well as the balance within our internal environment. Fellow Qi tonic herbs that protect and help boost Qi, are: American ginseng, gynostemma, rhodora, Siberian ginseng, and of course Schisandra.
SHEN.
Shen is like a clear and happy mind. It’s the higher vibrational field of our organs and body pulsated by spirit. Shen is the light in our eyes, the radiance of our heart, the feeling of joy and elevated energy. Schisandra, along with other Shen tonics like Reishi, rhodiola and wild ginseng tend to help us feel emotionally stronger, lighter, and more in tune. Schisandra is well-known to be a very useful herb for supporting mental energy, while at the same time it is calming and centering.
SCHISANDRA AND THE SPIRIT
Schisandra berries are called the “quintessence of tonic herbs” by Taoist masters. It is the only herb known to be perfectly Yin-Yang balanced, to contain all three Treasures (Jing, Qi and Shen), to nurture all five Elements (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water) and to enter all twelve energy channels (meridians) of the human body. Beyond that, Schisandra also circulates in the “extraordinary channels” and facilitates the three main “dan tian” (energy centers of the body). Schisandra promotes the beauty and functionality of the skin, benefits the mind (especially memory), benefits sexual functions in men and women, and detoxifies the liver without causing re-toxification when the toxins are eliminated from the body. It is a profound adaptogen and Shen tonic.
Our Wildcrafted
Schisandra-Rose Elixir is Here!
~ . ~
Our small batch edition of this very potent, double extracted Schisandra-Rose Elixir is here. Our Schisandra comes from the beautiful and pristine Changbai mountains in China. They're organically grown yet with a pending USDA organic certification (for those of you asking!) With wild rose petals from wild crafters from different parts of the US. This is a medicinally potent extract using organic cane alcohol and organic vegetable glycerin.
