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The schizandra herb is
highly prized by Chinese women as a sexual enhancer and
youth tonic.
Schizandra is believed to preserve beauty
and is a mild sedative. Schizandra is also reputed to
increase sexual stamina among men. Until
recently coveted by the wealthy and a favorite among the
Chinese emperors. Schizandra is also considered an adaptogen, and similar to ginseng, it is believed
to
increase stamina and fight against fatigue.
Schizandra (Schizandra
chinensis) of the family Schizandraceae is a
creeping vine with small red berries
that is native to
Northern China. In ancient China, Schizandra was used as
a staple food for hunting and gathering tribes. As a
traditional medicinal herb, Schizandra, called Wu-wei-tzu
in China, has been used
as an astringent for a treatment
for dry cough, asthma, night
sweats, nocturnal seminal emissions
and
chronic diarrhea. It is also used as
a tonic for the treatment of chronic
fatigue.
During the early 1980's Chinese doctors began researching
Schizandra as a treatment for hepatitis,
based on its potential for liver-protective effects and
the nature of its active constituents. Schizandra is
now
a recognized "adaptogen," capable of increasing
the body's resistance to disease, stress, and other
debilitating processes.
In Asia, the schizandra adaptogenic property is said to
stimulate immune defenses, balance
body
function, normalize body systems, help surgery recovery, protect
against radiation, counteract
the effects of
sugar, optimize energy in times of stress,
increase stamina, protect against motion sickness,
normalize blood sugar and blood
pressure, reduce high cholesterol,
shield against
infection, improve the
health of the adrenals, energize RNA-DNA molecules to
rebuild cells and
produces energy comparable to that of a
young athlete.
Studies conducted on Schizandra effects have noted that
the drug has a stimulating effect in low doses,
but this
effect disappeared with larger doses. The compounds
thought responsible for the liver-protective effects of
Schizandra are lignans composed of two phenylpropanoid.
More than 30 of these have been isolated in Schizandra
and some 22 of which were tested in 1984 by the Japanese
scientist H. Hikino
for their ability to reduce the
cytotoxic effects of carbon tetrachloride and
galactosamine on cultured
rat liver cells.
Western herbalists commonly recommend Schizandra for the
lungs, liver and kidneys, and to help
with depression
due to adrenergic exhaustion. In Russia, Schizandra is
used to treat eye fatigue and
increase acuity.
CAUTION:
Schizandra should not be used in large amounts during pregnancy
except under medical supervision to
promote uterine
contractions during labor. Schizandra in larger amounts should be avoided
by persons with peptic ulcers
or epilepsy.
Schizandra is also known as:
Wu Wei Zi, Schisandra chinensis
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