Schizandra the Five-Flavor Herb
A berry that grows wild across much of China can improve your memory, your energy level, and be great for your skin.
By Rory Lipsky, L.Ac.

When the legendary herbalist Li Shi Chen returned to the imperial palace after traveling far and wide across China for 30 years cataloging every herb he could find, the Emperor asked him what the greatest herb in all of China was. “Is it Ginseng? Deer Antler? Reishi Mushroom?” The Emperor asked. “No. None of them,” replied master Li. “The greatest herb is Schizandra (Wu Wei Zi).” At this, the whole court broke out into hysterical laughter because Schizandra is a berry that grows on wild Magnolia vines all over China and is available to everyone, royal and commoner alike. But Master Li insisted that this common herb was the greatest herb of all, because it has the power to balance all five of the major organ systems of the body. As it’s Name (Wu Wei Zi means 5 flavor seed) suggests Schizandra contains each of the five tastes, and as such is now known to bring the body’s five organ systems into balance.

Throughout the dynasties of China, Schizandra was prized by the female members of the imperial court for its ability to beautify the skin and induce a youthful glow, to enhance sexual energy, and to increase sexual fluids. It was also highly valued by the male members of the imperial court for its ability to strengthen the mind, calm emotions, soothe anxiety, increase sexual energy and staying power, and help the body adapt to stress. To this day, Schizandra is used to treat a wide range disorders including: skin diseases, sleep disharmonies, liver disorders and has powerful detoxification and regeneration properties. In clinical studies, Schizandra has also been shown to have strong anti-oxidant effects, be useful for treating chronic coughs and night sweats, and to have immune boosting and concentration enhancing properties. While it has so many powerful positive effects, one of the most amazing properties of Schizandra is that it has no negative side effects. (It has, however, been shown to induce uterine contractions, so pregnant women are advised not to take Schizandra.)

There are many Schizandra products on the market ranging from powdered tablets to concentrated capsules to liquid extracts. As with many other herbs, the best way to take Schizandra is as a concentrated extract. Typically, Schizandra has a strong flavor. Many people actually love the way it tastes, but if you find you’re not one of them, you can certainly use the tablets or capsules. My recommendation is to take a concentrated liquid extract, as these are typically the easiest to absorb and often show the most immediate results. Another benefit to taking liquid extracts is that you can just pour your daily dose into a bottle of water and sip it throughout the day. You will find it to be a revitalizing treat and it will help you to drink more water. It is important to drink at least 64 ounces of water a day (this does not include other beverages such as coffee, tea, juice or soda) to keep your body properly hydrated. If you are taking a powdered form of Schizandra your dosage should range from 200 mg – 800 mg per day. If you prefer a liquid extract, your dosage should range from 3 ml – 12 ml per day. As with all herbs and supplements the most important feedback is how the herb makes you feel. Trust your own observations!

Schizandra is a member of the elite class of herbs known as tonics. These are herbs that have only positive effects and can be taken everyday to promote health and wellbeing. In fact, the more consistently you consume tonic herbs like Schizandra, the more you will benefit – even if you take it in smaller doses. The key to seeing results from tonic herbs is consistent daily consumption, although it is wise to take a break from tonic herbs during acute illnesses such as the common cold or flu. Conversely, with medicinal herbs like Echinacea – whose function is to battle the onset of illness – it is best to take larger doses for just a couple of days to boost immune function and fight off the invading pathogens.

Not only is Schizandra beneficial taken internally, it is also a wonderful mask for external application. For an excellent herbal beauty treatment, simply take a quarter pound of raw herb in powdered form, pour half a cup of boiling water over it and stir occasionally. After it cools, apply the mask to your face and let it sit for half an hour. Not only will your skin feel great, but it will also be luminescent.

Schizandra can also be the base of amazing elixirs. Round up some of your favorite juices and waters and mix 12 ml of Schizandra for every four ounces of water or juice. I recommend two ounces of fresh lemonade, two ounces of sparkling water, crushed ice and few springs of mint mixed with 12 ml’s of Schizandra. It’s delicious and great for you at the same time.

Schizandra truly is one of the most amazing Chinese herbs. It has a wide range of functions and is generally safe for everyone. It’s great to start your day with, to add an extra punch to your workout, to help speed recovery after workouts, to spice up your sex life, or just to relax with. It also has many other health benefits, which are now being documented by modern scientific studies. It really is the five-flavor herb!