Schisandra Berry
Overview
Schisandra is named 'five-flavor berry' because tradition finds sour, sweet, bitter, pungent, and salty all in one fruit. It is the classic herb for gathering what leaks — quieting chronic cough, sealing untimely sweat, and generating fluids for thirst. Korean omija-cha, steeped cold to a rose color, is beloved in summer.
In the Donguibogam
寶鑑
Traditional functions
- Astringes the lung, stops chronic cough
- Restrains sweating, secures essence
- Generates fluids, relieves thirst
- Calms the heart, aids sleep
Traditional applications
- Lingering cough and shortness of breath
- Night sweats and spontaneous sweating
- Thirst and dry mouth
- Restless sleep with vivid dreaming
Traditional preparation
Decoction 1.5–6g; for tea, steep in cold water overnight to draw the sour-sweet flavor without bitterness.
Cautions
Frequently asked questions
Does schisandra really taste of five flavors?
The dominant taste is sour, but classical texts describe the skin, flesh, seed, and core as each carrying different flavors — the origin of the name 'omija', the five-flavor fruit.
Why is omija tea brewed with cold water?
Cold steeping extracts the fruit's sourness and color while leaving behind bitter and astringent notes that hot water draws out — a technique long used in Korean households.
Sources
- 동의보감 탕액편 (원문) — 한문 원문 발췌 — 탕액편 대조 검증 완료 (DATA-001)
- 한의학고전DB (mediclassics.kr) — 국역 참조 후 자체 재서술 (LEGAL-001)