The Top 7 Benefits Of Schisandra Berry Extract

Schisandra is a bright purple-red berry used in Russia and Asia as a medicinal herb. Its flavor is complex, containing sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and hot elements. For this reason, it’s sometimes called the “five-flavored berry.” The berry comes from a woody vine native to the Russian Far East and Northern China. It grows most readily in forests.

What does the research tell us about Schisandra?

A growing body of research shows that Schisandra has many health benefits. It can:

  1. Increase longevity: Schisandra berry has long been used in traditional Chinese medicine as an antiaging remedy. As an antioxidant, it helps your body fight back against free radical damage, thereby reducing inflammation in your body and lowering your risk of associated diseases such as diabetes.

  1. Increase your glutathione levels: Glutathione is a powerful antioxidant that slows down the aging process and protects you from degenerative diseases. Research shows that Schisandra can raise the amount of glutathione in your body.

  1. Protect the body from stress: Schisandra is an adaptogenic agent. This means it helps regulate your stress hormones, including cortisol. Adaptogens are used to increase physical performance, fight fatigue, improve the body’s resistance to stress, and stimulate the immune system.

  1. Improve liver function: A randomized placebo-controlled study with 40 participants showed that taking Schisandra berry extract daily for several months significantly improved liver function. It is often used in traditional Chinese medicine as a treatment for fatty liver disease.

  1. Reduce the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease: According to animal studies, the compounds in Schisandra berries could prevent and treat Alzheimer’s disease in humans. These compounds may stop the buildup of excessive amino acids in the brain, which could, in turn, prevent the formation of plaques that are the hallmark of the condition.

  1. Lower your blood pressure: Schisandra berry extract relaxes blood vessels, which can promote good circulation and reduce blood pressure.

  1. Relieve menopause symptoms: A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with 36 women aged between 40 and 70 who reported unpleasant menopausal symptoms showed that Schisandra extract helped relieve sweating, hot flushes, and palpitations.

How to use Schisandra safely

You can take Schisandra extract in the form of pills, powders, teas, and liquids. If you’d like to experience the unique flavor, you can buy Schisandra as whole dried berries. They are said to taste like a goji berry mixed with redcurrant.

Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions when trying a Schisandra supplement, and check with your doctor first, particularly if you have any medical conditions or take medication. Take extra care if you have gastrointestinal problems, such as ulcers or gastroesophageal reflux (GERD).

Schisandra berry can interact with drugs that are metabolized by the liver. These include medication for diabetes, immune-suppressive drugs, statins, diuretics, and some antibiotics. Because it’s also processed in the liver, Schisandra can alter the concentration of these drugs in your body. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice. In some cases, you might need to change your usual dose to compensate for Schisandra's effects.