Schisandra Berry (Wu Wei Zi) - The Ultimate Tonic Herb & Adaptogen

Botanical Name: Schisandra chinensis, Fructus Schizandrae

Treasures: Jing, Qi & Shen

Atmospheric Energy: Warm

Taste: All 5 flavours

Organic Associations: In TCM, all organs, especially the kidneys, lungs and liver

Schisandra Berries (Wu Wei Zi) are considered the “ultimate” tonic herb and adaptogen.

These potent little berries are known in Chinese as Wu Wei Zi - “The Five Flavoured Fruit”.

If you have ever tasted a schisandra berry, you will understand! They literally contain ALL 5 “classic tastes” (bitter, sweet, spicy, sour, and salty)… Which means it nourishes all five Chinese “classic elements” (wood, fire, earth, metal, and water).

In Taoist Tonic Herbalism, schisandra is known as the “quintessence” of Tonic Herbs… and “the herb that does it all”… This is because while it nourishes all 5 elements, it also enters ALL 12 meridians and nourishes ALL 3 treasures (Jing, Qi & Shen). No other tonic herb is said to do this.

In Taoist tradition, Schisandra berries are said to balance and tonify the ESSENCE of life in your body. This adaptogenic herb is a must for any tonic herbal or health enthusiast!

The Chinese LOVE stories… And many Tonic Herbs come with myths and legends.

There is a story from ancient China about a man named Huai Nan Gong. He had been taking schisandra berries for 16 years… This caused him to have the skin & glow of a “Jade Girl”. Jade Girl is an endearing way to describe beauty in China. The story goes that Huai Nan Gong would stay dry in water, and that fire could not burn him.

This outlines the wide held belief in Taoist lore that Schisandra supports beauty, especially the skin, and strength.

Schisandra is a tonic herb… Traditionally regarded as a gentle tonic for daily use. It is also considered a “world class” adaptogen in tonic herbalism, said to have a dual directional effect.

Because schisandra enters all 12 meridians, and contains all 5 flavours, it is traditionally said to nourish your WHOLE body. It is a great “stand alone” herb. It is also traditionally combined with other herbs (like in our Restored Essence).

In TCM, Schisandra is traditionally used as a Liver and Kidney tonic.

Schisandra is known in Taoist tradition to build kidney Jing (life force essence). It is said to increase “Water Qi” in the kidneys.

In Chinese Medicine, the kidneys are like the “batteries” that store our Jing.

Schisandra is a famous beauty tonic! For this reason, emperors, royalty and the wealthy class of ancient china LOVED Schisandra. It was often reserved for these “elite class” of people… Lucky for us, it is now available for all To enjoy!

This little berry is traditionally treasured for the natural “glow” of skin. Radiant internal health, produces radiant external beauty!

Schisandra is traditionally said to sharpen the mind, and encourage alertness. It does not have a stimulating effect like coffee or tea, and it is a favourite for focus and creativity. It is a great alternative to caffeine, especially for evening time!

• Beauty tonic
• Mind Tonic
• Liver & Kidney Tonic (in TCM)
• The Ultimate Adaptogen

How To Take Schisandra (Wu Wei Zi)

There are a variety of ways to take Schisandra - the most popular is via tea, tincture or extract. All are good options, and it really comes down to the first rule of tonic herbalism - compliance. You have to take schisandra (ideally everyday), to get the results… So choose the option that works best for you!

Our personal favourite is in our 10:1 extract. Especially when mixed with our Goji berry extract!

Check out our Goji & Schisandra formula…. This is one of our all time favourites!

Note: Dried whole schisandra berries are rich in tannins. This can upset some people’s stomach, so if you are consuming tea it can be best to soak the berries first to remove these tannins. (Don’t worry our extracts don’t have significant amounts of these tannins!)

Are They Safe? Who Should Not Consume Schisandra Berries (Wu Wei Zi)?

Schisandra berries are a tonic herb, traditionally regarded as gentle. There are ALWAYS exceptions. Which is why it is wise to consult your doctor first.

Please check with your practitioner before use if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medication.

The one caveat is that schisandra can cause slight stomach upset when the berries are boiled fresh due to high tannin content. To avoid this, simply soak the berries before steeping.

What Do Schisandra Berries Taste Like?

Like we said… Schisandra berry (Wu Wei Zi) contain ALL 5 flavours. So what does a schisandra berry with 5 different flavours taste like? Let’s just say, they have a very “unique” flavour.

And I will be honest, “unique” is not an endearing quality. I personally do not enjoy the taste of schisandra. However, I think it is an experience everyone should have… I mean how often do you get the chance to experience all 5 flavours at once?!

From my experience, the taste of a schisandra berry is mostly sour and bitter with a (minimal) sweet/salty undertone. I have a hard time tasting the “soy” flavour, although it is certainly present!

I do not have the most developed palate… So take that with a grain of salt (pun intended!). Another way to describe the taste of schisandra is like this: its shells are sweet, its meat sour, the seeds are bitter & tar, and its extract is salty.

We have personally found that the best way to balance the potent flavour of schisandra, is to combine it with equal parts goji berries. Not only does this make the flavour far more sweet, it is actually an ancient taoist formula.

You can buy Goji and Schisandra formula here...

Or try just straight 10:1 Schisandra Extract Here: