In ancient Chinese medical texts, Schisandra chinensis is known as a precious herb for nourishing and strengthening the body. The Shennong Bencao Jing states that it "replenishes qi, relieves cough, reverses breath, and relieves fatigue and emaciation. It strengthens yin and improves male essence." The Bencao Jingshu further elaborates on the function of Schisandra chinensis in replenishing qi, believing that its sour taste can astringe and nourish the lungs, so it can replenish qi, and can also absorb qi back to the origin, eliminating cough, reverses breath.
"Compendium of Materia Medica" praises it as "warm in nature, with all five flavors, mostly sour and alkaline, so it is specifically designed to restrain the lung qi and nourish the kidney water, replenish qi and produce body fluid, replenish deficiency and improve eyesight, strengthen yin and calm the essence, reduce fever and stop sweating, stop vomiting and diarrhea, calm cough and asthma, and eliminate thirst." These ancient evaluations fully affirmed the outstanding effects of Schisandra chinensis in nourishing, astringing, and calming the mind.

Plant characteristics of Schisandra chinensis
Schisandra chinensis, a plant with a high reputation in traditional Chinese medicine, mainly grows in China and Russia. As the name suggests, Schisandra chinensis has five flavors: sour, sweet, bitter, pungent, and salty. It also has many aliases, such as Wuwei, northern Schisandra chinensis, mountain Wuwei, mountain pepper, Wumeizi, red bell, and Xiangsu. Schisandra chinensis is a vine with intertwined leaves. The old stems are dark gray-brown, with obvious lenticels and longitudinal fissures. The twigs are gray-brown or brown, slightly angular, and have wrinkles on the surface. The fruit is black-purple, large, and sweet. It is a good product.

In China, the main production areas of Schisandra include Liaoning, Jilin, Heilongjiang, Shaanxi, Hubei, Shanxi and Sichuan. Among them, the Schisandra produced in Wangqing County of Changbai Mountain in the northeast region and North Korea is the most famous, known as "Northern Schisandra". Wangqing County is located in the northeast of Changbai Mountain. It is a forest area that is very suitable for the growth of Schisandra. The Schisandra produced in the county is known as an authentic medicinal material. It has the characteristics of large fruit, thick flesh, rich juice and high oil content, and the volatile oil content exceeds 3%.
Schisandra chinensis belongs to the genus Schisandra of the Magnoliaceae family. Its scientific name is Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill. Its fruit is used as medicine. In Chinese medicine, Schisandra chinensis is divided into three types: northern Schisandra chinensis, southern Schisandra chinensis, and western Schisandra chinensis. Although they belong to the same species but different genera, the northern Schisandra chinensis is the best for medicine .
Pharmacological research and efficacy of Schisandra chinensis
Schisandra chinensis is sour, sweet, warm, and enters the lung, heart, liver, and kidney meridians. It tastes sour, alkaline, warm, and non-toxic, and mainly enters the lung and kidney meridians. Its main function is to nourish the lungs and kidneys, calm the mind and stop sweating.
There are many ways to prepare Schisandra chinensis, mainly raw, stir-fried and vinegar-cooked. Raw Schisandra chinensis is mostly used for nourishing and calming the nerves, and its dried fruit is used directly to retain its natural ingredients.
When stir-frying Schisandra chinensis, the fruit is fried until slightly charred, which can enhance its astringent and firming effect. It is often used to treat symptoms such as long-term cough, asthma, spontaneous sweating, and upper sweating.

