Schisandra Oil

Schisandra (scientific name: Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill) is the dried ripe fruit of the plant Schisandra chinensis or Schisandra sphenanthera Rehd. et Wils. of the Magnoliaceae family. The former is commonly referred to as "Northern Schisandra," while the latter is known as "Southern Schisandra." The fruits are harvested in autumn when ripe, then sun-dried or steamed and sun-dried, with stems and impurities removed. The "Newly Revised Materia Medica" by Tang et al. records that "the skin and flesh of Schisandra are sweet and sour, the core is pungent and bitter, and it overall has a salty taste," hence the name "five-flavor berry." Schisandra is divided into two types: Northern and Southern.