BACKGROUND
Ingredient Type: Botanical, Extract
Also Known As: Schisandra chinensis, Magnolia-vine, Wu wei zi
Schisandra is a shrub that generally twines around other vegetation and is native to Asia and North America. Its fruit is used medicinally as an adaptogen, a substance that helps the body naturally adapt to stress and normalize bodily processes. The chemicals in Schisandra stimulate enzymes, or proteins, in the liver and promote liver cell growth.
Schisandra is an important element of Traditional Chinese Medicine, where it is referred to as the Five Flavored Fruit. The five flavors of its berries correspond to the five elements of TCM: Sour (Wood), Bitter (Fire), Sweet (Earth), Acrid (Metal), and Salty (Water).
Schisandra is used in health supplements today to promote overall health and vitality.
MORE COMING SOON
In the meantime see the Examine.com entry for Schisandra chinensis, the WebMD entry for schisandra, the Michigan Medicine Health Library entry for schisandra, or the RXList entry for schisandra for more information.