Southern Schisandra, mainly produced in Henan, Shaanxi, Gansu and other places, is the fruit of the plant Schisandra chinensis in the family Schisandraceae. It has the effects of nourishing the lungs, stopping cough, consolidating and astringing, nourishing the kidneys, replenishing essence, nourishing the qi, generating fluids, calming the mind, protecting the liver, antioxidation, and enhancing immunity. It can be used to treat symptoms such as chronic cough and asthma, persistent diarrhea, spontaneous sweating and night sweats, spermatorrhea and enuresis, frequent urination, yin deficiency and internal heat, thirst, restlessness and palpitations, and insomnia with excessive dreaming.
Nourishing the Lungs and Stopping Cough
Southern Schisandra has a sour and astringent taste, warm and moist, and can nourish the lung qi and nourish the kidney yin. Therefore, it has the effect of nourishing the lungs and stopping cough, and can be used to treat chronic cough and asthma. Modern pharmacological studies have shown that Southern Schisandra has an excitatory effect on the respiratory system and can achieve the effects of cough suppression and phlegm elimination.
Consolidating and Astringing
Southern Schisandra has a sour and astringent taste, and has the effect of consolidating and astringing. It can astringe the intestines and stop diarrhea, and can be used to treat spleen and kidney deficiency cold and persistent diarrhea. It is often used in combination with other herbs such as Evodia rutaecarpa, Psoralea corylifolia, and Myristica fragrans. Southern Schisandra can also consolidate the lungs and stop sweating, and is often used in combination with other herbs such as Ephedra sinica root and Ostrea gigas to treat spontaneous sweating and night sweats.
Nourishing the Kidneys and Astringing Essence
Southern Schisandra has a sweet and warm taste, and enters the kidney meridian. It has the effect of nourishing the kidneys and astringing essence, and can be used to treat conditions such as spermatorrhea, enuresis, and frequent urination caused by deficiency of the kidney essence and failure to consolidate. It is often combined with other herbs such as Morus alba twig, Draconis os, Ophiopogon japonicus, and Cornus officinalis.
Nourishing Qi and Generating Fluids
Southern Schisandra has a sweet taste that can nourish the qi and a sour taste that can generate fluids. Therefore, it has the effect of nourishing qi, generating fluids, and relieving thirst. It can be used to treat symptoms such as thirst due to fluid injury, yin deficiency and internal heat, and diabetes. It is often used in combination with other herbs such as Panax ginseng, Ophiopogon japonicus, and Dioscorea opposita.
Calming the Mind and Settling the Spirit
Southern Schisandra can nourish the heart and kidneys, and can also calm the mind and settle the spirit. It can be used to treat symptoms such as restlessness and palpitations, and insomnia with excessive dreaming caused by deficiency of yin and blood, and failure of communication between the heart and kidneys. It is often used in combination with other herbs such as Ophiopogon japonicus, Salvia miltiorrhiza, and Semen Ziziphi Spinosae.
Protecting the Liver
The alcoholic extract of Southern Schisandra seeds has a protective effect on liver damage caused by carbon tetrachloride. It can enhance the liver's detoxification ability, inhibit liver damage, and protect the liver.
Enhancing Immunity
Southern Schisandra has a similar adaptogenic effect to Panax ginseng, and can enhance the body's defense against non-specific stimuli. It can increase cellular immune function and significantly enhance the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the brain, liver, and spleen. Therefore, it has the effects of improving immunity, antioxidation, and anti-aging.
Antioxidation
The various components in Southern Schisandra have a significant protective effect on the damage caused by oxygen free radicals. It can inhibit red blood cell hemolysis, decrease in intracellular thiol groups (-SH), lipid peroxidation, and formation of high molecular weight protein polymers. It also has a protective effect on liver lipid peroxidation damage caused by alcohol intoxication, and has a direct scavenging effect on reactive free radicals.
