Superfood: Schisandra

Schisandra is an interesting berry. Yes, it is a superfood, but not one that you would normally eat (in it’s berry form at least). That’s because it is also known as the “five flavored berry” because it is sweet, salty, sour, bitter and pungent. Nevertheless, schisandra is one of the highest regarded remedies in Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Schisandra is highly prized for its adaptogenic qualities. An adaptogen is:

A nontoxic substance, especially a plant extract that is held to increase the body’s ability to resist the damaging effects of stress and promote or restore normal physiological functioning – Merriam Webster Dictionary

Schisandra is often used to increase energy, fight fatigue, prolong life, retard aging, as a sexual tonic, as an anti-inflammatory and an antioxidant. This berry is an excellent choice especially for athletes as it improves coordination, concentration and endurance.

Here are more uses for Schisandra:

• Increase energy
• Treat the flu
• Fight fatigue
• As an aphrodisiac
• Treat respiratory illness
• Protect the liver and lungs
• For clarity of mind
• Treat PMS
• For indigestion
• As an adaptogen
• Treat liver disease
• Treat depression
• Relieve stress
• Treat chronic fatigue syndrome
• Recover from surgery
• As an antibacterial and antiviral
• Protect and enhance vision
• Treat asthma
• Recover from physical and mental exhaustion
• Increase circulation
• Treat insomnia
• Stop night sweats
• Increase strength and stamina
• As a powerful antioxidant
• Fight the flu
• Enhance the immune system
• For anti aging
• Treat colds, sore throats and coughs
• Treat high blood pressure
• Lower high cholesterol