为木兰科植物五味子Schisandra chinensis（Turcz.）Baill.的干燥成熟果实，习称北五味子，山花椒等。《本草纲目》中说：“五味子今有南北之分。南产者色红，北产者色黑，入滋补药必用北产者良”。历代医家都指出：药用以北五味子为佳。五味子是神经系统的强壮剂，具有镇静、保肝、抗氧化、抗衰老、抗溃疡、祛痰镇咳、扩张血管、增强免疫功能等作用。它和人参、刺五加一样，被并称为“适应原样物质”。能增强听力、视力，提高工作效率，并可安眠，现用于神经衰弱、美尼尔氏综合症和性机能减退的治疗。还可以治疗耳鸣、心悸、头晕等症。北五味子中木脂素成分高，特别是醇甲和乙素含量明显高于其他五味子。

Schisandra chinensis: it belongs to Magnoliaceae and is the dry and mature fruit of Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill. It is also called North Schisandra and so on. “Compendium of Materia Medica” recorded that “Schizandra has been divided into North and South products. The South Schizandra is red, but the North is black. Furthermore, the North product is good to be as nourishing medicine.” Ages physicians have pointed out that: the North Schisandra is better for medicine. Schisandra is a strengthening agent for the nervous system; it has the effects of calming, protecting the liver, anti-oxidation,antiaging, anti-ulcer, antitussive and expectorant, dilated vessel, enhancing immune function etc . It is called with Panax Ginseng and Acanthopanax as “adaptive original substances”. It can enhance hearing, eyesight, improve work efficiencyand sleep peacefully. Now, it is used to cure neurasthenia, Meniere’s syndrome and sex hypofunction. It can also treat tinnitus, palpitations, dizziness embolism and so on. In North Schisandra the lignin is high;especially Schisandrin and Schisandrin B are higher than other kind of Schisandra.