為木蘭科植物五味子Schisandra chinensis（Turcz.）Baill.的干燥成熟果實，習稱北五味子，山花椒等?！侗静菥V目》中說：“五味子今有南北之分。南產(chǎn)者色紅，北產(chǎn)者色黑，入滋補藥必用北產(chǎn)者良”。歷代醫(yī)家都指出：藥用以北五味子為佳。五味子是神經(jīng)系統(tǒng)的強壯劑，具有鎮(zhèn)靜、保肝、抗氧化、抗衰老、抗?jié)?、祛痰?zhèn)咳、擴張血管、增強免疫功能等作用。它和人參、刺五加一樣，被并稱為“適應(yīng)原樣物質(zhì)”。能增強聽力、視力，提高工作效率，并可安眠，現(xiàn)用于神經(jīng)衰弱、美尼爾氏綜合癥和性機能減退的治療。還可以治療耳鳴、心悸、頭暈等癥。北五味子中木脂素成分高，特別是醇甲和乙素含量明顯高于其他五味子。

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.