I've been using the Adaptogens Rhodiola, Eleuthero, and Schisandra together for a month now.
I've been taking them first thing in the morning, on an empty stomach with my big ass bottle of tea.
I've discovered that consuming the Adaptogens as a tea is a whole lot more of a Nootropic experience. I begin starting my mornings with a tea that is equal parts of the three powdered herbs.
This earthy, fruity yet hearty-tasting tea energizes me within about 15 minutes of drinking it. The Adaptogen tea buzz seems to last a couple of hours and has a positive effect on mood.
This has replaced my morning cup (or two) of coffee that I usually need to wake up, it's been almost a week now since I had coffee and I've yet to experience caffeine withdrawals that I usually do when I cycle off coffee.
The first distinctive thing is the taste, it's quite pleasant, at least compared with other supplements and smart drugs. Schisandra has a cool five-flavor taste that I'm surprised hasn't been more commercialized.
The subjective experience of Adaptogens is quite subtle compared to other smart drugs I've used. My extensive reading on the Adaptogens has led me to believe that they are more of a long-term health and longevity strategy than instant satisfaction performance enhancers. I don't feel significantly more energized, focused, or motivated while dosed.
One thing I've noticed is that I'm waking up earlier feeling more energized, I seem to wake up before my alarm consistently.
As an otherwise healthy, 30-year-old "young man" (as the little, old women in shops here in Eastern Europe call me) I just don't think I have a lot of health issues to fix.
In my Ayahuasca video, I talked about how I didn't throw up even after taking multiple cups of the psychoactive brew. I hypothesize that since in the weeks leading up to the ceremony, I maintained a super clean diet, I just didn't have enough toxins in my system that the Ayahuasca needed to purge. I suspect the same principle is maybe why I'm not experiencing anything really acute from the Adaptogens.
Summary of Schisandra Science
On Pubmed over 1000 scientific papers published about it can be found. Here I'll summarize the recent science and studies.
A 2020 animal study identified it as a mitochondrial Nootropic in combination with Vitamin C
These results demonstrate that a mixture of [Schisandra chinensis extract] and [Alzheimer's disease] improves mitochondrial function and memory, suggesting that this natural compound mixture could be used to alleviate AD and aging-associated memory decline.
The most recent study published in 2020 found its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory mechanism effective in protecting the lungs from free radical-induced oxidative stress caused by cigarette smoke. It concludes
[Schisandrin A] inhibited the oxidative stress of lung epithelial cells induced by the combination of cigarette smoke extract and LPS. [Schisandrin A] may be a potential therapeutic medication for COPD.
This would seem to suggest that Schisandra is a lung cancer-preventative herb for smokers, ex-smokers, and those who must suffer from second-hand smoke.
The most recent human clinical trial, done with 45 Korean women found that 1000 milligrams increased leg strength over time.
Supplementation of [Schisandra Chinensis] extract may help to improve [quadriceps muscle strength] as well as decrease lactate level at rest in adult women.
A 2016 human clinical trial was done at Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine in Seoul, South Korea, which included 41 menopausal women, and using randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled methodology it evaluated Schisandra's effect assuaging unpleasant menopausal symptoms. It concluded
Schisandra chinensis can be a safe and effective complementary medicine for menopausal symptoms, especially for hot flushes, sweating, and heart palpitations.
So Schisandra is a great biohack for menopausal women, in fact, Schisandra is one of the best adaptogenic herbs for women. I've shared Schisandra with my wife for some time and I've noticed that it improved her skin, and I think it fires up her libido. I like Schisandra so much as a woman-hack that I've often considered naming a future daughter of mine after it. I think Schisandra would make a very pretty woman's name, but my wife really doesn't like this idea.
Three scientific papers published in the past five years evaluated Schisandra as an immune hack.
A 2018 animal study identified its immunomodulatory effect
The results indicated that [Schisandra polysaccharide] prevents [cyclophosphamide]-induced impairment of the cellular, humoral and non-specific immunity, and may be an auxiliary immune enhancer for the prevention of immune hypofunction.
Cyclophosphamide is a chemotherapy drug, so this study is suggesting that Schisandra could help patients immunocompromised by Iatrogenic cancer treatment.
A 2016 study identified its antifungal properties
This study revealed that [Schisandra chinensis extracts] and their lignans represent promising resources for the development of safe, effective, and multi-targeted agents against pathogenic fungi.
Another animal study found it a helpful preventative measure for radiation-induced immune system dysfunction. It concluded
...our results indicated that [Schisandra polysaccharide] could effectively prevent immune injury during radiotherapy by protecting the immune system.
This adds to the evidence that cancer patients should be taking Schisandra. Radiation-induced immune dysfunction and cancer are something that we all need to worry about now because of the trillion-fold increase in EMFs that we are exposed to in modernity.
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