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Microcosmic Orbit, Schizandra
Microcosmic
Orbit
An esoteric formula used in the Chan Buddhist and Daoist traditions
to supply energy to, and to open, the primal energy channels
and to promote the flow of energy in these channels. Microcosmic
Orbit is extremely centering. It also has an "astringent"
quality, which means that it prevents the leaking of jing.
Description
Spray dried concentrated powder in capsules.
Primary Traditional Functions
Astringent, yin jing
Who Can Use This Formula
Those individuals who wish to prevent leaking of Jing .
Typical Usage
2 or 3 capsules, 2 or 3 times per day.
Note
This formula should be used by all Qi Gung practitioners.
It is also beneficial to all martial arts practitioners. In
addition, those who are practicing Daoist sexual techniques
will find this formula extremely useful in that it prolongs
sex and helps men to retain their semen.
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Orbit,
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Schizandra
The
herb that does almost everything. Schizandra develops the
primary energies of life and is thus of great use to any one
who consumes it. Schizandra generates vitality and radiant
beauty when used regularly for some time. It is a safe and
powerful tonic herb which is mildly calming and possessing
pain-alleviating properties. If used for 100 days successively,
Schizandra is said to purify the blood, sharpen the mind,
improve memory, rejuvenate the Kidney energy (especially the
sexual energy and functions in both men and women), and causes
the skin to become radiantly beautifuls.
Description
Spray dried concentrated powder in capsules. This is made
from wild Schizandra and is highly concentrated. I doesn't
get any better than this.
Primary Traditional Functions
Tonifies all three treasures (Jing, Qi and Shen), tonifies
and regulates all five elements, tonifies and regulates all
twelve organ-meridian systems. Astringent. Improves memory.
Who Can Use This Formula
2 or 3 capsules, 2 or 3 times per day.
Note
Schizandra develops the primary energies of life and is thus
of great use to any one who consumes it. Schizandra generates
vitality and radiant beauty when used regularly for some time.
It is a safe and powerful tonic herb which is mildly calming
and possessing pain-alleviating properties. If used for 100
days successively, Schizandra is said to purify the blood,
sharpen the mind, improve memory, rejuvenate the Kidney energy
(especially the sexual energy and functions in both men and
women), and cause the skin to become radiantly beautiful.
The very name
of Schizandra in Chinese tells us a great deal about the qualities
of this herb. Wu Wei Zi means "Five Taste Fruit."
Due to the fact that Schizandra possesses all five of the
classical "tastes" (sour, bitter, sweet, spicy and
salty) and thus possesses the essence of all five of the elemental
energies (wood, fire, earth, metal and water), Schizandra
is respected as a health-providing tonic in the same class
with Ginseng and Ganoderma.
The Taoists especially
revered Schizandra. Schizandra was my teacher's, Sung
Jin Park's, favorite herb. This is because Schizandra
contains all five elemental energies in abundance, contains
all three treasures in abundance, and enters all twelve meridians.
Master Park considered it to be the quintessential herbal
substance.
Though Schizandra
is believed to benefit all the functions of the body, its
has traditionally been considered to have the most influence
on the Kidney, Lung and Liver functions.
Schizandra is
said to increase the Water Qi in the Kidney. In particular,
it is said to vastly increase the "water of the genital
organs," referring to the sexual fluids. Schizandra is
said to promote the production of semen. It is famous for
its ability to relieve sexual fatigue and for increasing the
sexual staying-power in men. It is thus an ingredient in the
vast majority of men's sexual tonics in Asian herbalism.
Women benefit
from the same capacity to increase Water Qi of the Kidney.
Schizandra is said to increase circulation and sensitivity
in the female genitals. Many women claim increased genital
warmth and sensation after using Schizandra for a period of
time. The Chinese sexual classics claim that continuous use
by a woman will increase the amount of "female elixir,"
a euphemism for vaginal secretions, during intercourse. On
the other hand, Schizandra is used clinically to help counteract
vaginal discharge.
