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.

SUGGESTED USE

1 dropper full 2x/day or as directed by your practitioner.
How should I take my tincture?
Follow these guidelines

Metabolic Nature of Schisandra

See a complete list of all biocharacteristics.
INCREASES
Guna Help

Increases These Biocharacteristics (Gunas)

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

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DRY

ABOUT DRY BIOCHARACTERISTIC

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

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HOT

ABOUT HOT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

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

LEARN MORE ABOUT HOT

TASTES
Taste Help

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?

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SOUR

ABOUT SOUR BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Sour refers to anything fermented or acidic.

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ASTRINGENT

ABOUT ASTRINGENT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

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

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SWEET

ABOUT SWEET BIOCHARACTERISTIC

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

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DOSHAS
Dosha Help

The Three Doshas / Body Types

According to the biocharacteristic theory of medicine, people tend to get sick, over and over again, due to habitual causes and imbalances that are unique to the person. Your body type summarizes this tendency, showing you the 'type' of conditions and imbalances that frequently challenge your health & wellness. Using body type, you can also identify remedies likely to improve your strength and resiliency. Your body type identifies physical and mental characteristics as well as your personal strengths and weaknesses. The calculation of your body type is based on your medical history.

The 3 functional body types (doshas), are Catabolic (Vata), Metabolic (Pitta), and Anabolic (Kapha). Catabolic individuals tend to break down body mass into energy. They are easily stimulated, hyperactive, underweight and dry. Metabolic individuals tend to burn or use energy. They tend to be rosy-cheeked, easily irritated, focused, driven, and easily inflamed. Anabolic individuals tend to store energy as body mass. If they store too much energy, they could gain weight easily and have congestion. Anabolic people tend to be stable and grounded.

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PACIFIES
Kapha pacifying Pitta pacifying Vata pacifying
HAS THE FOLLOWING
Affinity: Liver Gallbladder
Family: Schisandraceae
HERBAL ACTIONS
(see all)

Medicinal Benefits, Uses & Herbal Actions of Schisandra
Help
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.

Digestive

DIGESTIVE

Herbs that encourage healthy digestion.

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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

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Neuroprotective

STRONG NEUROPROTECTIVE

Repairs / restores damaged nerves. Protects nerve health.

SEE ALL 'NEUROPROTECTIVE' FOODS / HERBS

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Antidepressant

ANTIDEPRESSANT

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

SEE ALL 'ANTIDEPRESSANT' FOODS / HERBS

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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

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Brain Tonic

BRAIN-TONIC

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

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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

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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

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Adrenal Tonic

ADRENAL-TONIC

Strengthens, supports, or increases output of adrenals.

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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.

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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

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Rebuilds Fluids

REBUILDS-FLUIDS

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

SEE ALL 'REBUILDS-FLUIDS' FOODS / HERBS

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Turmeric Root (Fresh)

Turmeric Root (Fresh) has these Actions in Common

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

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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

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

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Turmeric

Turmeric has these Actions in Common

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

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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

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Ginger (Dried)

Ginger (Dried) has these Actions in Common

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

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Crystallized Ginger

Crystallized Ginger has these Actions in Common

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

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Saffron

Saffron has these Actions in Common

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

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Herb 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

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Dong Quai

Dong Quai has these Actions in Common

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

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Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha has these Actions in Common

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

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Rhodiola

Rhodiola has these Actions in Common

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

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Eleuthero Ginseng

Eleuthero Ginseng has these Actions in Common

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

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Ginkgo

Ginkgo has these Actions in Common

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

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Amalaki

Amalaki has these Actions in Common

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

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Holy Basil Leaf (Tulsi)

Holy Basil Leaf (Tulsi) has these Actions in Common

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

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Angelica

Angelica has these Actions in Common

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

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Skullcap

Skullcap has these Actions in Common

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

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Joyful Belly is a recognized school of biocharacteristics medicine.

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.

HERB DRUG INTERACTION RISK

Here are some potential herb drug interactions. Please see your health care provider for more information.
  • Antidepressant: Do not combine with antihistamines.
  • Antitussive: Many anti-tussives are sedatives - so caution when combining with other sedatives, stimulants, or antihistamines.
  • Hepatoprotective: Anything that strengthens or cleanses the liver can clear drugs mroe quickly, requiring a higher dose.
  • Livotonic: Anything that strengthens or cleanses the liver can clear drugs mroe quickly, requiring a higher dose.

WHAT'S NEXT?

Look for similar items by category

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

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