A notable herbal cofactor that enables the body to process other supplements and drugs.
This article is mostly going to focus on finding parallels between Traditional Chinese Medicine and what more recent research is saying about Schisandra and how this squares up with the self experimentation reports coming out of the Biohacking community online. For more of my own personal experiences, thoughts and comparisons please see the written and video reviews in the sidebar.
When it comes to Schisandra Chinensis research, the 800-pound gorilla in the room is an Armenian placebo controlled, double blind study of the stress responses of 71 athletes. From it’s abstract:
“These results correlate with an increased physical performance in athletes taking adaptogens versus athletes taking placebo. In contrast after treatment with the adaptogen heavy physical exercise does not increase salivary [nitric oxide] and cortisol in athletes, whereas athletes treated with placebo heavy physical exercise increased salivary [nitric oxide].”
Athletic Performance
Schisandra is a hardcore athletic Biohack as it increases circulating Nitric Oxide in the blood. Nitric Oxide has been called the “master signaling molecule” that optimizes cardiovascular function.
It’s popular with joggers and anecdotally potentiates runner’s high, the flowstate induced by extended endurance exercise. Author Steven Kotler, talks about the hippie speedball, which is a cocktail of marijuana, espresso and jogging for getting into a really sublime flowstate. I’ve videoblogged about getting into really profound flowstates after combining marijuana with Heart Rate Variability training.
So when I get back to Colorado, I will self experiment with an adaptogenic hippie speedball by adding Schisandra. I bet it will be pretty rad!
The PlantIs native to Central China and Eastern Russia, it’s a vine that grows up around trees.
Traditional Chinese Medicine
Also referred to as Chinese Magnolia Vine, on the Traditional Chinese Medicine spectrum it’s a ‘Qi-Invigorating’ agent in the Yang family of herbs because of it’s potent anti-fatigue effects.
Schisandra berries themselves (Wu Wei Zi as it’s referred to in China) have 5 distinct tastes supposedly; salty, sweet, sour, pungent and bitter.
As you can imagine, there’s some debate online as to whether the Schisandra berry contains more Nootropic qualities than extracts of it’s bioactive agents, whether the whole is greater than it’s parts.
It’s a Tonic, which I was at first a little confused by, a tonic in Chinese Medicine is nothing like the tonic water you order at a cafe or mix with gin in your cocktail, it’s a rather wide category of herbs that have been used historically to energize different dimensions of the human experience.
In Chinese medicine there are two categories of Qi tonics; Yin and Yang
Yin — Parasympathetic nervous system
Yang — Sympathetic nervous system
Schisandra is a full spectrum tonic herb that…
Enters all 12 meridians
- Lung (肺)
- Heart (心)
- Pericardium (心包)
- Triple Burner (三焦)
- Small Intestine (小肠)
- Large Intestine (大腸)
- Spleen (脾)
- Kidney (腎)
- Liver (肝)
- Gall Bladder (膽)
- Urinary bladder (膀胱)
- Stomach (胃)
The Main Meridians Channels
Daily Course of 12 Main Meridians with Related Organs
Nurtures all 5 elements
- Heart
- Digestion
- Lungs
- Kidneys
- Liver
5 Elements in Nature and the Body
Tonifies all 3 treasures in Traditional Chinese Medicine
- Qi (Body)
- Jing (Mind)
- Shen (Spirit)
Schisandra has a cumulative effect and some authors (who were perhaps reincarnated as Internet Marketers) of some of the seminal texts of Traditional Chinese Medicine recommended taking Schisandra for 100 days straight.
This seems to be an antidote to anhedonia; it turns up the volume on reality, it turns up the brightness on existence, it puts life in high definition. To quote one herbal enthusiast:
“ive been doing these tonics pretty heavily for the past few years and i have seen pretty dramatic results… i feel as tho i am getting my jing back. like in taoism they speak of returning to being like a child… i feel like this is happening with my health and vitality. the herbs really work, but the more you work on yourself, the more they work with you.”
