Herbal Focus: SchisandraSchisandra chinensis

Schisandra: An All-Around Superberry for Your Liver, Brain, and More!

An adaptogenic plant known as “five-flavor berry” in Traditional Chinese Medicine, Schisandra is an herb that should be on your radar because of its significant antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-stress, and neuroprotective properties. It is also an outstanding botanical for supporting liver health and detoxification. Schisandra has a long history of helping treat coughs, fatigue, and sleep issues. But that’s not all. Keep reading to learn more about this power-packed plant!

Basic Identification

Also known as magnolia vine, Schisandra chinensis is a vigorous climber that can reach up to 30 feet (9m) tall. The pale green, fragrant leaves have a slightly serrated edge and are oval in shape. In the spring the plant produces heavily fragrant flowers and by midsummer, small round berries emerge that deepen to a dark red color when ripe. Schisandra is dioecious as it needs both male and female plants to produce fruit.

Where Does It Grow? Native to Asia and North America, Schisandra will grow in cool, temperate climates in USDA zones 4-7. It prefers well-drained, acidic soil and requires plenty of water — apply a layer of mulch around the plant for water retention. It will thrive in part sun to deep shade. For the vine to produce fruit, it needs cold weather so that it will go dormant during the winter.

Edible Uses

The Chinese name is wu wei zi, meaning “five-flavored fruit” as it has the five flavors acknowledged in TCM: bitter, sour, sweet, salty, and pungent. Initially, the berry is quite tart and sour, followed by a bit of sweetness with an underlying mild bitterness and saltiness. Traditionally it is used in teas, drinks, seasonings, and jams.

Recipe. Five Flavor Berry Tea. Popular as a summertime drink in Korea, this recipe is simple to make and delicious!

Ingredients: 1/2 ounce dried Schisandra berries¹¹, one quart purified water, honey/sugar/monk fruit/stevia to taste. Method: This is a cold-process tea to minimize excessive tartness and bitterness. Soak the berries in the purified water overnight. In the morning, strain the solids and reserve the liquid. Sweeten to taste and enjoy.

Medicinal Uses

Used traditionally as a health tonic, Schisandra helps to boost stamina; athletic performance; improve cognitive health, memory, and clarity; address menopausal symptoms such as irregular heartbeat and hot flashes; promote liver health and detoxification; strengthen the bones; and more.

Here are my top 3 uses for Schisandra:

Brain health. An excellent herb for improving brain health, Schisandra was shown in a double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study to improve attention, accuracy, and brain speed when participants were given stressful mental tasks.¹ The all-female test group was given schisandra extract combined with Rhodiola and Eleuthero. The results were measured over a two-hour period after the women were given the extract. What’s more, a 2017 study found that the active compounds in schisandra may also slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease because of its ability to block the formation of excess amyloid beta peptides in the brain.² Additionally, studies have shown that the botanical exerts protection against a range of mental health conditions, including: neurosis, depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia.³ My Brain Bundle is also an excellent option for ultimate cognitive health.

Inflammation and Protection Against Cancer. Due to its high level of antioxidant compounds, Schisandra fights free-radical damage and calms the inflammatory response, which can help you to side-step cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, and rapid aging.⁶ Specific lignins found in the plant have been found to control inflammation promoting leukocytes and boost the body’s ability to repair tissues. Animal studies suggest Schisandra also boosts glutathione levels in the liver, while down-regulating inflammatory cytokines, further enhancing the cancer-protective qualities of the herb.^4,5 According to the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, “Active lignans isolated from schisandra, particularly schisandrin A, appeared to reverse P-glycoprotein-mediated multidrug resistance of various cancer cell lines to doxorubicin, vincristine, and paclitaxel”.⁸

Liver Support & Detoxification. Research published in the Journal of Medicinal Food found that schisandra prevents alcohol-induced fatty liver disease in animal models.⁷ The team concluded that “…SC has the ability to prevent ethanol-induced fatty liver, possibly through activation of AMPK and PPARα signaling.” In another study, researchers established the compound schisandrin B protects the liver against toxicity and helps to improve detoxification.⁹ Some studies suggest improvement in patients with fatty liver disease or hepatitis C when the herb was combined with sesamin.¹⁰ The team concluded that the extract improved liver function and anti-oxidation through increases of antioxidant status — including glutathione.

