Schisandra
Bac Ngu Vi Tu, Baie de Schisandra, Beiwuweizi, Bei Wu Wei Zi, Chinese Mongolavine, Chinese Schizandra, Chinesischer Limonenbaum, Chosen-Gomischi, Five-Flavor-Fruit, Five-Flavor-Seed, Fructus Schisandrae, Fructus Schisandrae Chinensis, Fruit aux Cinq Saveurs, Gomishi, Hoku-Gomishi, Kadsura chinensis, Kita-Gomishi, Limonnik Kitajskij, Mei Gee, Magnolia Vine, Matsbouza, Nanwuweizi, Ngu Mei Gee, Northern Schisandra, Omicha, Schisandra Berry, Schisandra chinensis, Schisandra chinensis var. rubriflora, Schisandra Sinensis, Schisandra sphaerandra, Schisandra sphenanthera, Schisandrae, Schizandra, Schizandra Chinensis, Schizandre Fructus, Schzandra, Southern Schisandra, Wuhzi, Wuweizi, Wu-Wei-Zi, Western Schisandra, Xiwuweizi.
Schisandra is a plant. The fruit is used as food and also to make medicine.
Schisandra is used as an "adaptogen" for increasing resistance to disease and stress, increasing energy, and increasing physical performance and endurance.
Schisandra is also used for preventing early aging and increasing lifespan, normalizing blood sugar and blood pressure, stimulating the immune system, and speeding recovery after surgery.
It is also used for treating liver disease (hepatitis) and protecting the liver from poisons. The Chinese have developed a liver-protecting drug called DBD that is made from schizandrin, one of the chemicals in schisandra.
Other uses for schisandra include treatment of high cholesterol, pneumonia, coughs, asthma, sleep problems (insomnia), tiredness and irritability associated with emotional disturbance (neurasthenia), premenstrual syndrome (PMS), chronic diarrhea, dysentery, night sweats, spontaneous sweating, involuntary discharge of semen, thirst, erectile dysfunction (ED), physical exhaustion, excessive urination, depression, irritability, and memory loss. It is also used in children to reduce the frequency and severity of attacks of fever associated with an inherited disease called familial Mediterranean fever.
Some people use schisandra for improving vision ad muscular activity, protecting against radiation, preventing motion sickness, preventing infection, boosting energy at the cellular level, and improving the health of the adrenal glands. Schisandra fruit is eaten as a food.
How does it work?
The chemicals in schisandra improve liver function by stimulating enzymes (proteins that speed up biochemical reactions) in the liver and promoting liver cell growth. Chemicals in schisandra may also help the body have more energy, resulting in improved endurance and coordination.
Possibly Effective for...
- Mental performance. Taking schisandra fruit extract by mouth seems to improve concentration. Also, taking a specific product (ADAPT-232 by Swedish Herbal Institute), which contains schisandra, rhodiola, and Siberian ginseng, improves attention and speed of thinking.
- Liver disease (hepatitis). Taking schisandra fruit extract by mouth reduces blood levels of an enzyme called glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) in people with hepatitis. SGPT level is a marker for liver damage. A higher SGPT level means more damage; a lower SGPT means less damage.
Insufficient Evidence to Rate Effectiveness for...
- Exercise performance. Taking schisandra fruit extract by mouth seems to improve coordination and endurance.
- Inherited fever disorder (Familial Mediterranean fever). Early research suggests that taking a combination product (ImmunoGuard by Inspired Nutritionals) containing andrographis, Siberian ginseng, schisandra, and licorice reduces the severity and frequency of familial Mediterranean fever attacks in children.
- Nearsightedness. Early research suggests that applying a solution of schisandra to the eye for 20-24 days can improve vision in some children with nearsightedness. However, schisandra does not improve vision in children with progressive nearsightedness.
- Pneumonia. Early research suggests that taking a combination of rhodiola, schisandra, and Siberian ginseng (ADAPT-232 CHI San by Swedish Herbal Institute) twice daily for 10-15 days reduces the need for antibiotics and improves quality of life in people with pneumonia when taken along with standard care.
- Toxicity due to the drug tacrolimus. Early research suggests that taking a specific schisandra extract (Hezheng Pharmaceutical Company, Chengdu, China) along with the immunosuppressant medication tacrolimus decreases some side effects of the medication in people with a liver transplant.