As an adaptogen it modulates the hormones up and down, so sometimes it will make you more energetic and sometimes it will make you more relaxed and tranquil. It makes you nervous system more permeable in it’s responses.
A herbal enthusiast, Thorsten2, on Longecity
“Schizandra is best taken chronically and will enhance sleep, libido (to some extent), wellbeing/mood and cognitition (to some extent). All in all it just feels brain healthy and if you can handle Rhodiola with it, awesome.”
Thorsten2 went on to say…:
“Shizandra is supposed to enhance sleep and it did for me even after chronic use. I never noticed anything fatiguing about it or particularly energy enhancing…”
As a stimulant you are going to want to go easy on the dosage, there’s some anecdotal reports of mania and insomnia likely resulting excessive consumption.
Another experienced self experimenter on Longecity reported:
“Restless. Need to keep moving. Don’t care about little mistakes, but am quite accurate with my thoughts and movements. Looks like 300mg is all I need. That extra 100mg afterwards was a little overkill. Blood pressure and pulse are a little high, but not of concern.”
Some online have reservations about the potent Schizandriol A extracts, but the downside is quiet limited, at least according to violetechos on Longecity:
“As far as NEGATIVE effects, its pretty damn benign.I take it often, and I have liver issues.I am very sensitive to depeting drugs, and the worst effect is overstimulation .Nothing like depression,body pains,sickness.”
On Pubmed
We find several hundred results for Schisandra Chinensis, which include a grand total of four clinical studies, which is kind of underwhelming. One of the criticisms of the adaptogens as a category is that they lack a significant quantity of human clinical studies, compared with say the Racetams or B-Vitamins.
The explanation posited for this is that since the adaptogens come from the natural world and they have been used for thousands of years, it’s more difficult to patent their pharmacological components, so there’s a whole lot less profit motive for researching them.
Keep in mind that a decent double blind, placebo controlled human study, costs about as much as a Ferrari. In between the salaries of the scientists, paying the volunteers, the lab time, the lab equipment and the publishing cost. There’s a lot of potential to cut the fat, hack away at the unessential, I’m sure, but it costs about the same as a Ferrari. Unfortunately, there’s a whole lot less motivation to spend that money when you’re dealing with a Nootropic that anyone can plant some seeds in their backyard and grow their own.
Cognition
There appears to be some debate as to whether it actually improves cognition or whether as an adaptogen it just attenuates negative stress hormone related effects that retard cognition.
The one double blind, placebo controlled study done that indicated a positive effect on human cognition was done using the Adapt-232 formula of which Schisandra Chinensis is just one third.
Adapt-232
Schisandra is one third of The Soviet Formula, Adapt-232, which was developed and refined behind the iron curtain as a performance enhancement solution by the soviet union for it’s military, athletes and space program.
Dr. Valeri Polyakov, was the scientist, cosmonaut, Russian hero and all around consummate baddass in life, who spent 437 days on the Mir space station to prove that man could survive a trip to Mars. In the tradition of scientists reaching the olive branch of peace out to former rivals in the form of shared research, he shared some of his findings at a seminar in Gothenburg, Sweden in 1996. From the abstract of his paper, The Use of a New Phytoadaptogen under Conditions of Space Flight:
“It [Adapt-232] also optimized their ability to endure the changes in (the) gas atmosphere of the spaceship.”
The interesting thing about Adapt-232 is that you can’t buy it. Google it. It’s not for sale anywhere. I’m currently researching the formula and will be selling it in a few months, join our newsletter to be notified when it becomes available.
