Library

[Background Information]
Book: Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu)
Author: Li Shizhen
Dynasty: Ming Dynasty, 6th Year of Wanli
Chapter: Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus (Wuweizi)
Category: Materia Medica

[Nomenclature] (Classified as Upper Grade in the *Shennong Bencao Jing*)
[Nomenclature] According to the *Erya*, pronounced "Gong": The skin and flesh are sweet and sour; the seed contains pungent and bitter flavors; there is also a salty taste. Thus, all five flavors are present. The *Shennong Bencao Jing* only mentions the sour flavor, but it should be considered prior among the Five Elements associated with Wood.

[Collection and Description] The *Mingyi Bielu* states: Schisandra grows in the valleys of Mount Qi and Dai Commandery. The fruits are harvested in the eighth lunar month and dried in the shade.
Tao Hongjing states: Currently, the best quality comes from Goryeo (Korea), which is fleshy and has a sweet-sour taste; next is that from Qingzhou and Jizhou, which is overly sour, and its seeds resemble pig kidneys. There is also a variety from Jianping, which has less flesh, dissimilar seed shape, and a bitter taste, yet is still good. This medicine is often moist and resinous; it must be exposed to strong sunlight before it can be pounded and sifted.
Su Gong states: It climbs on trees as a vine. Its leaves are like apricot leaves but larger. The fruit forms in pods like those of Malva verticillata (Luokui), about the size of mung beans. It originates from Puzhou and Lantian mountains, and is currently presented as annual tribute from Hezhong Prefecture.
Su Baosheng states: It grows as a vine. The stem is reddish, flowers are yellow or white, and the fruit turns from green to purple when ripe, exhibiting five colors. The one with a sweet taste is superior.
Su Song states: It is particularly abundant in Hedong and Shaanxi prefectures today, and also found between Hangzhou and Yueqing. In early spring, shoots emerge, sending red vines up high trees, growing six or seven chi long. The leaves are pointed and round, resembling apricot leaves. Yellow and white flowers bloom in the third and fourth months, resembling lotus flowers. Fruits mature in the seventh month, clustered at the stem tips, about the size of peas, turning from green to red-purple when ripe. For medicinal use, they are sun-dried without removing the seeds. There are several varieties now, mostly similar. Lei Xiao states: Small grains with wrinkled, bubbly skin, covered with a layer of white salt-like frost, possessing all five flavors (sour, salty, bitter, pungent, sweet), are authentic.
Li Shizhen states: Schisandra is divided into northern and southern varieties today. Southern ones are red; northern ones are black. For tonic medicines, the northern variety must be used for best results. Roots can also be planted; they flourish in the same year. If seeds are sown in the second lunar month, they flourish the following year and require trellises for support.

[Processing] Lei Xiao states: Generally, split into two halves with a copper knife, soak in honey, steam from Si hour (9-11 AM) to Shen hour (3-5 PM), then soak in vinegar water overnight, and bake dry before use.
Li Shizhen states: Use cooked for tonic prescriptions; use raw for cough remedies.

[Flavor and Properties] Sour, warm, non-toxic.
Li Haogu states: Flavor is sour, slightly bitter, and salty. The flavor is strong while the aroma is light; it is Yin containing slight Yang. It enters the Hand Taiyin Blood aspect and Foot Shaoyin Qi aspect.
Li Shizhen states: Sour and salty enter the Liver to tonify the Kidney; pungent and bitter enter the Heart to tonify the Lung; sweet enters the Spleen.
Zhang Yuansu states: Cistanche Deserticola (Congrong) acts as its guide drug. It conflicts with Polygonatum odoratum (Weirui) and overcomes Aconitum carmichaelii (Wutou).

