College of Ayurvedic Diet & Digestion

College of Ayurvedic Diet & Digestion

 

AYURVEDIC HERB SUPPLEMENTS

Schisandra (Schisandra chinensis)

Warm, astringent and sour berry that stimulates agni in cases of weakness.

How Does This Ayurvedic Herb Supplement Improve Wellness?

CLINICAL AYURVEDIC REVIEW

Schisandra taste like a warm, pungent cranberry. Called five taste berry, it is similar to amalaki in its sourness and astringency, but more warming and mildly pungent. While amalaki is more perfectly suited to calm Pitta heat conditions, schisandra is more used in Vata cold conditions.

As it dilates blood vessels and eases tension, sour taste consolidates a scattered mind. In Schisandra, this sourness combines with warmth to ease insomnia due to Vata tension and cold.

Schisandras sourness and warmth also stimulate agni, and is useful in all cases of weakness (essence deficiency). Its astringency is especially useful in diarrhea due to weakness, as well as vaginal discharge and spermatorrhea due to cold.

Metabolic Nature of Schisandra

See a complete list of all biocharacteristics.

METABOLIC NATURE

Metabolic Nature

Ayurveda assesses metabolic imbalances through 20 main biocharacteristics (gunas). Aggravating them weakens your body and causes imbalance. By knowing which biocharacteristics are habitually imbalanced in your body, you will be able to identify and correct metabolic imbalances before you get sick. Every biocharacteristic has an opposite which balances it (i.e. hot balances cold). You restore balance by favoring diet and lifestyle choices that increase the opposite biocharacteristic.

Find Out More

DRY

ABOUT DRY BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Dry is identified by lack of moisture, lack of fat, or anything that causes diuresis.

LEARN MORE ABOUT DRY

HOT

ABOUT HOT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Hot is identified by increased body temperature, metabolism, or inflammation.

LEARN MORE ABOUT HOT

TASTES

The 6 Tastes

Taste is used to sense the most basic properties and effects of food. Each taste has a specific medicinal effect on your body. Cravings for food with certain tastes indicate your body is craving specific medicinal results from food. Taste is experienced on the tongue and represents your body's reaction to foods. Sweet taste causes physical satisfaction and attraction whereas bitter taste causes discomfort and aversion. Kapha should use less sweet taste while Vata and Pitta would benefit from using more sweet taste. One of the first signs of illness is that your taste and appetite for food changes. The six tastes are sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent. Do you crave foods with any of the tastes below?

Find Out More

SOUR

ABOUT SOUR BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Sour refers to anything fermented or acidic.

LEARN MORE ABOUT SOUR

ASTRINGENT

ABOUT ASTRINGENT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Astringency is characterized by constriction, drawing together, or drying.

LEARN MORE ABOUT ASTRINGENT

SWEET

ABOUT SWEET BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Sweet refers to anything builds tissue, including macronutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins and fats.

LEARN MORE ABOUT SWEET

DOSHAS

The Three Doshas / Body Types

Ayurveda is a metabolic theory of medicine that explains individual health, tendencies, and disease patterns through the concept of doshas, which can be understood as your metabolic patterns and tendencies.

Each dosha reflects a distinct metabolic nature and describes strengths & weaknesses in bodily function, and how these affect energy levels, digestion, susceptibility to disease, and many other tendencies.

Your metabolic nature not only affects your physical characteristics, but also influences your mental thought patterns, confidence, and enthusiasm.

Ayurveda balances these metabolic strengths & weaknesses to support your body's vitality and prevent recurrent disease cycles. This support is a critical aid, especially in chronic or incurable disease conditions.

The 3 metabolic body types (doshas), are Catabolic (Vata), Metabolic (Pitta), and Anabolic (Kapha).

Through dosha, Ayurveda empowers people to identify metabolic imbalances early, break repetitive patterns of disease, and cultivate habits that support long-term vitality and well-being.