Seeking an all-in-one liver formulation? My Liver Blend contains concentrated extracts of dandelion root, milk thistle, and Schisandra berry that help to lower liver inflammation, flush out toxins, protect and regenerate the liver, and address non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Visit my apothecary today and learn more about this essential blend!

Safety

Generally well-tolerated with little to few side effects, women who are pregnant or nursing are advised to consult with their healthcare provider before use as safety is unknown. If general recommended dose is exceeded, it can cause gastric upset and heartburn and may not be appropriate for those with ulcers, GERD, or high stomach acid.

Nicole Apelian

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References

1. Aslanyan, G., Amroyan, E., Gabrielyan, E., Nylander, M., Wikman, G., & Panossian, A. (2010). Double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised study of single dose effects of ADAPT-232 on cognitive functions. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology, 17(7), 494–499. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phymed.2010.02.005
2. Zhang, M., Zheng, H. X., Gao, Y. Y., Zheng, B., Liu, J. P., Wang, H., Yang, Z. J., & Zhao, Z. Y. (2017). The influence of Schisandrin B on a model of Alzheimer’s disease using β-amyloid protein Aβ1-42-mediated damage in SH-SY5Y neuronal cell line and underlying mechanisms. Journal of toxicology and environmental health. Part A, 80(22), 1199–1205. https://doi.org/10.1080/15287394.2017.1367133
3. Jeong, E. J., Lee, H. K., Lee, K. Y., Jeon, B. J., Kim, D. H., Park, J. H., Song, J. H., Huh, J., Lee, J. H., & Sung, S. H. (2013). The effects of lignan-riched extract of Shisandra chinensis on amyloid-β-induced cognitive impairment and neurotoxicity in the cortex and hippocampus of mouse. Journal of ethnopharmacology, 146(1), 347–354. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2013.01.003
4. Park C, Choi YW, Hyun SK, et al. Induction of G1 arrest and apoptosis by schisandrin C isolated from Schizandra chinensis Baill in human leukemia U937 cells. Int J Mol Med. Oct 2009;24(4):495-502
5. Liu SJ, Qu HM, Ren YP. SCP, a polysaccharide from Schisandra chinensis, induces apoptosis in human renal cell carcinoma Caki-1 cells through mitochondrial-dependent pathway via inhibition of ERK activation. Tumour Biol. 2014 Jun;35(6):5369-74
6. Ci X, Ren R, Xu K, et al. Schisantherin A exhibits anti-inflammatory properties by down-regulating NF-kappaB and MAPK signaling pathways in lipopolysaccharide-treated RAW 264.7 cells. Inflammation. Apr 2010;33(2):126-136.
7. Park, H. J., Lee, S. J., Song, Y., Jang, S. H., Ko, Y. G., Kang, S. N., Chung, B. Y., Kim, H. D., Kim, G. S., & Cho, J. H. (2014). Schisandra chinensis prevents alcohol-induced fatty liver disease in rats. Journal of medicinal food, 17(1), 103–110. https://doi.org/10.1089/jmf.2013.2849
8. “Schisandra: Purported Benefits, Side Effects & More” Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/integrative-medicine/herbs/schisandra
9. Ip, S. P., Yiu, H. Y., & Ko, K. M. (2000). Schisandrin B protects against menadione-induced hepatotoxicity by enhancing DT-diaphorase activity. Molecular and cellular biochemistry, 208(1-2), 151–155. https://doi.org/10.1023/a:1007029625406
10. Chiu, H. F., Chen, T. Y., Tzeng, Y. T., & Wang, C. K. (2013). Improvement of liver function in humans using a mixture of schisandra fruit extract and sesamin. Phytotherapy research : PTR, 27(3), 368–373. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.4702
11. Mountain Rose Herbs https://aspireiq.go2cloud.org/SH6fU