Country of Origin: China
Production: Schisandra is native to Northern China, Russia, and parts of Korea. Aside from its medicinal applications, it is also grown as an ornamental vine due to its ability to grow upwards and display beautiful leaves and hanging bunches of bright red berries.
Qualities: Schisandra also known as "wu-wei-zi" (five flavour fruit) in China, usually has sour, sweet, bitter, warm, and salty taste notes and has been consumed for centuries as a tea to boost the mood and help with fatigue.
Common Use: To make a schisandra infusion in fruit juice, pour 1/2 a cup of berries into one gallon of a dark fruit juice and allow to soak for a day, then strain. It can also be added to teas, herbal brews (soft simmer) and is effective as a liquid herbal extract and herbal capsule. To make schisandra syrup, soak berries in vegetable glycerin for a month.
Storage: Store in a cool, dark, dry place in a sealed container.
Safety: We recommend that you consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner before using any herbal products, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, or on any medications.

Excerpted from Bensky: Chinese Herbal Medicine Materia Medica, 3rd ed. Contains the leakage of Lung qi and stops coughs: for chronic cough and wheezing due to Lung deficiency, or patterns of Lung and Kidney deficiency. It inhibits the leakage of Lung qi above, enriches the Kidney yin below, and also stops coughs. It is thus an important and effective herb for treating chronic coughs.* Tonifies the Kidneys, binds up the essence, and stops diarrhea: for nocturnal emissions, spermatorrhea, vaginal discharge, and urinary frequency due to Kidney deficiency. Also used for daybreak diarrhea associated with Spleen and Kidney deficiency.* Inhibits sweating and generates fluids: for excessive sweating, especially when accompanied by thirst or a dry throat. With other appropriate herbs, it is variously used for spontaneous sweating, nightsweats, or even wasting and thirst disorder.* Quiets the spirit while calming and containing the Heart qi: for irritability, palpitations, dream-disturbed sleep, and insomnia due to injury to the blood and yin of the Heart and Kidneys or lack of communication between these two organs. Nowadays commonly used for various types of insomnia.*