Ultimately, these metabolic patterns also provide a framework for understanding yourself, including body, mind, and spiritual tendencies.

Find Out More

PACIFIES
Kapha pacifying Pitta pacifying Vata pacifying

GREEK MEDICINE / TEMPERAMENTS

The Four Temperaments / Humors

Ayurveda & Greek Medicine were the dominant form of medicine along the Silk Road from England to China and South Asia. They work by assessing your metabolic type, patterns, and nature. Greek medicine recognizes 4 metabolic temperaments, Melancholic, Choleric, Sanguine, and Phlegmatic.

Find Out More

PACIFIES
PHLEGMATIC

ABOUT PHLEGMATIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

A Phlegmatic has a cold and wet metabolic nature. The coldness implies a slow metabolism, the moisture that you are well-nourished. Phlegmatics tend towards sluggishness and thickened fluids, including mucus.

LEARN MORE ABOUT PHLEGMATIC

AGGRAVATES
CHOLERIC

ABOUT CHOLERIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Has a hot and dry metabolic nature. Enthusiastic, vibrant and bright. In excess burns up fluids and ojas, irritable. Corresponds to high bilirubin in the blood that irritates and heats up the body and liver.

LEARN MORE ABOUT CHOLERIC

MELANCHOLIC

ABOUT MELANCHOLIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Cold and dry with a slow, variable or erratic metabolism. Colicky, tense. Withdrawn, pensive, anxious, and hesitant. Analytical, intelligent, detail oriented and creative. Prone to ojas depletion, dehydration, an overactive nervous system, and depression.

LEARN MORE ABOUT MELANCHOLIC

SANGUINE

ABOUT SANGUINE BIOCHARACTERISTIC

A hot and oily nature with a moderate metabolism and a well nourished body makes Sanguine individuals vigorous, vivacious, outgoing and generous, and prone to impulsivity and self indulgence. Bullish and intense when out of balance.

LEARN MORE ABOUT SANGUINE

Medicinal Benefits, Uses & Herbal Actions of Schisandra
Experiences are Personal
Experiences vary according to the person and constitution. Individual results may vary. The list of herbal-actions below has not be approved by the FDA and should not be used to treat a medical condition.

(see all)
Digestive

DIGESTIVE

Herbs that encourage healthy digestion.

SEE ALL 'DIGESTIVE' FOODS / HERBS

,
Sialogogue

SIALOGOGUE

A sialogogue increases saliva. Sour foods are often great sialogogues, and increase output of all exocrine glands. Salty taste is very moistening as well. Bitter, pungent and sweettastes also increase salivary output but to a lesser degree. Astringents.

SEE ALL 'SIALOGOGUE' FOODS / HERBS

Nerve Relaxant Grounding

NERVE-RELAXANT-GROUNDING

Encourages feelings of stability and heaviness. Makes you feel settled, mentally relaxed. Mildly sedates the nervous system to ease stress. Can bring a spacey or anxious person back to earth. Reduces agitation, irritation, stress and racing thoughts.

SEE ALL 'NERVE-RELAXANT-GROUNDING' FOODS / HERBS

,
Neuroprotective

STRONG NEUROPROTECTIVE

Repairs / restores damaged nerves. Protects nerve health.

SEE ALL 'NEUROPROTECTIVE' FOODS / HERBS

,
Antidepressant

ANTIDEPRESSANT

Herbs that lift feelings of depression, benefit the mind and improve mental function.

SEE ALL 'ANTIDEPRESSANT' FOODS / HERBS

,
Boosts Gaba

BOOSTS-GABA

GABA, or gamma-aminobutyric acid, reduces nerve excitability. It is the body's primary inhibitory neurotransmitter. Thus, it promotes relaxation, calm, and sleep.

SEE ALL 'BOOSTS-GABA' FOODS / HERBS

,
Brain Tonic

BRAIN-TONIC

An herb that strengthens the brain and thereby enhances memory or other cognitive functions and improves mental stamina or stability.

