Chinese Schizandra is a perennial ligneous deciduous and climbing plant, resembling a vine in its form, from the Schizandra family. From the folk names of the plant, the following can be distinguished: Chinese shizandra, manchurian magnolia vine or "berry with five tastes". What are the medicinal properties of Schizandra Chinese and whether there are any contraindications to its use, we will tell you in more detail.
Shizandra composition
The flowers, stems and leaves of Shizandra (or Schisandra Chinensis) have a characteristic sharp smell, reminiscent of the smell of lemon. This plant attracts insects with its scent, therefore it is quickly pollinated (usually in May). Then it quickly gains strength and forms scarlet berries. Lemongrass fruits are soft, have very thin skin, juicy flesh and sour taste.. Lemongrass fruits are rich in organic acids, vitamins A, C, E and fatty acids such as linoleic, oleic and others. Also, the berries are full of iron, zinc, magnesium and selenium.
Dried fruits contain coloring and tannins, bioflavonoids, saponins, pectin substances, and essential oil. Some berries contain some sugar.
Useful properties of Chinese Schizandra
Chinese lemongrass is in the top 10 most useful plants in the world with medicinal properties.
Did you know? In China, doctors for more than 2000 years have been using not only berries, but also branches, leaves, bark, roots, and also lemongrass flowers to treat various diseases.
What is useful Chinese lemongrass? Below is a list of the beneficial properties of this plant.
Lemongrass helps against depression and stress, effectively affecting the mental as well as the physical condition of the person. It has a very positive effect on the male body, improves the mood of the man and gives a charge of cheerfulness for the whole day. Lemongrass is a natural stimulant of the central nervous system, therefore it is very often used as a tonic. For example, in eastern countries, shizandra fruits are used to maintain high productivity throughout the work week.- It has a refreshing, energetic and stimulating action, especially noticeable after intense brain activity, which requires a lot of energy, concentration, and quick decisions. Lemongrass seeds are used as medicines. They can relieve tiredness, drowsiness, fight with bad mood and well-being. Shizandra improves the activity of brain cells. Fruits can increase the amount of the enzyme glutathione, which is responsible for clarity of mind and contributes to the rapid adaptation to the conditions of external stimuli. Also, this plant is designed to improve mental health.
The hormonal balance in the body is maintained due to the positive effect of the plant on the adrenal glands. In the presence of phytoestrogen, berries fight with premenstrual syndromes in women, as well as the unpleasant symptoms of menopause.- They have a beneficial effect on the heart muscle. Drugs that contain lemongrass protect heart tissue and also restore damage after taking cardiotoxic drugs, for example, during chemotherapy. The composition of lemongrass includes a large amount of antioxidants that allow you to treat heart disease of any type.
- The work of the liver is significantly improved if a person takes medicines based on lemongrass. Liver cells are better regenerated, as shizandra protects them from various toxins.
- Well, and finally, the last useful property of Schizandra Chinese is the effect of a fat-soluble component, which is contained in the seeds of the plant. Forty lignans, which contribute to the regeneration of hepatocytes, also affect the functioning of the liver. They also protect against the damaging effects of certain drugs, as well as alcohol and solvents, which are widely used in industrial activities.
Lemongrass helps against depression and stress, effectively affecting the mental as well as the physical condition of the person. It has a very positive effect on the male body, improves the mood of the man and gives a charge of cheerfulness for the whole day. Lemongrass is a natural stimulant of the central nervous system, therefore it is very often used as a tonic. For example, in eastern countries, shizandra fruits are used to maintain high productivity throughout the work week.
The hormonal balance in the body is maintained due to the positive effect of the plant on the adrenal glands. In the presence of phytoestrogen, berries fight with premenstrual syndromes in women, as well as the unpleasant symptoms of menopause.Did you know? Based on the schizandra, the drug "Shizadrin S" was developed, which protects against hepatitis and has already helped in the treatment of five hundred patients.
Also extract of lemongrass inhibits the spread of cancer cells. But at the moment, physicians are inclined to believe that the shizandru should not be used in the treatment of cancer, since deep research has not been done yet.
Other useful properties of lemongrass include:
- allows you to get rid of prolonged cough, asthma and pneumonia;
- it can avoid the complications of diabetes;
- positive effect on the blood;
- carries out prevention of fatigue of the eyeball;
- reduces sweating;
- used in indigestion;
- promotes healing of skin ulcers;
- recommended for severe menstruation;
- boosts immunity;
- protects against flu;
- allows you to keep youth longer.