- Diabetes.
- High blood pressure.
- Preventing motion sickness.
- Preventing premature aging.
- Other conditions.
Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate (detailed description of each of the ratings).
Epilepsy: At least one expert warns against using schisandra if you have epilepsy. The reason for this warning is not clear, but it may be due to a concern that schisandra could possibly stimulate the central nervous system.
Gastroesophageal reflex disease (GERD) or peptic ulcers: Schisandra might make these conditions worse by increasing stomach acid.
High brain (intracranial) pressure: There is a concern that schisandra might make this condition worse because it could possibly stimulate the central nervous system.
Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 2C9 (CYP2C9) substrates)Interaction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination.Talk with your health provider.
Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver. Schisandra might increase how quickly the liver breaks down some medications. Taking schisandra along with medications that are broken down by the liver might decrease the effects of these medications. Before taking schisandra, talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking any medications that are changed by the liver.
Some medications changed by the liver include celecoxib (Celebrex), diclofenac (Voltaren), fluvastatin (Lescol), glipizide (Glucotrol), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), irbesartan (Avapro), losartan (Cozaar), phenytoin (Dilantin), piroxicam (Feldene), tamoxifen (Nolvadex), tolbutamide (Tolinase), torsemide (Demadex), and warfarin (Coumadin).
Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) substrates)Interaction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination.Talk with your health provider.
Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver. Schisandra might change how the liver breaks down some medications. Taking schisandra along with some medications that are broken down by the liver might increase or decrease the effects of these medications. Before taking schisandra, talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking any medications that are changed by the liver.
Some medications changed by the liver include lovastatin (Mevacor), clarithromycin (Biaxin), cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune), diltiazem (Cardizem), estrogens, indinavir (Crixivan), triazolam (Halcion), and many others.
MidazolamInteraction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination.Talk with your health provider.
The body breaks down midazolam to get rid of it. Schisandra might decrease how quickly the body breaks down midazolam. Taking schisandra along with midazolam might increase the effects and side effects of midazolam. However, it is not known if this is a big concern. Talk with your healthcare provider if you are taking midazolam.
PhenobarbitalInteraction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination.Talk with your health provider.
Taking schisandra along with phenobarbital might increase the effects and side effects of phenobarbital. Be cautious with this combination.
Tacrolimus (Prograf)Interaction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination.Talk with your health provider.
Schisandra might increase how much tacrolimus (Prograf) is absorbed from the gut. Taking schisandra along with tacrolimus might increase the effects and side effects of tacrolimus. However, it is not known if this is a big concern. Although increased absorption of any medication sometimes increases Taking schisandra along with tacrolimus (Prograf) might increase its the effects and side effects, In fact, some research suggests that of tacrolimus (Prograf)schisandra does not appear to increase side effects associated with tacrolimus (Prograf) and may even decrease side effects like diarrhea and anxiety. Until more is known, be cautious with this combination. However, tTThe dose of your tacrolimus (Prograf) will likelymay might need to be changed if it is taken with schisandra.
TalinololInteraction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination.Talk with your health provider.
Schisandra might increase how much talinolol the body absorbs. Taking schisandra while taking talinolol might increase the effects and side effects of talinolol.
Warfarin (Coumadin)Interaction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination.Talk with your health provider.
Warfarin (Coumadin) is used to slow blood clotting. The body breaks down warfarin (Coumadin) to get rid of it. Schisandra might increase the breakdown and decrease the effectiveness of warfarin (Coumadin). Decreasing the effectiveness of warfarin (Coumadin) might increase the risk of clotting. Be sure to have your blood checked regularly. The dose of your warfarin (Coumadin) might need to be changed.
The following doses have been studied in scientific research:
BY MOUTH:
- For hepatitis: Schisandra extract standardized to 20 mg lignan content (equivalent to 1.5 grams crude schisandra) given daily.
- For improving mental performance: 500 mg to 2 grams of schisandra extract daily or 1.5-6 grams of crude schisandra daily has been used. Also, 5-15 grams daily of a boiled tea made from crude schisandra has also been used. A specific combination product (ADAPT-232 by Swedish Herbal Institute) containing a 270 mg mixture of rhodiola, schisandra, and Siberian ginseng has been taken as a single dose.