SEE ALL 'BRAIN-TONIC' FOODS / HERBS

,
Improves Focus

IMPROVES-FOCUS

Reduces scattered thoughts. Creates a steady mind. Includes herbs that relax (for Vata) and herbs that stimulate (for Kapha).

SEE ALL 'IMPROVES-FOCUS' FOODS / HERBS

,
Nerve Growth Tonic

NERVE-GROWTH-TONIC

Stimulate neurite / axon growth, promotes regeneration.

SEE ALL 'NERVE-GROWTH-TONIC' FOODS / HERBS

Stimulates Energy

STIMULATES-ENERGY

This category groups thyroid and adrenal stimulating herbs.

SEE ALL 'STIMULATES-ENERGY' FOODS / HERBS

,
Adrenal Tonic

ADRENAL-TONIC

Strengthens, supports, or increases output of adrenals.

SEE ALL 'ADRENAL-TONIC' FOODS / HERBS

,
Tonic

TONIC

A tonic herb restores function through strengthening tissue. This can happen through a combination of nourishing the tissue, and invigorating tissue metabolism. The tonic should not be withering, as in caffeine.

SEE ALL 'TONIC' FOODS / HERBS

Antitussive

ANTITUSSIVE

Cough suppressant, particularly for dry coughs or a tickle in your throat.

SEE ALL 'ANTITUSSIVE' FOODS / HERBS

Adaptogen

ADAPTOGEN

Herbs that promote stabilization of physiological processes and homeostasis. Adaptogens increase the body's ability to resist the damaging effects of stress and promote or restore normal physiological functioning.

SEE ALL 'ADAPTOGEN' FOODS / HERBS

,
Immune Calming

IMMUNE-CALMING

Herbs that interrupt an allergic reaction or calm the immune system, useful in allergies and autoimmune conditions.

SEE ALL 'IMMUNE-CALMING' FOODS / HERBS

Antiplatelet

ANTIPLATELET

An herb that inhibits clotting, dissolves clots, thins the blood, or destroys platelets, therefore reducing the tendency of blood to form clots. They are useful in cardiovascular disease, clots, and stroke. Aka anticoagulant.

SEE ALL 'ANTIPLATELET' FOODS / HERBS

,
Rebuilds Fluids

REBUILDS-FLUIDS

Herbs or substances that create moisture in the body and increase fluids.

SEE ALL 'REBUILDS-FLUIDS' FOODS / HERBS

,
Reduces Secretions

REDUCES-SECRETIONS

Stops discharges & secretions (examples include sweat, vaginal discharge, diarrhea, urinary, nasal, etc). Commonly astringent or cooling remedies.

SEE ALL 'REDUCES-SECRETIONS' FOODS / HERBS

Warms Kidney

WARMS-KIDNEY

Warms the kidneys by increasing blood flow to the organ.

SEE ALL 'WARMS-KIDNEY' FOODS / HERBS

Hepatoprotective

HEPATOPROTECTIVE

An herb that is capable of preventing liver damage. Many hepatoprotectives work via antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

SEE ALL 'HEPATOPROTECTIVE' FOODS / HERBS

,
Livotonic

LIVOTONIC

An herb that strengthens the liver. It is helpful for people with a history of substance abuse, chronic liver issues from hepatitis and hemolytic anemias. Generally, liver tonics are oily, cool, sweet, mildly sour, or contain beta-carotene.

SEE ALL 'LIVOTONIC' FOODS / HERBS

Emmenagogue

EMMENAGOGUE

Herbs which stimulate menstruation. Emmenagogues are used for scanty menstruation, to relieve menstrual pain, and improve blood flow in the pelvic area and uterus.

SEE ALL 'EMMENAGOGUE' FOODS / HERBS

,
Oxytocic

OXYTOCIC

Oxytocin stimulates uterine contractions, and prepares the uterus for labor. It has a vasoconstricting effect. Emotionally, it is tribal.

