47 replies to this topic

[sam7777]

try the entire berry, bright red fresh ones. Schizandra has 14 different active compounds. I have a study I will post later. It is a powerful broad spectrum drug, right up there with burdock, oregeno, cordyceps, and reishi. It is many many more things than ACHEase inhibitor, and does not give the same feel as huperzine. I have tried huperzine and it is like drinking a pot of coffee minus the motivational increase. I only get that with long continued use of schizandra.

[thedevinroy]

Sam7777, you are right on the money. The whole berry is much more nootropic. In fact, the other compounds might help slow the metabolism down of the Schizandrol A, leading to a longer lasting stimulation. I hear lots of good reports from the whole berry, and I started this thread because I found it odd that there wasn't much on a readily available 99% extract noted for its dopaminergic effects. Guess we know now why that is...

[manic_racetam]

I'm gonna see if the local Asian supermarket has this stuff. In Chinese it's called 北五味子 (běi wǔ wèi zǐ). Anyone know where you can get fresh berries? I'm guessing most places will be just carry the dried variety.

[thedevinroy]

I'm gonna see if the local Asian supermarket has this stuff. In Chinese it's called 北五味子 (běi wǔ wèi zǐ). Anyone know where you can get fresh berries? I'm guessing most places will be just carry the dried variety.

Most herbal suppliers have Schizandra. It's pretty popular. I've seen it plenty of places.

Let me re-quote...

I'm based in the UK and buy from a little company called indigo herbs. Well, they might be little but they stock pretty much everything. I can buy cacao in powder, nibs or bean format. Schizandra can likewise be bought in powder or berry format. They sell a wide variety of herbs.

I forgot to mention that I just take the plain schizandra berries from Nature's Made (I've also used Swanson brand which was equally as effective) and I use Swanson brand Rhodiola extract.

There you have it.

Edited by devinthayer, 18 October 2011 - 05:48 PM.

[manic_racetam]

I'm gonna see if the local Asian supermarket has this stuff. In Chinese it's called 北五味子 (běi wǔ wèi zǐ). Anyone know where you can get fresh berries? I'm guessing most places will be just carry the dried variety.

Most herbal suppliers have Schizandra. It's pretty popular. I've seen it plenty of places.

Let me re-quote...

I'm based in the UK and buy from a little company called indigo herbs. Well, they might be little but they stock pretty much everything. I can buy cacao in powder, nibs or bean format. Schizandra can likewise be bought in powder or berry format. They sell a wide variety of herbs.

I forgot to mention that I just take the plain schizandra berries from Nature's Made (I've also used Swanson brand which was equally as effective) and I use Swanson brand Rhodiola extract.

There you have it.

Still can't seem to find fresh berries anywhere. But I got some dried ones from the asian supermarket today. A bag of 250gs for $3.99. Washed and then ate about a tablespoon of them. I didn't expect it to be so strong. It's quite stimulating in a strange "herby" sort of way. Feels reminiscent of yohimbe or something. I'm also on day four of tianeptine 3x12.5mgs so that may have something to do with the intensity of the effects. But this will be an interesting tool to gain an understanding of.

[manic_racetam]

The whole berry echos your experience as far as short term duration of effects. The herby stimulation faded within about half an hour. Sounds like long term dosing has better effects. May give it a go when I have more time mid november.

[thedevinroy]

The whole berry echos your experience as far as short term duration of effects. The herby stimulation faded within about half an hour. Sounds like long term dosing has better effects. May give it a go when I have more time mid november.

Aw man disappoint.

[jayfoxpox]

The whole berry echos your experience as far as short term duration of effects. The herby stimulation faded within about half an hour. Sounds like long term dosing has better effects. May give it a go when I have more time mid november.

Any update on the berries?

[manic_racetam]

The whole berry echos your experience as far as short term duration of effects. The herby stimulation faded within about half an hour. Sounds like long term dosing has better effects. May give it a go when I have more time mid november.

Any update on the berries?

Unfortunately I just tried it one more time, again eating the whole berries. It was to acidic this way and hurt my teeth. I kind of lost interest due to sour stomach and sensitive teeth. Never had the motivation to brew up a batch, but you can't go wrong experimenting with them if you're motivated to do it. The whole dried berries are really cheap even at a local asian grocer.

[medievil]

What dose do you guys use of the dried berry's? Someone tolled me eating 10 was optimal for him but he's really sensitive to the negatives of the acetylcholine it can cause.

[manic_racetam]

I used about half a tablespoon of dried berries. I never weighed out my dose so not sure what the dry weight was.

