Content
- 1 The chemical composition of Chinese lemongrass
- 2 Properties of schisandra chinensis
- 3 Why is Chinese lemongrass useful?
- 4 What diseases does it help
- 5 How to use Chinese lemongrass
- 6 What can be made from the berries of Chinese lemongrass
- 7 Chinese lemongrass during pregnancy
- 8 Contraindications
- 9 Reviews of the medicinal properties of schisandra chinensis
- 10 Conclusion
The healing properties and contraindications of Schisandra chinensis have been known in the Far East and Southeast Asia since ancient times. Sometimes you can find another name for liana - Chinese schizandra. In China, this plant replaced coffee, a stimulating drink of peoples from the Middle East. From ancient times to the present day in China, they are convinced that Chinese lemongrass for men is a miraculous remedy. And there is some truth in this. This part is hidden in the chemical composition of the plant.
The chemical composition of Chinese lemongrass
According to the traditions of Chinese medicine, all parts of the vine are used in the Chinese magnolia vine. Berries contain:
- acids: tartaric, citric, malic;
- vitamins: C, B₁, B₂;
- sugar up to 1.5%.
Berry juice supports immunity in winter and supplies the body with essential vitamins.
The seeds contain analogues of caffeine: schizandrin and schizandrol, which have a tonic effect on the body. In addition to these substances, the seeds contain up to 34% fatty oil and tocopherol.
Fatty oil contains acids:
- oleic;
- α-linoleic;
- β-linoleic;
- limiting.
The essential oil contained in all parts of the vine is valued in perfumery for its delicate aroma. Most of this oil is found in the bark of the vine.
The oil is a golden yellow liquid with a lemon scent. It includes:
- aldehydes;
- ketones;
- sesquiterpene hydrocarbons.
The substances contained in the Chinese schizandra are antagonists of medications that cause drowsiness and depress the central nervous system. They enhance the effect of stimulants.
Depending on the competent or illiterate use, Chinese magnolia vine can bring both benefits and harm to the body.
Properties of schisandra chinensis
The beneficial properties of Chinese magnolia vine, according to Chinese medicine, can almost raise the dead. Along with ginseng. Expectations are dashed against harsh reality, but a set of vitamins really makes you feel better when you have a cold. Schizandrol and Schizandrin stimulate and refresh the body during hard mental work. The plant is often used as a CNS stimulant in dietary supplements. At the same time, stimulants from plant seeds are no less harmless than caffeine. But if the body is already used to coffee and has stopped responding, you can switch to a drink made from schizandra seeds.
Why is Chinese lemongrass useful?
Chinese schizandra is used as an aid for a number of health problems:
- respiratory tract diseases;
- malfunctions of the cardiovascular system;
- liver diseases;
- with poor adrenal glands;
- in case of malfunctions in the gastrointestinal tract;
- increased fatigue;
- with stress and depression;
- slight disruption of hormonal balance;
- with pain during menstruation;
- to stabilize the body of a woman during menopause.
Like any plant with medicinal properties, Chinese magnolia vine should not be taken uncontrollably. In some cases, drugs from Chinese schizandra can only harm, despite the beneficial qualities.
Medicinal properties of Schisandra chinensis seeds
The main purpose of seeds in the medical field is to stimulate the nervous system and normalize high blood pressure. In China, seeds are considered beneficial and included in the daily diet to maintain high productivity. Ground seeds can be used to make a drink that replaces coffee. Especially if, for some reason, drinking coffee is contraindicated.
Medicinal properties of Schisandra chinensis berries
The use of fresh Schisandra chinensis is usually not practiced. They have too little sugar and taste bad. Dried berries are used as a medicine and tonic. Dry fruits retain up to 0.6% vitamin C and schizardrin. After removing water from them, the percentage of sugar rises. Dry berries have a bittersweet taste. Applied as a decoction in the following cases:
- stimulation of the heart;
- stimulation of the respiratory system;
- general tonic;
- adaptogenic;
- psychostimulating.
Translated into simple language: with increased fatigue and a drop in immunity.
Medicinal properties of Schisandra chinensis leaves
The leaves of the Chinese schizandra are used as part of herbal preparations with other herbs:
- hibiscus;
- rosehip;
- jasmine;
- mate.
Like fruits and seeds, the leaves also contain stimulating substances. Tea with leaves can be drunk in the morning instead of the usual coffee.
