Schizandra, also spelled schisandra, has been used in Chinese medicine for thousands of years. The Chinese call it wu-wei-zi, which translates to "five-flavored fruit" because its taste contains all the basic flavors of salty, sour, bitter and sweet plus an additional "pungency" flavor, according to Herbal Companion. Although schizandra is typically used as a general health tonic, Chinese herbalists also use it to treat a variety of physical ailments.
Plant Characteristics
The Plants for a Future Database describes schizandra chinensis, the most commonly used variety of schizandra, as a climbing tree with sweet-scented flowers. It is indigenous to East Asia, including China, Japan and Korea. The flowers bloom from April to May and each plant contains either male of female flowers, so it is not self-fertilizing. Schizandra typically grows on the edge of forests and by brooks or streams in both shaded and non-shaded areas.
Benefits
Chinese herbalists use schizandra as a health tonic and restorative herb, particularly during times of stress. The fruit may treat involuntary ejaculation in men, insomnia, memory problems, skin conditions caused by allergies, liver problems and respiratory conditions, including coughing and asthma, according to Plants for a Future. Schizandra may also enhance mental focus and increase stamina.
How it Works
Schizandra is considered an phytoadaptogen, or a plant that helps the body adapt to stress, according to "Pharmacology of Schisandra chinensis Bail: an overview of Russian research and uses in medicine," an article published in the July 2008 edition of "Journal of Ethnopharmacology." The article explains that schizandra was extensively studied in Russia during the 1960s and found to be beneficial to many systems of the body, including the respiratory system and the involuntary muscles of the gastrointestinal tract.
Safety
Schizandra is generally safe in recommended doses, but may cause heartburn. Schizandra can cause central nervous system depression and act as a sedative. It may also interfere with certain medications taken for liver disease. Schizandra has not been extensively studied in pregnant or breast-feeding women. As with all herbal remedies, talk to your physician before taking schizandra.
Scientific Evidence
"Schisandra chinensis protects against adriamycin-induced cardiotoxicity in rats," a study conducted by the School of Traditional Chinese Medicine at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in China and published in the January 2006 "Chang Gung Medical Journal," explored the protective effects of schizandra on heart-related complications caused by the chemotherapy medication Adriamycin. Schizandra's antioxidant effect on the heart was found to improve cardiac functioning. Additional animal studies cited by Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center indicate schizandra is effective at protecting the liver from certain toxins and may have anticancer properties, although human studies have not yet validated these findings.
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