For both men
and women, Schizandra is considered to have "aphrodisiac"
qualities, especially when combined with other Kidney tonifying
herbs like Lycium, Cistanche, deer antler, Epimedium, etc.
Furthermore, Schizandra is one of the most important astringent
herbs used in Chinese herbalism. An astringent herb conserves
fluids, and in the case of Schizandra, it tends to contain
sexual fluids until the appropriate time of release. Thus,
consuming Schizandra for a period of time, one tends to build
up sexual fluids. Schizandra is used in sexual formulations
to prevent premature ejaculation and to help promote incredible
endurance.
Schizandra is
widely used to beautify the skin and to protect the skin from
the damaging effects of the sun and wind. Due to the astringent
quality of Schizandra, the skin tends to hold its moisture
and becomes full and beautiful. It has always been very popular
with the wealthy men and women of China because of its youth
preserving and rejuvenating effects. It is said that those
who use Schizandra consistently will remain youthful in both
appearance and physiology. I have seen the benefits of this
herb with my own eyes hundreds of times in my life. People
who start taking Schizandra regularly all change for the better.
Their skin virtually glows and becomes clear and fine after
several months.
This herb is
considered to be one of the premium mind tonics of herbalism.
It is used to sharpen concentration, improve memory and increase
alertness. Yet, unlike caffeine-like stimulants, Schizandra
does not produce nervousness. In fact, some people consider
Schizandra mildly "calming" while producing wakefulness
and improved focus.
Schizandra is
one of the primary cleansing tonic herbs used in Chinese herbalism.
Schizandra stands along with Reishi as the primary liver cleansing
agents used in tonic programs. Schizandra does not have the
side effects that are associated with many of the "medicinal,"
or "inferior" liver cleansing herbs. It is believed
that by taking Schizandra regularly, it is possible to rid
the body of toxins before they have a chance to do serious
damage. Schizandra, especially alcohol extracts, are widely
believed to protect the liver from damage due to poisons,
as well as the by-products of living.
Schizandra is
among the most popular tonic herbs in Asia and is frequently
pictured in ancient art as a symbol of longevity, and even
the ability to attain "immortality."
Varieties and
Grading:
There are two
varieties of Schizandra: Northern and Southern. Northern Schizandra
is generally considered to be superior to the southern variety
. It is stronger tasting and more potent. The skin and meat
of the Schizandra fruit are sweet and sour, the core is pungent
and bitter, the whole fruit salty. Virtually all Schizandra
is collected wild in the mountains and hills away from cities
and industrial areas. Dragon Herbs uses only northern Schizandra
collected in the pristine Changbai Mountains of northeastern
China.
The fruit, which
is mature in the fall, is a beautiful, radiant violet-red.
The plant grows by entwining itself around short trees in
dense areas where forest and grassland meet. In my experience
searching for Schizandra in Northern China, I have always
found that Schizandra tends to grow in relatively inaccessible
areas, often near cliffs and streams. It is almost impossible
to cultivate Schizandra and very few farmers try. However,
wild Schizandra is not overly abundant and the end users should
appreciate the difficulty that collectors experience in collecting
it.
High quality
Schizandra, as we see it in American herb shops, is dried
and dark purple with some pinkish tone left. Freshly dried
Schizandra has a luster and the flesh is still plump and tender.
If the fruit is dark black, brown or has white patches everywhere,
it is probably too old to be fully useful. Freshly dried Schizandra
still has a very pleasant sweet-sour aroma. With experience
you will be able to select premium Schizandra with your eyes
closed. The fruit has a wonderful flavor and fresh Schizandra
has a smoother, sweeter fragrance. Be careful to select good
Schizandra. Schizandra is often stored for years before it
is sold in herb shops. I have seen Schizandra that is barely
recognizable. It was shriveled, black and lifeless. This Schizandra
would be herbally useless. Keep the Schizandra in a well-closed
container in a dark closet, or better yet, refrigerate it.