[violetechos]

Oh my , I really like schizandra in all its forms. I have been using schizandra berries (the blackish peppercorn looking dried ones) for liver health and realized after not much time that they were a very tonical herb. First and foremost, they are amazing for the liver. I believe TCM holds schizandra as one of the highest regarded liver herbs . It is a warming herb. It is stimulating the liver, and hepatoprotectant . Typical dosage is between 1 and 3 grams of berries.

Now schizandriol a, that stuff... its silly. Larger doses have a pretty trippy effect for me !I have pure schizandriol a from a well reputated supplier. The first few times I dosed 100mgs, my pupils were a good 80%! 0_0 It is stimulating, but in an MDMA way, a serotonin way. It synergizes well . I certainly think its fun and have taken larger doses recreationally. It is used in some sketchy "herbal ecstasy" I have read... It seems to make stimulants stronger.

My theory is that schizandriol a is an MAOI (probally MAOA),and people from other chemical forums seems to support this use, with it being used in "pharmahausaca".

The reports on the term "schizandriol a" are few and far between. Deoxyschizandrin is another term that sometimes has better results if looking for info.

As far as NEGATIVE effects, its pretty damn benign.I take it often, and I have liver issues.I am very sensitive to depeting drugs, and the worst effect is overstimulation .Nothing like depression,body pains,sickness. I dont think combining sulbtiamine and schizandriol is a good idea though. Something just tells me not to combine those two, at least the same time. Try to avoid stimulants and schizandriol a.

Highest i've dosed is 120mgs. Ill try 300mgs and report back .

-lenses

Edited by lenses, 23 October 2012 - 04:47 PM.

[Limburger]

My theory is that schizandriol a is an MAOI (probally MAOA),and people from other chemical forums seems to support this use, with it being used in "pharmahausaca".

Really?? That's news to me. I wonder who thought that was a good idea...

Most North American health food stores get their bulk herbs through Frontier; if they don't stock Schizandra berries, they can usually bulk order it for you. Their stuff is fresh, high quality, and inexpensive--although not as inexpensive as you'll find at an Asian grocer or TCM supply store.

As lenses mentions, Schizandra is highly valued in Traditional Chinese Medicine as a wellness-promoting herb in cases of nervous weakness/debility. Isolates of single compounds won't necessarily reflect traditional use, of course, and it certainly sounds like schizandriol A doesn't have the same properties as the whole herb. One point: the berries are not traditionally consumed whole, but are dried, pulverized, boiled for longer than ten minutes (often much longer) along with several other admixture herbs, strained, and drank as a tea. It's still not the most pleasant tasting thing in this form, but it's better than just eating the berries straight. I would presume more rapid absorption and clearance via this method, though.

[Adaptogen]

I picked up some bulk schisandra a while back. On occasion I'll take around 15-20 dried berries..usually I just swallow them whole to avoid the taste. They don't call them five flavored berries for nothing

[FocusPocus]

Bumping this thread to understand dosage.

 

If its a 3% extract Schisandrol A, how much and how often should one dose?

 

Are you guys still using this?

 

Since I'm using too much caffeine/stimulants, I thought I might get this for adrenal support!

[zaratoo]

I'm interested in this topic too..

And 3% Schizandrol A/Schisandrin is what I'm looking at too (from PowderCity). Going to try it with my next order and hope to know something new..

 

@FocusPocus

How was your experience? 

[jroseland]

Are you still alive sam7777?

Word to the wise on this stuff.

Schizandra is more potent than rhodiola, or piracetams, or depreynl, or anything. period.

It trounces upon huperzine. Schizandra, caffeine, and fish pills and you are pretty much good to go. If you mix schizandra with something like rhodiola, especially if sensitive to rhodiola or taking it the first time, or something more pharmaceutical like depreynl or adderall, gelantamine, or anything dopimnergic, you may induce a manic state. It is not a bad manic state, and could be likened to the mental effects of LSD, (not that I would know, I am just speculating).

Schizandra may work at odd times of the days, and it may make you sleepy at times. It can wear you down. It will cause severe insomnia. It worked for me mainly later in the evening or night, at first. In the day it would make me sick, agressive, panic prone. Eventually I developed a tolerance to the stuff.

My health had been going to pot for the last 12 years, and this stuff seemed along with rhodiola like a god send, however, my health is now REALLY bad, and I am wondering if it was the schizandra that put the straw on the camel's back so to speak. So just be careful and do not overdo it.

 

[zaratoo]

Nice to see this thread being upped. Hope everyone's alive and healthier, than before.

 

I believe I should share my experience for someone like me few month ago. ShizandrolA from PC does work. Not for focus, but rather for motivation. Anti-procrastinative stuff I'd say. When if you know you have things to do it's much tougher to be lazy and not doing it..

Used it occasionally, but now doing everyday for adaptogenic properties (cortisol/immunity and response to stimulants modulation).

 

So I mean it well worth trying.