Schizandra - Ultimate Super Berry

Yes, Schizandra is a berry, but don't think of it as another superfruit like goji or acai. Think strange, exotic, and only used for medicine. The berry of Schizandra chinensis owes its name Wu Wei Zi (five flavored berry) to the fact that it is sweet, sour, salty, bitter and pungent. Nobody eats this stuff with yogurt. Rather, schizandra berry is made into various medicinal preparations for longevity and overall vitality. The first time I ever experienced schizandra, I was in northeast China with some people involved in the medicinal plant trade. We were eating a stew at a restaurant, and I bit into a soft berry in the stew. Instantly my mouth was filled with a flood of somewhat conflicting flavors. You see, in China, it is typical to include medicinal plants of various kinds in foods, to boost the overall health value of those foods. My first experience biting into schizandra berry was an eye-opener.

Schizandra is the berry of a climbing vine native to northeast China and parts of Russia. It is cultivated in long rows, and harvest takes place at the end of July and the beginning of August. In the current climate of berry crazes, schizandra could sound like one more fruit to toss into your morning blender drink, but this unusual berry holds a top spot in Traditional Chinese Medicine for its superior medicinal benefits.

Last summer I visited the main area of schizandra berry cultivation, in China's northeast Liaoning province. In that area, people grow a large amount of this berry to satisfy Chinese and foreign demand. In Liaoning I sampled the berry fresh off the vine at harvest, dried, and in alcoholic preparations. Besides having a memorable if strange taste, schizandra has made a big impression in the scientific community, as numerous studies demonstrate its potent health benefits. By visiting the center of schizandra berry cultivation, I was able to meet with growers, scientists and health experts who work with this berry.

Most schizandra is dried in the sun and then used in various formulas to improve vitality. But some berries are deep refrigerated, and eventually used to make health juices, primarily for the Korean market. Interestingly enough, where I live in Massachusetts, a Chinese man named mister Chang has planted a large schizandra orchard, and currently makes a juice that sells in local shops. As long as the plant endures a cold, frosty winter, the plant seems to thrive.

Schizandra chinensis enjoys millennia of traditional use for prolong life, retarding the aging process, increasing energy, as a fatigue-fighter, and as a sexual tonic. Schizandra also possesses significant protective antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. Thus it helps to maintain healthy cells throughout the body. It is considered one of the most highly protective of all medicinal plants, and the berry is included in many traditional herbal formulas for improving energy and mental health.

Schizandra berry demonstrates significant adaptogenic activity. What does this mean? To qualify as an adaptogen, an herb must be completely safe and non-toxic, it must have broad uses for health, and it must specifically reduce stress, both mental and physical. As an adaptogen, schizandra is a potent general tonic, decreasing fatigue, enhancing physical performance, and promoting endurance. The berry counters stress by reducing the levels of stress hormones in the blood. Additionally, schizandra offers great benefits for athletes. In human studies schizandra berry and its extracts have improved performance among long distance runners, skiers and gymnasts. For this reason schizandra berry is often found on the training tables of Chinese athletes.

Schizandra also offers special benefits for the mind. Several human studies show that schizandra extract improves concentration, coordination and endurance. Schizandra helps to prevent mental fatigue and increases accuracy and quality of work. In various human clinical studies with doctors, students, soldiers and other groups, schizandra demonstrated superior mind-sharpening powers.

As if all these benefits were insufficient, schizandra also offers first-rate liver-protective benefits. Schizandra helps in the treatment of hepatitis, as noted in over 500 cases. In fact, an antihepatitis drug was developed from Schizadrin C.

Schizandra has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for over 2,000 years. Despite this long history, schizandra is still relatively unknown in the U.S. market. But due to its age-old use for enhancing vitality and its strong science base, schizandra and its preparations should get a good market boost in the years ahead. Once people experience the mental and physical benefits of this super berry, they will want it as part of their health regimen.

You can find schizandra in a couple of forms. In Chinese groceries and medicine shops, you can find dried schizandra berries. Just a few dried berries daily will impart the benefits described there. Or, you can also find schizandra supplements. Look for ones that are standardized to the schizandrins, which are active compounds.

Like so many botanicals, schizandra can make a difference in your health that you feel. And the feeling is good indeed.

Chris Kilham is a medicine hunter who researches natural remedies all over the world, from the Amazon to Siberia. He teaches ethnobotany at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he is Explorer In Residence. Chris advises herbal, cosmetic and pharmaceutical companies and is a regular guest on radio and TV programs worldwide. His field research is largely sponsored by Naturex of Avignon, France. Read more at www.MedicineHunter.com