SEE ALL 'OXYTOCIC' FOODS / HERBS

,
Stimulant Parturient

STIMULANT-PARTURIENT

Used to induce labor when labor is stalled due to weak or ineffective contractions. Includes both stimulants and oxytocic parturients.

SEE ALL 'STIMULANT-PARTURIENT' FOODS / HERBS

,
Uterine Stimulant

UTERINE-STIMULANT

Causes contractions in the uterus often by stimulating production of oxytocin. These herbs are contraindicated during pregnancy.

SEE ALL 'UTERINE-STIMULANT' FOODS / HERBS

Foods with a Similar Nature to Schisandra

  • Sage

    Sage has these Actions in Common

    Digestive, Nerve-growth-tonic, Stimulant-parturient, Adrenal-tonic, Emmenagogue, Neuroprotective, Stimulates-energy, Antidepressant, Immune-calming, Reduces-secretions, Uterine-stimulant

    LEARN MORE

  • Turmeric Root (Fresh)

    Turmeric Root (Fresh) has these Actions in Common

    Neuroprotective, Adrenal-tonic, Digestive, Immune-calming, Antiplatelet, Emmenagogue, Nerve-growth-tonic, Brain-tonic, Hepatoprotective

    LEARN MORE

  • Grape

    Grape has these Actions in Common

    Antiplatelet, Livotonic, Sialogogue, Brain-tonic, Neuroprotective, Tonic, Immune-calming, Rebuilds-fluids

    LEARN MORE

  • Ginger (Fresh)

    Ginger (Fresh) has these Actions in Common

    Adrenal-tonic, Digestive, Sialogogue, Antiplatelet, Hepatoprotective, Stimulates-energy, Brain-tonic, Neuroprotective

    LEARN MORE

  • Rosemary

    Rosemary has these Actions in Common

    Stimulates-energy, Digestive, Improves-focus, Antidepressant, Emmenagogue, Neuroprotective, Brain-tonic, Immune-calming

    LEARN MORE

  • Turmeric

    Turmeric has these Actions in Common

    Immune-calming, Antiplatelet, Emmenagogue, Nerve-growth-tonic, Brain-tonic, Hepatoprotective, Neuroprotective, Digestive

    LEARN MORE

  • Green Tea

    Green Tea has these Actions in Common

    Boosts-gaba, Nerve-growth-tonic, Digestive, Neuroprotective, Antidepressant, Immune-calming, Stimulates-energy

    LEARN MORE

  • Strawberries

    Strawberries has these Actions in Common

    Improves-focus, Sialogogue, Digestive, Livotonic, Immune-calming, Rebuilds-fluids

    LEARN MORE

  • Ginger (Dried)

    Ginger (Dried) has these Actions in Common

    Antiplatelet, Neuroprotective, Brain-tonic, Sialogogue, Digestive, Stimulates-energy

    LEARN MORE

  • Crystallized Ginger

    Crystallized Ginger has these Actions in Common

    Digestive, Stimulates-energy, Antiplatelet, Neuroprotective, Brain-tonic, Sialogogue

    LEARN MORE

  • Saffron

    Saffron has these Actions in Common

    Antidepressant, Livotonic, Digestive, Neuroprotective, Emmenagogue, Stimulates-energy

    LEARN MORE

Herbs & Supplements with a Similar Nature to Schisandra

  • Ginseng, Chinese

    Ginseng, Chinese has these Actions in Common

    Improves-focus, Adaptogen, Nerve-growth-tonic, Adrenal-tonic, Neuroprotective, Antidepressant, Stimulates-energy, Brain-tonic, Tonic, Digestive, Hepatoprotective, Immune-calming

    LEARN MORE

  • Dong Quai

    Dong Quai has these Actions in Common

    Boosts-gaba, Digestive, Emmenagogue, Hepatoprotective, Immune-calming, Stimulant-parturient, Adaptogen, Stimulates-energy, Antiplatelet, Uterine-stimulant