When you find great Schizandra, stock up---it is the quintessence
of everything good about tonic herbalism.
Scientific Knowledge:
The fruit of Schizandra chinensis contains numerous lignin's,
schizandrins A, B and C, deoxyschizandrin, g-schizandrin,
pseudo-g-schizandrin, schizandrol and Schizandra esters. Fructus
Schizandra contains approximately 3% volatile oil. It also
contains vitamins C and E, citral, b-sitosterol and citric
acid.
Schizandra is
considered to be one of the premier adaptogens. Just like
Ginseng, Acanthopanax and Gynostemma, Schizandra increases
resistance of the body and mind against nonspecific stimuli.
It can protect the body from damage due to extreme or chronic
stress. In particular, it can protect the adrenals and prevent
atrophy due to extreme stress.
Schizandra has
been demonstrated in laboratory animals and in humans to have
a stimulant action on the central nervous system. The herb
works directly on the nervous tissue. Many studies now indicate
that Schizandra actually has a powerful balancing, or regulating,
action on the central nervous system. It can result in accurate
and optimal balancing between the excitatory and inhibitory
control functions of the cerebral cortex.
It has been demonstrated
that human intellectual activity can be enhanced and work
efficiency increased by consuming Schizandra. Various tests
have shown that moderate therapeutic doses of Schizandra can
improve various activities requiring concentration, fine coordination,
sensitivity and endurance. The tests in humans confirming
Schizandra's efficacy in these areas range from threading
needles to running marathons.
Human studies
have also shown that Schizandra can improve vision, even enlarging
the field of vision, and can improve hearing. It also improves
the discrimination ability of the skin receptors. It has been
determined that this increased sensitivity is due to improved
function of the central nervous system's ability to
analyze data flowing to it from the peripheral sensors
Schizandra has
been shown to have significant respiratory strengthening capacity.
It can cause the breathing to be both deeper and more powerful.
Schizandra also has significant expectorant and antitussive
action.
Fructus Schizandra
has been shown to have significant hepatic protective effects.
It can promote the regeneration of liver tissue, and promotes
protein synthesis, nucleic acid synthesis. It is believed
that the protective action of Schizandra is partly due to
its ability to promote the regeneration of mitochondria in
hepatic cells. Also, it can improve the function of the cell
membrane, lowering its permeability which in turn minimizes
enzyme leakage into the blood stream.
It can reduce
elevated SGPT in patients with chronic hepatitis. In a clinical
study conducted in China, more than 5000 people suffering
from various types of hepatitis were given Schizandra and
the results were very good. The aggregate effective rate was
84-97.9%. SGPT was normalized in about 75% of the cases.
In another clinical
study, Schizandra was proved to be very effective in treating
various neurotic symptoms, including insomnia, headache, dizziness,
blurred vision, palpitations and nocturnal emission. It has
even been used in cases of psychosis, with symptoms of hallucination,
paranoia and neurosis, with good results.
Schizandra chinensis
has been found to induce the production in human beings of
g-interferon. It contains shizandrin, schizandrol, volatile
oil, chamigrenal, malic acid citric acid, tartaric acid, Vitamin
C, etc. Extracts of Schizandra have been shown to induce non-specific
resistance in humans, comparable to similar effects well established
for Panax Ginseng, Astragalus and Ganoderma.
Fructus Schizandra
is an ingredient in an extremely important tonic preparation
called Formula for Restoring the Pulse, which consists of
Panax Ginseng, Ophiopogon root and Schizandra fruit. This
formula has been broadly studied in China as an example of
how tonic formulations work and because it is very widely
used in Chinese hospitals. Experiments have shown that this
formula has the effect of dilating blood vessels, increasing
the coronary blood flow, enhancing the anoxic tolerance, reducing
toxicity of toxins to the body.. It is effective for cardiac
shock, acute myocardial infarction and myocarditis, and is
tonifying to the heart and effective at raising blood pressure
in patients with low blood pressure.
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