Herb to keep you going
Schisandra (Schisandra chinensis) is a vine member of the Schisandraceae family, which grows to 8m in rich forest soil. It has spear shaped leaves and produces pink flowers that are followed by spikes of red berries on the female plant. A native of China, where it is known as wu wei zi, which translates as five-flavoured her, indicating that it supposedly tastes of the five main elemental energies. In fact it has a slightly sour, salty taste.
Until quite recently this herb was rare and a well-kept Chinese secret, it was only accessible to the court and was a great favourite of the emperors. Some very remarkable claims are made relating to this plant.
The plant contains lignans, including schisandrin and gomisin, triterpenes, vitamins C and E and a volatile oil. This makes it a tonic, adaptogenic, ie it helps the body deal with stress and supports normal function, and a liver protector.
Schisandra is principally known for its reputation as a sexual stimulant for men and women, it increases the secretion of sexual fluids and improves sexual stamina in men.
It also boosts the immune system, balances the body’s physiological processes and increases oxygen absorption, thereby elevating the energy levels of each cell. It is said to check the ageing process, enhance beauty and lift depression.
In Chinese medicine it is used to stimulate the nervous system, increase the speed of the reflexes and improve mental clarity. The berries are a traditional treatment for mental illness, they also improve concentration and co-ordination. The plant acts in a very similar way to Panax ginseng. Currently, Chinese herbalists are also using the herb to treat skin ailments, chest infections, diarrhea, dysentery and blood pressure.
Western researchers have only recently turned their attentions to schisandra and have focused primarily on the effect of the plant’s lignans, which show a pronounced anti-hepatotoxic action; over thirty differents types of lignans have been identified, and they all contribute to this effect. One experiment indicated a 76 per cent success rate in treating hepatitis with no ill side effects. In an article in Phytotherapy Research, an experiment involved feeding schisandra to polo ponies that showed a pronounced improvement in their performance and stamina levels. This obviously attracted the attention of the American military to the extent that is was tried on recruits who also displayed increased stamina and lower fatigue levels.
It is becoming increasingly popular with athletes in an endeavour to improve performance levels without breaching regulations concerning stimulants. Anecdotal evidence indicates that it is finding favour among the student body at exam time, and with some medical professionals subject to an exhausting regime of work.
The adaptogenic properties indicate that it will be valuable to those recovering from surgery.
Unfortunately, we cannot grow schisandra here, but it should be available from the usual suspects.
Next week slimming herbs