[Indications] Tonifies Qi, treats cough with rebellious Qi,劳伤 (labor injury) with emaciation, supplements deficiencies, strengthens Yin, and benefits male essence (*Shennong Bencao Jing*).
Nourishes the Five Zang organs, clears heat, and generates muscle within the Yin (*Mingyi Bielu*). Treats middle and lower Qi rebellion, stops vomiting and reflux, supplements deficiency and fatigue, and makes the body lustrous (Zhen Quan).
Brightens the eyes, warms the Water Organ (Kidney), strengthens sinews and bones, treats wind to aid digestion, reverses food regurgitation, Huoluan (cholera-like disorder) with muscle cramps, Pi masses (abdominal lumps), Ben Tun (rushing gas), cold Qi, reduces edema and abdominal distension due to Qi stagnation, stops thirst, clears vexatious heat, and resolves alcohol toxicity (Jiayou Bencao).
Treats wheezing, cough, and dry cough; strengthens Water to suppress Yang (Li Haogu).

[Elucidation] Cheng Wuji states: The Lung desires to consolidate; urgently feed sour substances to consolidate it, using sour to tonify it. The sourness of Peony (Shaoyao) and Schisandra consolidates rebellious Qi and calms the Lung.
Zhang Guo states: It collects Lung Qi and supplements insufficient Qi, having an ascending nature. Sourness consolidates rebellious Qi; for Cold Qi in the Lung causing rebellion, this herb should be treated together with Dried Ginger (Ganjiang). Furthermore, Schisandra's ability to collect Lung Qi makes it a necessary herb for Fire-Heat conditions; thus, it is used as the Sovereign herb for treating cough. However, if external pathogenic factors exist, it should not be used abruptly, lest it trap the pathogens; dispersing methods must be used first. For phlegm, Pinellia ternata (Banxia) serves as an Assistant; for wheezing, Donkey-hide gelatin (Ejiao) serves as an Assistant, differing only in dosage.
Chen Cheng states: It is widely produced from Huazhou westward to Qinzhou today. When just red and ripe, locals harvest it, steam it until soft, grind and filter the juice, boil it down to a thin paste, mix with refined honey according to sourness and sweetness, let cool, and store in vessels. People with Lung deficiency and cold drink it as a decoction frequently. It can also be made into candied fruit for gifting. The *Shennong Bencao Jing* states its nature is warm; however, consuming much of it nowadays often causes deficient heat, especially in children. The *Yaoxing Lun* says it clears hot Qi, while *Rihuazi* says it warms the Water Organ and clears vexatious heat; later scholars are confused by this. Since it is now used to treat Lung deficiency-cold, we no longer accept the theory of clearing heat.
Zhu Zhenheng states: Schisandra greatly collects Lung Qi, hence its merit in tonifying the Kidney. Collecting Lung Qi, is it not clearing heat? Tonifying the Kidney, is it not warming the Water Organ? It is a necessary herb for coughs due to Fire-Heat. What Kou Zongshi said about causing deficient heat upon excessive consumption is merely due to abrupt consolidation and tonification; what is there to be confused about? Also, evening cough is due to floating Fire Qi entering the Lung; cooling herbs are unsuitable. Schisandra and Chinese Gallnut (Wubeizi) should be used to consolidate and descend.
Sun Simiao states: In the fifth and sixth months, one should regularly consume Schisandra Decoction to benefit the Qi of Metal (Lung). Above, it nourishes the source; below, it tonifies the Kidney. Method: Take one dahe of Schisandra, pound finely in a wooden mortar, place in a porcelain bottle, pour boiling water over it, add a little honey, seal, and leave near fire for a long time. Once prepared, drink as desired.
Wang Haogu states: Sun Simiao's *Qianjin Yueling* says: Consume Schisandra regularly in the fifth month to supplement the Qi of the Five Zang organs. During the summer, specifically the last month, when feeling weary and weak with no energy to move, combine with Ginseng (Renshen), Ophiopogon japonicus (Maidong), and a small amount of Phellodendron amurense (Huangbai), decoct and drink. This instantly boosts spirit and surges strength in the legs. The sourness of Schisandra, assisting Ginseng, can drain Bing Fire (Small Intestine/Liver Fire) and supplement Geng Metal (Large Intestine/Lung Metal), consolidating scattered Qi.
Li Haogu states: Zhang Zhongjing's Eight-Ingredient Pill (Bawei Wan) uses this to tonify the Kidney, also describing its form and analogy.
Zhu Danxi states: Treating wheezing and cough with Schisandra requires distinguishing between North and South. To generate fluids, stop thirst, moisten the Lung, and tonify the Kidney for labor-induced cough, use the Northern variety; for Wind-Cold in the Lung, use the Southern variety.
Shen Kuo states: The *Baopuzi* says: Schisandra is the essence of the Five Elements, and its fruit possesses all five flavors. Xianmenzi, the Marquis of Huainan, consumed it for sixteen years, his face becoming like a jade maiden; he could enter water without getting wet and fire without burning.

