Herbal Spotlight: Schisandra Berry

Schisandra or Schisandra chinensis (five flavor fruit) is a fruit-bearing vine. It’s vibrant red berries are described as having five distinct flavors; sweet, salty, bitter, pungent, and sour. Its berries are adaptogenic, meaning that Schisandra Berry helps bring ease to the mind and body as it stabilizes the nervous system and reduces cortisol levels in the body. In traditional Chinese medicine Schisandra is considered beneficial to qi, the life force or energy, in all living things. By balancing the yin energy, this berry has the ability to, “quiet the spirit and calm the heart.” It is even said that if the Schisandra Berry is consumed daily for 90 days you will have a permanent smile. Not only is this berry delicious, but it contains a variety of health benefits which support overall health, boost the mood, improve cognition, and increase the body’s resilience against stress.

This delightfully bright berry is stars in two of our favorite tisanes; Energy Herbal Tea and Adapt Herbal Tea. In both tisanes, Schisandra Berry stimulates the body’s resistance to physical, environmental and emotional stressors with its adaptogenic properties. The chemicals in this berry are also known to improve liver function and boost energy which can improve athletic endurance and coordination.