Schizandra

Schizandra Extract Capsules

The Quintessence of Tonic Herbs

Schizandra fruit, from the plant Schisandra chinensis, is “the herb that does it all.” It develops and protects the primary energies of life. Schizandra, known as the "quintessence of Chinese tonic herbs,” supports vitality and beauty when used regularly for some time. It is said to promote beautiful skin. Schizandra is said to help purify the blood, support the mind, help maintain a strong memory, and help maintain sexual energy and sexual functions in both men and women.

The Quintessential Full Spectrum Tonic Herb

The very name of Schizandra in Chinese, Wu Wei Zi, tells us a great deal about the qualities of this herb.  Wu Wei Zi means “Five Flavors Fruit.”  Due to the fact that Schizandra possesses all five of the classical “tastes” (sour, bitter, sweet, spicy and salty) and thus possesses the essence of all five of the elemental energies (wood, fire, earth, metal and water), Schizandra is respected as a health-providing tonic in the same class with Ginseng, Reishi and Goji. 

Schizandra has been used since the dawn of Chinese civilization as a tonic herb. From the beginning it has been revered, and remains one of the elite herbs of the Chinese system of herbalism. It was first written about in Shen Nong’s Pharmacopoeia (written between 1st and 2nd century A.D.) where it was listed as a Superior herb. 

The Taoists especially have revered Schizandra.  Schizandra was Ron Teeguarden’s teacher’s, Taoist Grandmaster Sung Jin Park’s, favorite herb.  This is because Schizandra tonifies all 3 treasures**, enters all 12 meridians and nurtures all 5 elements.  Master Park considered it to be the quintessential herbal substance. 

Though Schizandra is believed to benefit all the functions of the body, it has traditionally been considered to have the most influence on the Kidney, Lung and Liver functions.

Schizandra chinensis (Wu Wei Zi)

1.         Tonifies all 3 treasures.

2.         Enters all 12 meridians

3.         Nurtures all 5 elements.

** the 3 Treasures are the 3 fundamental energies that make up life, the meridians are the energy channels that flow throughout the body, the 5 elements are the five energy states of nature (Water, Wood, Fire, Earth, and Metal). In short, Schizandra is a rare herb that can actually benefit all the bodily functions and organs of the body, according to the traditional Chinese and Taoist health system.

A Famous Beauty Herb

Schizandra supports the skin and its functions. Schizandra is widely used to beautify the skin and to protect the skin from the damaging effects wind. Due to the astringent quality of Schizandra, the skin tends to hold its moisture and becomes full and beautiful. It has always been very popular with the wealthy men and women of China, especially the women of the imperial court, because of its youth preserving and rejuvenating effects.  It is said that those who use Schizandra consistently will remain youthful in both appearance and physiology.  I have seen the benefits of this herb with my own eyes hundreds of times in my life.  People who start taking Schizandra regularly all change for the better.  Their skin virtually glows and becomes clear and fine after several months. 

An Excellent Mind Tonic

With Double-Directional Regulation On The Central Nervous System

This herb is considered to be one of the premium mind tonics of herbalism. It is used to support concentration, memory and alertness. Yet, unlike caffeine-like stimulants, Schizandra does not produce nervousness. In fact, some people consider Schizandra mildly “calming” while producing wakefulness and focus. 

The ability of the dried fruit to support mental and physical activity in humans has been reported. It has been demonstrated that human intellectual activity can be supported and work efficiency increased by consuming Schizandra. Various tests have shown that moderate doses of Schizandra can support various activities requiring concentration, fine coordination, sensitivity and endurance. The tests in humans confirming Schizandra’s efficacy in these areas range from threading needles to running marathons. 

Schizandra has been demonstrated in laboratory animals and in humans to have a stimulant action on the central nervous system.  The herb works directly on the nervous tissue. 

Conversely and paradoxically, Schizandra is also mildly sedative (“Shen stabilizing”). Schizandra does not make people sleepy.

