Schisandra berries

Description

Schisandra (Schisandra chinensis) – the five-flavor berry

Schisandra, more commonly known by its Latin name, is also called the Chinese magnolia vine or Chinese lemon tree, but in Far Eastern countries, it has another, almost official name – the five-flavor berry (Wu Wei Zi). This is because you can taste all five flavors in a single Schisandra berry: sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and pungent.

In the wild, Schisandra grows in the Russian Far East, Northern China, Japan, and Korea, while in gardens, it’s grown in many places, including here in Latvia. Since ancient times, Schisandra has been considered a source of vitality and youth. It’s said that if you eat Schisandra berries regularly, you can live to a very old age without feeling the effects of aging. The most popular way to consume them is by chewing dried berries – this way, you get the most benefit out of them. At first, the taste seems quite unique and intense – your tongue might even tingle – but most people grow to love it later. Traditional Chinese medicine recommends chewing dried berries as a tonic and strengthening agent – 5 g a day for 100 consecutive days. Schisandra is considered one of the most universal sources of antioxidants; the berries are rich in vitamins E and C, B-group vitamins, magnesium, iron, calcium, selenium, iodine, potassium, cobalt, and sodium, as well as healthy fatty acids and other valuable substances.

How does Schisandra benefit your health?

*Supports liver health and helps regenerate liver cells, especially after liver ailments;

*Reduces anxiety and stress, helps you sleep better, and wards off nightmares;

*Helps with burnout syndrome;

*Stimulates the immune system;

*Reduces inflammation;

*Improves concentration and helps eliminate chronic fatigue;

*Helps you formulate thoughts clearly;

*Improves vision and hearing;

*Reduces night sweats;

*Stimulates kidney function;

*Helps treat gastritis;

*Helps against coughs, bronchitis, and shortness of breath, and strengthens the lungs;

*Helps detoxify the body for former smokers;

*In skincare – rejuvenates and moisturizes the skin, promoting microcirculation;

*Helps reduce appetite for those who experience excessive cravings due to stress or other reasons;

*In the East, it has been considered one of the most effective remedies for stimulating sexual desire since ancient times.

Schisandra in the kitchen

*Fresh berries are delicious on their own; you can eat them as they are or sprinkle them over green leaf or vegetable salads.

*Fresh berries can be used to make jams, juices, and jellies. By the way, the juice is a real energy concentrate – several times more powerful than coffee.

*Dried berries also fit perfectly into your diet, but mainly when ground into a powder – this is much more popular than whole berries. In powder form, all five flavors seem to balance out and become harmonious.

*Add the powder to salad dressings – it tastes especially good in those made with apple cider vinegar or coconut oil.

*You can make a delicious lemonade from both fresh and dried berries; just crush the dried berries first and let them soak for a while after adding water. You can then add mint or lemon balm leaves; fresh French tarragon also adds an interesting flavor nuance.

*Aromatic milk for a peaceful evening

1 tsp dried Schisandra berries

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp ground coriander

250 ml milk (almond milk also tastes great)

1. Place the Schisandra berries in a mortar and crush them. Mix with the cinnamon and coriander.

2. Warm the milk and stir in the spice mix; continue stirring for a couple of minutes to let the flavors infuse.

*Schisandra decoction for coughs (and related respiratory issues)

Pour 100 ml of water over 5 g of crushed dried berries, bring to a boil, and continue to simmer on low heat for 15 minutes. Then strain and drink while warm.