[Attached Prescriptions] Eleven new prescriptions.
Long-term cough with lung distension: Schisandra 2 liang, Poppy Shell (Suhua) (stir-fried with malt sugar) 0.5 liang, powdered, formed into pills the size of bullets with malt sugar. Take one pill each time, decoct in water and drink. (*Weisheng Jiabao Fang*)
Persistent long-term cough: Danxi Formula: Schisandra 5 qian, Licorice (Gancao) 1.5 qian, Chinese Gallnut (Wubeizi) and Weathered Nitre (Fenghua Xiao) 2 qian each, powdered, held dry in the mouth. *Shesheng Fang*: Schisandra 1 liang, real tea 4 qian. Sun-dried and powdered. Boil Licorice 5 qian into a paste, form pills the size of mung beans. Take 3 qian each time.
Phlegm-cough with wheezing: Schisandra and Alum (Baifan) in equal parts, powdered. Take 3 qian each time, dip roasted fresh pig lung into the powder, chew thoroughly, and swallow with plain water. Huang Liu, a soldier in Hanyang Arsenal, suffered from this; hundred medicines failed. In Yueyang, he met a Daoist who passed this on; after two doses, the disease did not recur. (*Pujifang*)
Impotence: Fresh Schisandra 1 jin, powdered. Take one fangcunbi with wine, three times daily. Avoid pork, fish, garlic, and vinegar. Upon finishing one dose, potency returns.
Kidney deficiency with seminal emission: Northern Schisandra 1 jin, washed clean, soaked in water, pits removed. Wash the pits again to extract remaining flavor. Place all in a clay pot, filter through cloth, add 2 jin of good winter honey, slow-boil over charcoal fire into a paste, store in bottles for five days to remove fire nature. Take one or two tea spoons on an empty stomach, wash down with rolling boiling water. (Liu Songshi *Baoshoutang Fang*)
Kidney deficiency with white turbidity, and piercing pain in both flanks and back: Schisandra 1 liang, stir-fried until red and powdered, formed into pills the size of wutree seeds with vinegar paste. Take 30 pills each time with vinegar water. (*Jingyan Liangfang*)
Dawn diarrhea (Kidney diarrhea): Anyone who experiences loose stools once or twice every dawn, persisting for years, is named Kidney Diarrhea, caused by Yin excess. The Spleen dislikes dampness; dampness makes it soggy and troubled, unable to manage water. Water flows downward, leading to Kidney Water deficiency. Use Schisandra to strengthen Kidney Water and nourish the Five Zang; Evodia rutaecarpa (Wuzhuyu) to eliminate Spleen dampness, then diarrhea stops naturally: Schisandra (stalks removed) 2 liang, Evodia (soaked in water seven times) 5 qian. Stir-fry together until fragrant, powder. Take 2 qian daily with aged rice water. (Xu Shumi *Benshi Fang*)
Female genital coldness: Schisandra 4 liang, powdered, mixed with saliva (jade spring) to form pills the size of rabbit feces. Frequently insert into the vagina for effect. (*Jinxiao Fang*)
Ulcerated eyelid margin due to wind: Decoct Schisandra and Vitex trifolia (Manjingzi) in water, wash frequently. (*Tan Ye Weng Zhongzi Fang*)
Red wandering wind rash, gradually swelling: Roast and powder Schisandra, take 1 qian in one go with hot wine, it will subside spontaneously, miraculous effect. (*Baoyou Daquan*)