Tea with Chinese schizandra supplies the body with various beneficial micro and macro elements contained in the leaves of the vine. The beneficial effect of the leaves is the same as that of the fruit, but softer than that of the berries due to the lower content of stimulating substances.
The medicinal properties of the bark of schisandra chinensis
It is not practiced to harvest bark on an industrial scale for medical purposes, but in China it is used to make incense. The essential oil made from the bark has a beneficial effect on the nervous system. At the very least, it repels mosquitoes.
What diseases does it help
Preparations from Chinese schizandra are general tonic and strengthening. But they can also be useful for some diseases:
- hypotension;
- violation of the blood supply to the brain;
- chronic fatigue syndrome;
- vegetative dystonia;
- overwork.
It is prescribed when recovering from lingering illnesses. Can be taken in situations where a lot of mental stress is required. As an auxiliary component is used for impotence due to neurasthenia.
Chinese schisandra from pressure
Vine fruits are potent remedies. They are used for hypotension. Since Schizandra Chinese strongly increases blood pressure, it is prohibited to use it for hypertension. This can lead to a hypertensive crisis.
With hypotension, Chinese schizandra is used in the form of a decoction of berries, tincture or tea. Alcohol additionally increases blood pressure, although at a therapeutic dosage it does not have much effect.
Chinese schisandra for diabetes
The fruits of schisandra chinensis have been used to alleviate the condition in patients with diabetes mellitus. Chinese schizandra is used in courses of 1 month. Use juice, tincture or decoction. Fruits help reduce blood sugar, but are effective only for mild disease. In severe diabetes, they can only be used as an adjuvant.
Chinese schizandra is used in different forms:
- tincture;
- broth;
- Fresh Juice;
- cake.
Tincture for diabetes is used 20-40 drops 2 times a day: in the morning and in the afternoon with water. The broth is taken in 1 tbsp. spoon in the morning and at lunch.The juice is taken 2-3 times a day for 1 tbsp. spoon. Dried cake left after squeezing juice from berries is consumed no more than 3 tbsp. l. in a day. When using cake, its amount is regulated, focusing on the state of health.
You can also make your own lemongrass medicinal pills:
- 150 g light asparagus root powder;
- 30 g of white mistletoe powder;
- 30 g of schisandra berry powder;
- some honey to get a gooey mass.
Mix all the ingredients well and mold them into balls. Take 3-5 pcs. 2-3 times a day. The remedy also helps with fatigue and anemia.
With asthenic syndrome
Asthenic syndrome is popularly known as chronic fatigue syndrome. Lemongrass relieves fatigue and invigorates. Some time after taking the Chinese schizandra, a person feels a surge of strength and vigor. True, with asthenic syndrome, this condition does not last long, and you cannot constantly use lemongrass drugs.
With vegetative dystonia
There is no such term in the modern classification of diseases. Its vitality is due to the fact that it is easier to make such a syndromic diagnosis than to search for the true causes of the ailment. Usually, ailments for which a similar diagnosis is made are associated with psychosomatic diseases. They can also be one of the signs of hypertension or endocrine disorders. It is also one of the symptoms of chronic ischemia.
If in psychosomatic diseases lemongrass is unlikely to hurt physically (but no one knows what will happen to the overexcited nervous system), then in case of hypertension, severe harm will be done, up to and including death.
This is the case when it is generally not necessary to take any aphrodisiac drugs without serious research.
How to use Chinese lemongrass
The dosage of Chinese schizandra is determined by how you feel. General principles:
- 1-4 tbsp. spoons 2-3 times a day;
- 3 g of seed powder per day;
- 20-40 drops of tincture 2-3 times a day.
And when taking it you need to consult a doctor. You should not count on the useful features of the schizandra. Self-medication can be detrimental.
How to brew Chinese lemongrass
If we are talking about ordinary tea with the addition of lemongrass, then there are no special rules here. There is not so much Chinese schizandra in this tea that it could show its medicinal qualities. Therefore, tea is brewed in the usual way: 1 tsp. 200-250 ml of water plus 1 tsp. on the teapot.
When making the broth, take 10 g (the same teaspoon) of dry lemongrass fruits and pour a glass of hot water. Boil for 15 minutes, filter and add water to the original volume.
