Schisandra chinensis

Shisandra chinensis (Turcz.) BailI (schizandra)

If you are facing long-term work in the near future that requires significant physical effort, intense attention and precise coordination of movements, then it is difficult to find a better remedy than Schisandra chinensis.

During the Great Patriotic War, Soviet doctors began to use the plant in medical practice. Scouts and military pilots were given dry lemongrass berries before night flights. Russian academician V.L. Komarov learned about the unusual properties of this perennial deciduous vine back in 1895, communicating with the indigenous inhabitants of the Far East. When going hunting, they took with them lemongrass fruits, the use of which, even with a very meager diet, allows them to quickly restore physical strength, increases visual acuity and sharpens it at night.

Schisandra chinensis is a relic of the Tertiary period. It is also called the lemon tree, Maksimovich red grape, and in Chinese medicine - “wu-wei-tzu”, which means “the fruit of the five tastes”.

The thin skin of the berry is sweet, the pulp is sour, the seeds are tart and bitter, and if you chew it whole, the taste will be salty.

In the consolidated pharmacopoeia “Ben-Tsoa-Ganmu” we read: “...schisandra restores strength in case of fatigue, contributes to the human body experiencing vigor and agility.” Modern scientists compare Schisandra chinensis in terms of its stimulating properties with ginseng, Rhodiola rosea, Eleutherococcus, and Zamaniha.

For medicinal purposes, the above-ground part of the plant is used: an aromatic tonic tea is brewed from the bark, jelly, jams, preserves are prepared from the berries, they are eaten fresh, observing moderation, since in case of overdose they are toxic, the seeds are the basis of many potions.

Schisandra chinensis is widely cultivated to obtain valuable medicinal raw materials and essential oil. A fresh, subtle, spicy lemon aroma adorns many perfume compositions. The oil is included in cosmetics, prescribed for various diseases, and used to disinfect water, air, and objects.

Medicinal properties

1. Prescribed for asthma, bronchitis, influenza, pneumonia with vascular insufficiency. Speeds up the rhythm and increases the amplitude of breathing movements.
2. Activates the secretory-motor function of the gastrointestinal tract, normalizes the acidity of gastric juice. Recommended for hypacid and hyperacid gastritis, stomach ulcers, flatulence, colitis, dysentery.
3. Effective for liver and kidney diseases.
4. Reduces blood sugar concentration in diabetes.
5. Has a vasodilating effect, lowers the chloride content in the blood and reserve alkalinity; reduces heart rate and increases their amplitude. Effective for anemia, vegetative-vascular dystonia, varicose veins.
6. Increases blood pressure.
7. Tones the smooth muscles of the uterus, enhances labor, stimulates lactation.
8. Activates metabolism, promotes weight loss, useful for exhaustion.
9. Enhances visual acuity, accelerates the eyes' adaptation to darkness, and increases their sensitivity to light.
10. Stimulates the body's immunobiological reactions.
11. Restores strength well after serious illnesses and operations.
12. Under its influence, the glycogen content in the muscles increases and the amount of lactic acid decreases.
13. Used for viral and pustular skin diseases, systemic scleroderma, psoriasis, infectious and allergic diseases with predominant damage to the blood vessels of the skin and subcutaneous tissue, flaccid granulating wounds and trophic ulcers, scabies, lichen.
14. In folk medicine it is known as a tonic, astringent, disinfectant, antifungal, antipyretic, antiseptic, antiparasitic, antiscorbutic. Used for increased drowsiness, fatigue, anemia, tuberculosis, bronchial asthma, kidney disease, liver disease, dysentery, especially in children.
15. Adaptogen, increases the body's resistance to oxygen starvation.
16. Normalizes the activity of the central nervous system. Increases mental and physical performance, endurance. Prescribed for asthenia, reactive depression, apathy, melancholy, nervous exhaustion, headache. Increases concentration, improves memory.
17. Refreshes, tones the skin, gives it firmness and elasticity. Well suited for the care of oily, porous skin. Stimulates regeneration processes. Strengthens hair.
18. Neutralizes insect bites and gets rid of lice.

Dosage

Oil burner: 2-3 k.

Internally: 1 k. with 1 tsp. honey 1-2 times a day after meals.

Bath: 3-4 k.

Compress: 5-6 k. per 200 g of water.

Massage: 2-3 k. per 10 ml of transport oil.

Enrichment of cosmetics: 2-3 k. per 10 g of base.

Contraindications. Individual intolerance, pregnancy, insomnia, nervous agitation, organic diseases of the cardiovascular system, high blood pressure, children under 7 years of age.

Note. Potent, take only under medical supervision. Irritating to the vocal cords, may cause hoarseness in case of overdose. Exceeding the dose causes overexcitation of the nervous and cardiovascular systems. Should not be taken at night.