    LEARN MORE

  • Ashwagandha

    Ashwagandha has these Actions in Common

    Boosts-gaba, Brain-tonic, Immune-calming, Nerve-growth-tonic, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Adaptogen, Neuroprotective, Adrenal-tonic, Tonic, Antidepressant

    LEARN MORE

  • Rhodiola

    Rhodiola has these Actions in Common

    Brain-tonic, Emmenagogue, Neuroprotective, Reduces-secretions, Stimulates-energy, Adaptogen, Tonic, Adrenal-tonic, Antidepressant

    LEARN MORE

  • Eleuthero Ginseng

    Eleuthero Ginseng has these Actions in Common

    Adrenal-tonic, Antidepressant, Digestive, Hepatoprotective, Improves-focus, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Stimulates-energy, Adaptogen, Tonic

    LEARN MORE

  • Ginkgo

    Ginkgo has these Actions in Common

    Antidepressant, Reduces-secretions, Antiplatelet, Boosts-gaba, Brain-tonic, Hepatoprotective, Immune-calming, Nerve-growth-tonic, Neuroprotective

    LEARN MORE

  • Amalaki

    Amalaki has these Actions in Common

    Sialogogue, Stimulates-energy, Adaptogen, Tonic, Brain-tonic, Digestive, Hepatoprotective, Improves-focus, Rebuilds-fluids

    LEARN MORE

  • Holy Basil Leaf (Tulsi)

    Holy Basil Leaf (Tulsi) has these Actions in Common

    Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Stimulates-energy, Adaptogen, Warms-kidney, Adrenal-tonic, Antidepressant, Boosts-gaba, Emmenagogue, Immune-calming

    LEARN MORE

  • Angelica

    Angelica has these Actions in Common

    Oxytocic, Stimulant-parturient, Stimulates-energy, Antiplatelet, Digestive, Emmenagogue, Hepatoprotective, Immune-calming

    LEARN MORE

  • Skullcap

    Skullcap has these Actions in Common

    Boosts-gaba, Brain-tonic, Nerve-growth-tonic, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Neuroprotective, Tonic, Antidepressant

    LEARN MORE


Joyful Belly is a recognized college of biocharacteristics medicine.

Guidelines - Preparation & Dose

1 dropper full 2x/day or as directed by your practitioner.
See guidelines for tinctures?

TRADITIONALLY INDICATED FOR
THESE SYMPTOMS

Schisandra may be beneficial for these symptoms. The suitability of any herb supplement for a condition is highly dependent on the individual. Please see your doctor before using this herb supplement to treat a medical condition.

CONTRAINDICATED FOR
THESE SYMPTOMS

Schisandra may be harmful or contraindicated for these symptoms. Note this is not a complete list of all possible contraindications. Please see your doctor before using this herb supplement to treat a medical condition.

Herb Drug Interaction Risk

Here are some potential herb drug interactions with Schisandra. Please see your health care provider for more information.

WHAT'S NEXT?

Look for similar items by category

Herbs-and-Formulas, Pitta-Reducing, Tinctures, Liver-Gallbladder
Satisfaction Guarantee

Spring Diet

The season is about to shift into spring. Are you ready?

upcoming courses

Apply for Scholarship. Monhly payment plans available.

What is Ayurveda?

Founder of Joyful Belly Ayurveda, John Immel, answers the question ‘What is Ayurveda?’

Reviews for Schisandra

Sign in to review or comment

Improve Enzyme output & Master your Digestion

Improve Enzyme output & Master your Digestion

BOOKS BY JOYFUL BELLY

BOOKS BY JOYFUL BELLY

Master Ayurvedic Digestion & Nutrition

Master Ayurvedic Digestion & Nutrition

Join Joyful Belly

Want our top Ayurvedic recipes and health tips?
Subscribe to our free newsletter!

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The information and products on this website are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.