Schisandra (Schisandra chinensis)
Photo: Pixabay
- Digestive
- 4 conditions
- Licensed photo
Overview
Schisandra (Schisandra chinensis), also known as wu wei zi (“5-flavored herb”), is a woody vine that can grow up to 26 ft (8 m). It has pink blossoms and clusters of bright red berries containing powerful adaptogenic, antioxidant, and liver-protective constituents.
Traditional uses & properties
Adaptogen & Restorative: Boosts energy, helps coping with stress, and may aid sexual vitality. Hepatoprotective: Lignans support and protect liver function, beneficial for hepatitis and toxin-related liver damage. Nervous System Regulator: Can simultaneously stimulate and calm, reducing mild anxiety or irritability while improving mental clarity. Moistening: Lubricates dry tissues, traditionally helping coughs, night sweats, and thirst.
Traditional preparations
Traditional texts describe the preparations below, and where those texts give specific amounts, the amounts are quoted here as part of that record. This is a record of historical practice, not a dosage recommendation - the figures are what the sources say, not what HerbMate tells you to take. Amounts, potency, and safe use vary enormously by preparation, plant part, and person.
4-8 ounces 3 times daily
10 berries once daily
500-1,500 mg, 1-2 times daily
Dried berries (1:3, 40% alcohol); 1-3 ml (0.2-0.6 tsp.) 3 times daily
Safety & precautions
Acute Infections: Avoid taking when suffering from colds, flu, or fevers. Excessive Use: May cause insomnia and anxiety if used long term or at high doses. Medication Interactions: Consult professional advice if on medication, as schisandra can affect liver enzyme activity.
Drug & food interactions
Schisandra may modestly induce the metabolism of warfarin and greatly increase the absorption of tacrolimus, but it appears to have little effect on the metabolism of nifedipine.
- Herbal medicines
- No interactions found.
- Warfarin and related drugs
- The interaction between schisandra and warfarin is based on experimental evidence only.
- Tacrolimus
- Schisandra greatly increases tacrolimus levels and its adverse effects. In a pharmacokinetic study, 12 healthy subjects were given an extract of Schisandra sphenanthera (containing 33.75 mg schizandrin) twice daily for 14 days, with a single 2-mg oral dose of tacrolimus on day 14. The extract of Schisandra sphenanthera increased the AUC and maximum plasma concentrations of tacrolimus by 164% and 227%, but did not alter its half-life. Six of the 12 subjects experienced indigestion, and burning hands and feet, one hour after both medicines were given. These symptoms resolved over 10 hours.
- Nifedipine
- The interaction between schisandra and nifedipine is based on experimental evidence only.
- Food
- No interactions found.
These entries keep the wording of the reference they come from, and three phrases mean three different things. "No interactions found" means the source looked for reports of that pairing and found none. "No data found" means nothing has been published either way. "Based on experimental evidence only" means the effect has been seen in a laboratory or animal study but not in people - a reason for caution, not a report of harm.
Habitat
Cultivated primarily in northeastern China, schisandra prefers sunny conditions. The berries are collected fully ripe in autumn. Related species are similarly used in traditional East Asian medicine.
Traditionally used for
- Liver Support10 herbs · 2 free
- Low Sex Drive4 herbs · 2 free
- Erectile Disfunction6 herbs · 2 free
- Stress13 herbs · 2 free
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Frequently asked questions
What is Schisandra (Schisandra chinensis) traditionally used for?
Traditional sources describe Schisandra (Schisandra chinensis) as follows: Adaptogen & Restorative: Boosts energy, helps coping with stress, and may aid sexual vitality. Hepatoprotective: Lignans support and protect liver function, beneficial for hepatitis and toxin-related liver damage. Nervous System Regulator: Can simultaneously stimulate and calm, reducing mild anxiety or irritability while improving mental clarity. Moistening: Lubricates dry tissues, traditionally helping coughs, night sweats, and thirst.
How is Schisandra (Schisandra chinensis) prepared?
Traditional texts describe the preparations below, and where those texts give specific amounts, the amounts are quoted here as part of that record. This is a record of historical practice, not a dosage recommendation - the figures are what the sources say, not what HerbMate tells you to take. Amounts, potency, and safe use vary enormously by preparation, plant part, and person. STANDARD INFUSION: 4-8 ounces 3 times daily DRIED BERRIES: 10 berries once daily CAPSULE: 500-1,500 mg, 1-2 times daily TINCTURE: Dried berries (1:3, 40% alcohol); 1-3 ml (0.2-0.6 tsp.) 3 times daily
What safety cautions apply to Schisandra (Schisandra chinensis)?
Acute Infections: Avoid taking when suffering from colds, flu, or fevers. Excessive Use: May cause insomnia and anxiety if used long term or at high doses. Medication Interactions: Consult professional advice if on medication, as schisandra can affect liver enzyme activity.
Related herbs
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