I mention this NOT just to be self promotional but because in the 10 hours or so that I’ve spent researching Schisandra chinensis, it’s Nootropic effects are almost always mentioned in reference to Adapt-232. Adapt-232 is a bit of special formula of specific extracts in specific proportions, however you could kind of DIY your own Adapt-232 by picking up pharmaceutical grade powdered…
Stress
Historically, it’s praised for it’s sedative and hypnotic qualities and is used to combat insomnia. From a 2011 Jinan University study
“Fruits of Fructus Schisandrae were used as sedatives and hypnotics in traditional Chinese medicine for a long history… These results suggested that schisandra lignans extract reversed stress-induced anxiety level, changes of cortex monoamine transmitters and plasma corticosterone. The anxiolytic effects of schisandra lignans extract might be related to its anti-stress activity by modulation of hyperactive HPA axis.”
A 2009 Japanese study was quiet optimistic about it hacking the memory via the ACh system:
“Taken together these findings suggest that schizandrin reverses scopolamine-induced memory impairment, in part, by enhancing cholinergic function, and that schizandrin might be useful for treating memory deficits.”
In supplemental form it’s quiet affordable with 30 grams, at least a 3 month supply, of powdered Schisandra 5:1 Concentrate running $19.95.
Schisandra Chinensis fruits can be brewed into wines or teas, which sounds antioxidizing and intoxicating to me!
Apparently, one of the ways they make extracts is with ethanol, Alas, Googling I was unable to find Omija Cha wine (Omija Su) anywhere online. So if you want your own Nootropic-Adaptogenic wine you will have to give some Schisandra Chinensis fruits to your friend who makes wine.
According to one of the most comprehensive titles on Adaptogens “Schisandra increases visual acuity and decreases eye fatigue in tasks requiring extended visual concentration.(p. 103)”
Improves Night VisionThose who depend upon their ability to clearly discern the world between dawn and dusk should consider supplementing Schizandra…
- Truck drivers
- Haunted house chainsaw murderers
- Hosts of monster searching reality TV shows
- Nightclub bouncers
- Snipers
- And Skanks!
Schizandra has numerous youth preserving qualities, it makes the skin soft, moist and radiant. 30 days of consuming Schizandra berries has a noticeable effect on complexion.
Sex
As an adaptogen, it unsurprisingly empowers us as sexual beings. It improves blood circulation to the genitals, which enhances sensations for both men and women.
It’s said to create abundant sexual fluids (which just sounds fun to me!), so if your career aspirations include becoming a pornstar… Schizandra.
I hear there’s a shortage of pornstars in Japan…
Mechanism of Action
The active molecules in it are the Lignans
and the Triterpenoids
The absorption of Schisandrin lignans by the body is not great in water, so it’s a good idea to take them with fatty acids, such as fish oil.
A 2008 Singaporean study of 10 humans:
“In conclusion, this pilot clinical study indicates that the combined administration of sesamin with schisandra extract could improve blood fluidity after 1 week of oral intake and this effect was sustained up to 2 weeks.”
Part of Schisandra’s anti-oxidative mechanism is related to Hormesis; it increases Heat Shock Protein expression which fortifies the Mitochondria against future oxidative damage. From a 2012 paper:
“The enhanced cellular/mitochondrial anti-oxidant status and heat shock response afforded by SchB can preserve the structural and functional integrity of mitochondria, suggesting a potential role for SchB in ameliorating age-related diseases.”
Schisandrin B is of great interest to anti-aging researchers, from a Hong Kong University paper:
“The energy failure resulting from mitochondrial dysfunction further impedes brain function, which demands large amounts of energy… The combined actions of Sch B offer a promising prospect for preventing or possibly delaying the onset of neurodegenerative diseases, as well as enhancing brain health.”
Most of the more promising placebo controlled human studies including Schisandra, were done on the Adapt-232 formula of which Schisandra is one third of, the other ingredients are the adaptogens Eleuthero and Rhodiola Rosea.
Sesamin
One of the human studies that demonstrated positive effect on blood flow was using Sesamin extract which is also a Lignan in conjunction with Schisandra extract.
Rhaponticum and schisandra enhance reading comprehension, aptitude, and speed.(p. 94) Talk about a reading lifehack!
Edited by jroseland, 27 January 2017 - 08:20 PM.
