Schisandra Berries
五味子 · Wǔwèizǐ
Schisandra chinensis
性味
Warm
味
Sour (with all five flavors)
Meridian
Lung, Heart, Kidney
Named 'five-flavor seed' for the remarkable berry that carries all five tastes — sour, sweet, pungent, bitter, salty — schisandra is the master astringent of Chinese medicine. It binds lung qi, secures the kidneys, generates fluids, and quiets the heart spirit. The wild berries of the Changbai range are small, dense, and intensely aromatic.
🌿 功效
- •Astringes lung qi and stops cough
- •Secures essence and stops sweating and diarrhea
- •Generates fluids and quenches thirst
- •Calms the heart and anchors the spirit
📖 用法用量
2–6 g in decoction; 1–3 g as powder. Steeped as a tart tea with honey for summer fluid replenishment.
🔬 现代研究
Schisandrin lignans are among the best-researched hepatoprotective compounds, with studies on liver enzyme normalization, stress adaptation, and cognitive performance.
⚠️ 禁忌
Avoid in early-stage coughs, fevers, rashes, and urinary retention from excess heat — astringents trap pathogens.
