Between the extreme heat, poor air quality and excessive dryness, my lungs have felt less than stellar lately. I typically turn to a combination of mullein and willow bark to ease inflammation in my airways. For me, this works quite well.

However, I was recently listening to a fellow herbalist talk about schisandra and was quickly reminded of the potential benefits of this berry for lung health. Since I keep my herbal tinctures on a lazy Susan in the kitchen, I whirled that contraption around, located the schisandra berry and sent it down the hatch.

Schisandra berry is known as wu wei zei, the five-flavor fruit, in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) where it has been used for thousands of years. The use of this plant was historically reserved for royalty, including emperors, to increase overall vitality, treat nervous conditions and tone the lungs.

The five flavors are an important concept in TCM. It is believed that sour supports the liver, bitter supports the heart, sweet strengthens the spleen, pungent supports the lungs and salty nourishes the kidneys. (bit.ly/4wf2vRY)

In TCM, there is a concept that an excess of one of the five flavors can lead to imbalances and deficiencies in the organ systems. Since the modern Western diet favors added sugar and salt in heavily processed foods, it is believed that these imbalances contribute to many current health challenges in the West. (bit.ly/4yvyoaq)

Schisandra berry contains all five flavors. Herbalist Maria Noel Groves notes that people tend to either love or hate the taste of this fruit, but, given its multifaceted flavor profile, it is likely a balancing tonic herb for most people. Schisandra is used for energy, vitality, cognition, mood, libido and sleep. It has also been used to stimulate digestion and aid liver detoxification.

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center shares the potential uses and benefits of schisandra berry. This plant is thought to have anti-inflammatory, anticancer and cardioprotective properties. It has historically been used to treat lung problems, liver disease, increase strength and stamina and to reduce sweating associated with menopausal symptoms.

As an adaptogen, schisandra has been used to improve concentration, endurance and coordination. (bit.ly/4h11AA1) This powerful adaptogen is thought to have a gentle stimulating effect on the nervous system and be helpful in individuals exposed to prolonged stress. (bit.ly/4vGYbd3)

This information is for educational purposes only. Please speak with your healthcare provider if you are interested in using herbs medicinally.