Recipe for lemongrass tincture on vodka
An alcoholic tincture is prepared from Schisandra chinensis at home. Dried schisandra berries are poured with 70% alcohol and insisted for 10 days. Ingredient ratio: 1 part berries to 5 parts alcohol. Take 20-30 drops 2 times a day.
When consumed in the evening, the Chinese lemongrass tincture will fully manifest its medicinal properties. Especially those, thanks to which the nervous system is stimulated, and insomnia will be provided.
In the absence of alcohol, it is replaced with vodka. The recipe is the same.
Schisandra chinensis oil
The essential oil is used in aromatherapy and as an oral agent. In the second method, the oil is contained in special capsules. They are used in the same cases as other medicinal preparations from lemongrass. Capsules are dietary supplements. Take them 1 capsule 3 times a day. Dosage for adults.
Leaf and bark tea
When preparing "pure" tea from lemongrass using leaves and bark, take 15 g of dried liana per 1 liter of boiling water. Tea is infused for 5 minutes without touching the container. The beneficial features of tea are not only in the invigorating effect.It is also used as an antiscorbutic agent.
Dried bark is good for winter. It retains the aroma better due to the large amount of essential oil in it.
Homemade Chinese lemongrass wine
The recipe is suitable for gardeners whose liana grows on the site, since a lot of raw materials are needed. After squeezing the juice, the berry cake / bagasse remains. It can be dried and consumed in winter in this form, or you can make wine from it:
- 1 kg of cake;
- 2 liters of filtered water;
- 350 g of sugar.
There are 2 ways to make wine.
First
Oil cake and water are taken in equal parts. Pour pulp with water and insist at room temperature for 2-3 days. After that, the wort is drained, water is added, since the acid from the berries can stop the fermentation process. Sugar is added to the liquid at the rate of 1 part sugar to 3 parts wort.
The container is closed so that the carbon dioxide formed during fermentation can safely exit, but oxygen would not enter the container. This is usually a standard "water lock". The wort is kept at room temperature until the fermentation process stops. It will be noticeable because bubbles of carbon dioxide will no longer appear in the container with water. The finished wine can be made fortified by adding alcohol to it at the rate of 1 part of alcohol to 3 parts of wine.
Second
⅔ glass jars are filled with cake, the remaining space is covered with sugar. The bottle is closed with cotton wool or several layers of gauze and placed in a warm place for 2-3 weeks. At the end of the period, the resulting liquid is drained. The cake is again covered with sugar. This fermentation is repeated 2-3 times. At the last stage, all the mash obtained is filtered and poured into a clean dish.
It is impossible to call these products useful, because of the simultaneous content of alcohol and substances that stimulate the nervous system in them.
What can be made from the berries of Chinese lemongrass
All the same products can be prepared from fruits as from berries of other edible crops:
- jam;
- jam;
- jelly;
- fruit drink;
- soft drink;
- filling for cakes.
Berry juice is added to wines to give the latter a pleasant bouquet. But the yield of lemongrass is relatively low, and abundant harvests occur only once every few years. Average yield: berries - up to 30 kg per 1 ha, seeds - up to 3 kg per 1 ha.
Chinese lemongrass during pregnancy
In large quantities, plant preparations are harmful to pregnant and breastfeeding women. Overexcitation of the nervous system with the use of Chinese schizandra can lead to miscarriage. During pregnancy and breastfeeding, doctors recommend refusing to use lemongrass.
Contraindications
Schizandra has quite a few side effects:
- tachycardia;
- allergy;
- insomnia;
- increased blood pressure;
- headache.
By themselves, these phenomena do not belong to diseases, but are symptoms of other diseases. Because of this, lemongrass cannot be used for diseases:
- epilepsy;
- hypertension;
- insomnia and disturbances in the circadian rhythm;
- heart problems;
- too excitable central nervous system;
- liver disease;
- infectious diseases;
- allergies to any component of the plant.
Pregnancy and lactation are not diseases, but the use of lemongrass in these conditions is not recommended. Do not give it to children under 12 years of age.
Reviews of the medicinal properties of schisandra chinensis
Conclusion
The medicinal properties and contraindications of Schisandra chinensis are known today not only to official and Chinese medicine, but also to ordinary gardeners. Many people grow this eastern liana in their country house. It withstands frost well and does not pose any particular difficulties in growing. Products made from berries with your own hands are a good vitamin aid in winter, when you want to go into hibernation.