Vinegar-prepared Schisandra chinensis is made by soaking the fruit in vinegar and then drying it, which can enhance its kidney-nourishing and sperm-solidifying effects. It is often used to treat symptoms such as spermatorrhea and frequent urination. In addition, Schisandra chinensis can also be made into concentrated granules or powders, which are convenient for application and consumption in modern medicine.
Schisandra chinensis has a variety of pharmacological effects, including replenishing qi and promoting the production of body fluid, nourishing the kidney and nourishing the heart, and consolidating and strengthening the body. It has the functions of consolidating the lungs and nourishing the kidneys, nourishing the kidneys and consolidating the essence, promoting the production of body fluid and stopping sweating, astringing the essence and stopping diarrhea, and calming the mind and tranquilizing the nerves.
1. Ancient Studies
Schisandra chinensis was used as an antitussive, antidiarrheal, nourishing and strong medicine in ancient times. It is often used for bronchitis, asthma and other symptoms of phlegm and diarrhea. It is mainly used to treat cough and wheezing, tuberculosis, fatigue, spermatorrhea, impotence, spontaneous sweating, indigestion, frequent urination, chronic diarrhea and dysentery, forgetfulness and insomnia. Grinding it into powder or making it into pills can reduce transaminase and treat chronic hepatitis.
In clinical Chinese medicine, Schisandra chinensis has the functions of strengthening the lungs, relieving cough, removing phlegm, reducing sweat, reducing semen, stimulating the central nervous system and uterus, lowering blood pressure, and stopping diarrhea. It is mainly used to treat lung deficiency cough, phlegm, spermatorrhea, yin deficiency sweating, insomnia, forgetfulness, lowering blood pressure, diarrhea, impotence, neurasthenia, chronic hepatitis, itchy skin, etc.

2. Modern Studies
Schisandra chinensis is widely used in modern medicine, mainly for the treatment of hepatitis, neurasthenia, bronchitis, asthma and other diseases. In addition, Schisandra chinensis is also used in health foods and cosmetics, and is favored by consumers for its nourishing and anti-aging effects.
A study in 1972 showed that Schisandra chinensis could cure 76% of hepatitis patients without side effects. Schisandra chinensis can enhance metabolic function, promote the production of liver and stomach, thereby promoting detoxification, reducing serum transaminases and protecting the liver.
Schisandra chinensis has the function of strengthening the nervous system and increasing the brain's reaction speed. In particular, its fruit can improve memory and attention, improve the brain's regulatory function, enhance the flexibility of the excitement and inhibition process, improve intellectual activities and work efficiency, and has a calming and cardiotonic effect.
Schisandra can enhance immune function, especially in cases of asthma or tracheal coma, help the respiratory system recover, relieve cough and eliminate phlegm. In addition, because Schisandra contains more than 30 types of lignin, it is called the liver's guardian. It is used to nourish the body, produce energy to help the body maintain normal function during anxiety, and protect the liver.
Schisandra also has the function of nourishing the kidneys and improving sexual function. The main medical functions of Schisandra are: nourishing, astringent, calming, expectorant, and liver detoxification. Schisandra is most effective in nourishing the immune system, nervous system, respiratory system, digestive system, and liver.
Modern Applications of Schisandra
The fruit of Schisandra contains a variety of chemical components, including sugar, malic acid, citric acid, resinous substances, volatile oils, fatty oils and organic acids. The kernel contains Schisandrin A, B, C, Schisandrin A, B, Schisandrin ester A, volatile oils, etc.
In addition, Schisandra chinensis also contains schisandrin, resin, fatty oil, vitamin A, C, etc., which have the function of replenishing deficiency and strengthening yin. The pulp contains a small amount of tartaric acid, and its mineral components include iron, manganese, silicon, phosphorus, etc.

Schisandra is often used in modern medicine to treat hepatitis, neurasthenia, bronchitis, asthma and other diseases. Its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties make it an important drug for the treatment of liver diseases. The lignans in Schisandra are called "the liver's guardian."
Schisandra chinensis is also used in health foods and cosmetics to improve the brain's regulatory function, enhance the flexibility of the excitement and inhibition processes, and improve intellectual activities and work efficiency. Its nourishing and anti-aging effects are also favored by consumers.
Notes
Although Schisandra chinensis has many pharmacological effects, the following points should be noted when using it:
Those with exogenous infection and early stage of measles : Those who are troubled not due to weakness or seasonal changes, but due to other reasons or colds. Since Schisandra chinensis can stimulate some functional reactions, it is recommended to "take it slow first" and then supplement with Schisandra chinensis when the condition eases.
Pregnant women who are breastfeeding should pay attention : Physical condition will change during pregnancy, and Schisandra chinensis is more irritating, so it is difficult to predict what precautions you will need to take, so it is best to avoid taking it.
There are special circumstances for plants : Schisandra chinensis contains essential oils and lignans, so people with special body constitutions need to pay special attention.
Those who are taking related medications : medications may interact with Schisandra chinensis, so you should consult a professional doctor first. Schisandra chinensis: a traditional Chinese medicine treasure that nourishes the body, protects the liver and calms the nerves