Know2eat

Schisandra

Schisandra chinensis

Herbs & Botanicals

What schisandra may help with

Ranked by how strong the human evidence is — best supported first.

Best supportedLiver markersNot enough evidence· 3 sources

Then, in order

About Schisandra

The dried red berry of a woody vine used in Traditional Chinese Medicine, containing a family of dibenzocyclooctadiene lignans including schisandrin and gomisin.

Schisandra is genuinely interesting pharmacologically — its lignans are potent inducers and inhibitors of drug-metabolising enzymes, which is precisely why it deserves caution rather than casual use. The clinical literature in humans is thin, mostly Chinese and Russian, and often uses combination products.

Sold as
Berry extract capsule, Dried berries, Tincture, Powder, Tea
Standardised to
Sometimes standardised to 2–9% schisandrins — a product without this marker may not resemble what was studied.
Also known as
Wu wei zi, Five-flavour berry, Magnolia vine

What the research used

The amounts, forms and durations published trials of Schisandra actually administered.

These are the amounts published trials administered — not a recommendation, and not a dose to copy. Trial participants were screened, supervised and given a characterised preparation. What is in a retail bottle is frequently not what was studied, and the amount that suits one person is not general advice.

  • Studied for General supplement use

    500–2000 mg

    Not enough

    Berry extract or powder

    Retail dosing rather than trial dosing. Human studies are few, frequently use combination formulas with rhodiola and eleuthero, and do not support a specific amount for Schisandra alone.

This is general information about food, not medical advice. It cannot diagnose, treat or replace guidance from a clinician who knows your history.

When it was taken

Each window says whether a trial compared it against an alternative, or whether it is convention and pharmacology. Most timing advice is the second kind.

None of the timings below were directly compared in a trial. They reflect how the research happened to dose, or what the pharmacology implies — which is not the same as a timing being better.

  • Any time

    Not enough

    No timing has been tested. If taken at all alongside prescription medication, separating them does not remove the enzyme-induction problem.

    Timing was not directly compared. This reflects convention or how the compound behaves in the body, not a trial showing this window works better.

The evidence in depth

Best supported: Not enough

What each association actually rests on, and the papers behind it. A rating describes the state of the research, not how promising the supplement sounds. How we rate evidence.

Liver markers

Liver Health
Not enough evidence

Evidence is limited for Schisandra and liver enzymes. Chinese studies report falls in ALT, but they are small, poorly reported and frequently use combination preparations.

Not enough evidence. Not enough human research to say anything useful yet.

View the 3 sources

Deep research mode adds each paper’s own conclusion and stated limitations.

Stress and anxiety

Mental Wellbeing
Not enough evidence

There is not enough human research to say Schisandra affects stress or fatigue. Most of the adaptogen literature tests it inside a blend, which cannot separate one ingredient from another.

Not enough evidence. Not enough human research to say anything useful yet.

View the 4 sources

Deep research mode adds each paper’s own conclusion and stated limitations.

Things to know

Interactions, contraindications and dose limits, most serious first. Concentrated extracts interact with medication in ways the whole plant does not, so this section carries more weight here than it does on a food page.

  • Interaction

    Strong effects on drug-metabolising enzymes

    Interacts withTacrolimus, ciclosporin, midazolam and other CYP3A4 substrates

    Human pharmacokinetic studies show Schisandra sharply increases blood levels of tacrolimus and midazolam by inhibiting CYP3A4, while also inducing other pathways with longer use. That combination makes its behaviour with prescription medicines genuinely unpredictable.

  • Avoid

    Pregnancy and epilepsy

    Schisandra has been reported to stimulate uterine contraction and is traditionally avoided in pregnancy. It is also generally avoided in epilepsy and raised intracranial pressure.

  • Interaction

    Warfarin and P-glycoprotein substrates

    Interacts withWarfarin, digoxin

    Schisandra lignans alter P-glycoprotein transport in laboratory and animal work, which can shift levels of drugs including digoxin and warfarin.

  • Worth knowing

    Heartburn and appetite loss

    The most commonly reported effects are heartburn, appetite loss and stomach upset, which is unsurprising for a strongly acidic berry preparation.

Evidence ratings on this page: 2 not enough evidence.

Supplements are sold in the US without pre-market review of efficacy or safety. Nothing on this page is a recommendation to take Schisandra, or a dose to follow.