Many studies now indicate that Schizandra actually has a balancing, or regulating, action on the central nervous system.  It can result in accurate and optimal balancing between the excitatory and inhibitory control functions of the cerebral cortex. 

Goji and Schizandra Drops is an alcohol and water extract of Schizandra fruit and Goji berries (a yin Jing building herb).

Schizandra and Liver Health

Detoxifying, healing, regenerative and protective  

Schizandra stands along with Reishi as the primary liver cleansing agents used in tonic programs.  Schizandra does not have the side effects that are associated with many of the “inferior” liver cleansing herbs. Schizandra, especially alcohol extracts, are widely believed to protect the liver from damage due to the kinds of toxins humans consume or absorb on a daily basis, the byproducts of living. Again, Goji and Schizandra Drops is an alcohol and water extract of Schizandra fruit and Goji berries.

Phase I and Phase II of detoxification

Schizandra has been shown to strengthen and protect the liver. It does this by detoxifying and rejuvenating this critical organ. There are two critical stages to the process of normal liver detoxification, known as Phase I and Phase II. In Phase I, a detoxifying agent goes into the liver and binds with toxins, releasing them from the liver and taking them into the bloodstream. Almost always, this newly bound toxic bundle is more toxic than the original toxin. This increased toxicity is known as bioactivation. Old toxins in their new bioactivated form re-exposures the body to these old toxins, and they will end up back in the liver again, or stored in other tissues.

Is Your Detox Program Making You More Toxic?

During phase II of detoxification, the bioactivated toxins, which may be highly active, are safely cleared out of the body. This, of course, is the part we all want to happen in quick and efficient order. If the phase II process is weak, faulty or absent, all we’ve done is re-poison ourselves.

Many substances can go into the liver and release old toxins into the bloodstream, but that is all they do, and as a result the person goes through an increased toxic period. The so-called cleansing crisis experienced by many people who go through various types of cleanses, is largely the result of bioactivated toxins wreaking havoc in the body. It is therefore very important that agents which boost Phase I activity also have significant effects on enhancing the Phase II clearance of the reactive intermediate.

Schizandra appears to be very effective in boosting both Phase I detoxification and Phase II clearance of activated toxins.

A Sex Tonic for both Men and Women

Schizandra is said to increase the “Water Qi in the Kidney.”  In particular, it is said to support the “water of the genital organs,” referring to the sexual fluids.  Schizandra is said to support the production of semen. It is famous for its ability to relieve sexual fatigue and for increasing the sexual staying-power in men.  It is thus an ingredient in the vast majority of men’s sexual tonics in Asian herbalism. 

Women benefit from the same capacity to increase Water Qi of the Kidney.  Schizandra is said to increase circulation and sensitivity in the female genitals.  Many women claim increased genital warmth and sensation after using Schizandra for a period of time. The Chinese sexual classics claim that continuous use by a woman will increase the amount of “female elixir,” a euphemism for vaginal secretions, during intercourse. 

Vision Benefits

Human studies have also shown that Schizandra can support vision, even enlarging the field of vision, and can support hearing. It also supports the discrimination ability of the skin receptors. It has been determined that this sensitivity-support is due to enhanced function of the central nervous system’s ability to analyze data flowing to it from the peripheral sensors.*

Specifications: 100 Vegetarian Capsules, 500 mg each

Ingredients: Organic Changbai Mountain Northern Schizandra fruit.

Other Ingredients: Vegetarian capsules (Pullulan caps 100% natural, water- soluble polysacharide produced through a fermentation process; vegetable origin; non-GMO; no starch, preservatives or chemical modifications; gluten free.), rice powder

Usage: Take 3 capsules, 2 times per day or as directed by a healthcare professional.

Remember Ron Teeguarden’s “First Rule of Tonic Herbalism,” summed up in a single word – Compliance. If you don’t take the herbs, they won’t work.”