Branches and leaves
The branches and leaves of Chinese Schizandra are rich in essential oil, therefore tincture of Schisandra can bring both benefit and harm (in the wrong quantities) when treating scurvy or pediatric dysentery.
Berries plants
Lemongrass berries are also beneficial because they contain substances rich in oils, catechin, anthocyanin. With their help, they treat tuberculosis, bronchitis, anemia, stomach, intestines, liver. Tea from Chinese Schizandra contributes to the treatment of various diseases such as influenza, cough, etc.
How to prepare Chinese lemongrass
In order to prepare a plant, you must first cut the berries, while being careful not to damage the brush on which they grow: without a support, the plant will stop its fruiting and will die. The barrel is perfect for storing lemongrass. You can also use the basket.
Important! Galvanized buckets can lead to the oxidation of berries due to their juice.
Two ways to harvest lemongrass:
- Fruits that have already been collected, for 3 days to be dried in the shade. Then go through all and separate the receptacle, branches and impurities. After that, the berries can be dried in an oven at 60 ° C. Fruits that have undergone treatment will not lose their healing properties for 2 years.
- You can squeeze lemongrass on a hydraulic press. After the fermentation process, the fruit should be washed on a sieve under a water jet. Seed should be separated and dried in a ventilation dryer. Fruits that have already been dried at 40 ° C are dried at 70 ° C.
Therapeutic use of schizandra when used plant
As mentioned earlier, lemongrass is used as a tonic for overwork, diseases of the nervous system, reduced mental and physical abilities. Lemongrass fruits have healing properties, and they can also be used to heal wounds, both external and internal. Promotes energy and strength in humans.
Jams, jams and juices are made from them, since the berries themselves are inedible. In the preservation of lemongrass juice is added as a seasoning for syrups, compotes and jellies. When pickling cucumbers or tomatoes, it is also often added along with the leaves.
Did you know? Essential oil is especially valuable in the perfume and soap industries.
Chinese lemongrass is also used as an ornamental plant.
Ways to make lemongrass
There are some recipes from Chinese Schizandra and methods for its preparation. Commonly used are teas and tinctures.
Lemongrass tea
In order to brew lemongrass tea, you need to dry its leaves or bark. Approximately 15 g should be filled with hot water and let it brew (4 minutes). You can also add leaves of lemongrass in a simple tea.
Important! Brewing tea in a thermos is not useful, it will also deprive him of any flavor.
If you use tea regularly with Chinese lemongrass, it will lead to the strengthening of immunity and increase resistance to colds.
How to squeeze and save the juice of Chinese Schizandra
Lemongrass juice can be made from harvested and squeezed berries. After the juice is obtained, it should be poured into jars and pasteurized for 15 minutes. Then the container is sealed. Juice can improve body tone and mental abilities. It should be used with tea in the following proportion: one spoon per cup of tea.
You can also make juice to sugar. In order to do this, you need to add 1 kg of sugar to 1 liter of juice. The mixture is placed on a low flame and stirred until completely dissolved. After the sugar is dissolved, the juice is heated to 90 ° C and poured into cans, after which the banks roll up. 
The recipe for making infusions of berries and seeds
Berry tincture: 40 g of berries are filled with 50% ethyl alcohol (1: 5 ratio). After which the mixture should be insisted in the dark for 10 days. Then this tincture is filtered, 20 ml of alcohol is added to it. Tinctures mixed with distilled water. Take it every 3 days at 2.5 ml before meals. The course of treatment is 14 days. It helps with dizziness, insomnia, headache, depression.
Harm and contraindications, side effects of Chinese Schizandra
In Chinese Schisandra there are not only medicinal properties, but also contraindications to its use. It should be remembered that lemongrass is a strong natural stimulant, so it should be used very carefully for hypertension, heart failure, epilepsy, excitability, intracranial pressure, chronic liver disease and acute infections.
Important! Should refrain from the use of lemongrass pregnant, people with vegetative dystonia and children who have not reached 12 years of age.
Side effects include tachycardia, increased secretion of the stomach, insomnia, headache, allergies and high blood pressure. In order to avoid insomnia, remember that drugs should not be taken in the second half of the day. Treatment with lemongrass should take place only under the supervision of a doctor and after the examination.
As you have seen, Chinese lemongrass has not only beneficial properties, but also contraindications to its use.
