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schisandra graphic

Schisandra

Schisandra, also spelled Schizandra and sometimes referred to as wu-wei-wi, comes from bright red berries grown on a woody vine belonging to the magnolia family. The plant is grown natively in parts of Asia except for a rare species that grows in North Carolina. Schisandra berries are referred to as the “five taste fruit” because they have a sour, sweet, salty, hot, and bitter flavor.

Schisandra has been used for centuries in Traditional Chinese medicine to promote vitality and well-being. Today’s modern herbalists claim schisandra to be an “adaptogen” by boosting the immune system, protecting the liver, and helping the body cope with stress. Lignans, which are concentrated in the seeds of the berries, are thought to be responsible for these favorable effects. Schisandra berries also contain essential oils, vitamins, and minerals that could be responsible for efficient processing of waste, increased delivery of oxygen to cells, and efficient utilization of energy.

 

Claimed Health Benefits

  • Helps body deal with stress

  • Promotes health of liver and kidneys

  • Improves brain function, vision, and mood

  • Helps prevent adverse health effects of chemotherapy and radiation

  • Boosts energy

  • May have anti-HIV action

 

Food Sources

None

 

Dose

Typical dosage recommendations for liver health and energy are in the range of 200-800mg per day.

 

Evidence for Health Benefits

  • A team of Japanese scientists studied the mechanism by which the lignans, present in schisandra, protect the liver. Their investigation revealed that the lignans act as antioxidants, preventing lesions in the liver produced by lipid peroxidation (1).

  • Another Japanese study tested rats with liver injury and their response to wuweizisu, which is a major lignan present in schisandra. The rats’ response to the wuweizisu was positive, resulting in decreased liver damage.

  • A clinical study was conducted on 26 patients suffering from a heart problem. Subjects were given either a combination containing three components (Panax ginseng, Radix ophiopogonis, and schisandra seed extract), or a placebo for 20 days. For 10 days, they took nothing. Then for 20 more days they took the combination mixture or placebo again. Improved heart function was measured by a treadmill test and an echocardiogram. Results showed improved left ventricular heart function when taking the combined mixture of extracts. However, in spite of these positive results, this study does not indicate which of the components of the mixture was responsible for the improved heart function.

 

Cautions

Reported side effects include skin rash, stomach upset, and diminished appetite.

Schisandra may stimulate uterine muscle contractions, so avoiding schisandra during pregnancy is strongly advised.

More long-term studies on schisandra are needed to determine its safety.

References

1. Y. Kiso, M. Tohkin, H. Hikino, Y. Ikeya, and H. Taguchi: Planta Medica 51: 331-334, 1985.

2. Tyler VE. The Honest Herbal: A Sensible Guide to the Use of Herbs and Related Remedies. 3rd ed. Binghamton, NY: The Haworth Press, Inc.; 1993

3. SupplementWatch, Inc. (2002) Supplement Decisions Made Easy. http://www.supplementwatch.com/supatoz/supplement.asp?supplementId=314 Accessed September 23, 2003.

4. Healthnotes, Inc. (2003) Helping People Lead Healthier Lives. http://www.healthwell.com/healthnotes/healthnotes.cfm?ContentID=2162005 Accessed September 23, 2003.