Stress is the No.1 killer of health. No kidding! And for women, our reproductive system is the first part of the health equation to suffer. I experienced this myself this past year.
I was under a lot of stress from the demands of building Cycle Harmony and getting my license to practice Chinese Medicine in California. And my perfectionist mentality didn’t help the situation at all. I just can’t seem to do anything half-heartedly, even when I think it’s probably healthier at times to accept what’s “good enough.”
There was a consequence to all this stress, of course. I suffered from a recurring cold and cough – and my period stopped for 3 months! I felt exhausted, dry, and worn out. My body was obviously out of balance. And I knew that I had to do something about it.
I recognized that how I reacted to the events in my life was the root cause of my stress. So I worked on that. I also made myself take a 30-minute walk in the middle of every day. Additionally, I took some potent herbs to give my system the extra support it desperately needed.
It was in this process that I’d discovered the amazing power and benefits of Schizandra Berry!
I added a teaspoon of organic Schizandra Berry powder to my morning smoothies and very quickly my energy improved. So did my mood and mental concentration. I also had my period back! And you know how important it is for me to have healthy menstrual cycles as the Chief Harmony Officer of Cycle Harmony. So it was quite a relief!
For many Chinese gynecologists, Schizandra Berry is one of their most favored herbs for women’s reproductive health. And personally, I agree.
Now I want to share this amazing berry with you.
The Benefits of Schizandra Fruit
Schizandra is also known as Wu Wei Zi (the “Five Taste Fruit”) in Chinese Medicine. It has all five flavors (sour, bitter, sweet, spicy and salty), which relate to the essence of all five of the elemental energies (wood, fire, earth, metal and water), and therefore addresses the five major organ systems of the body (liver, heart, spleen, lungs and kidneys).
Schizandra also helps develop the primary energies of life by addressing all three of “The Three Treasures” in Traditional Chinese Medicine: Jing (essence), Qi (life force) and Shen (spirit). This is of course of great benefit to the body of anyone who consumes it.
The benefits of Schizandra include:
Reproductive:
It enhances the reproductive function in both males and females. A study reported an increase in weight of the testicles in males and an increase in ovulation in females by administering 1g of Schizandra powder in mice for 30 days.
Schizandra Berry is famous for its ability to conserve fluids in the body. It’s commonly used to treat spermatorrhea (leaking of sperm), excessive vaginal discharge, diarrhea and frequent urination.
Since it tends to contain sexual fluids until the appropriate time of release, by consuming Schizandra, one tends to build up sexual fluids, which is important for sexual pleasure as well as for reproductive purposes.
An interesting study also found that Schizandra can help induce labor. This is attributed to its uterine stimulating effect. According to the study, 72 out of 80 women experiencing prolonged labor were treated, with good results, using 20-25 drops of 70% Schizandra tincture every hour for three hours.
Central Nervous System:
Due to its central nervous system stimulating effect, Schizandra can help sharpen concentration, improve memory and increase alertness without producing a feeling of nervousness. It can also calm irritability and anxiety and help with insomnia.
Cardiovascular:
Schizandra strengthens the heart and regulates the cardiovascular system.
Respiratory:
Schizandra benefits the lungs and respiratory system by stimulating the lungs to increase the rate and depth of respiration.
Immunostimulant:
Schizandra is also associated with the stimulation of non-specific immunities and the protection of the liver against various types of drugs and/or chemically-induced toxicity.
In addition to all of the wonderful health benefits above, Schizandra smells and tastes good. I usually add a ½-1 teaspoon of Schizandra Extract in my morning smoothie. It gives me a kick of energy and potency to jumpstart my day.
If you prefer, you can also take Schizandra in capsule form. Check it out, and I hope you’ll benefit from this amazing berry as I much as I do!
Reference: Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology, by John K. Chen and Tina T. Chen
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