Wu Wei Zi
StarSchisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill.
Traditionally used for
- Cough & breathing
- Bowel health
- Urinary & fluids
- Sleep
- Mood & calm
- Energy & fatigue
☯ TCM Properties
Astringes the Lungs and Stops Cough; Astringes and Secures Essence; Tonifies Qi and generates fluids; Promotes Heart-Kidney Communication; Astringes to Stop Sweating; Astringes the Intestines and Stops Diarrhea
Traditional Chinese Uses
Wu Wei Zi (schisandra berry) earns its name "five-flavor berry" from containing all five flavors recognized in Chinese medicine — sour, sweet, bitter, pungent, and salty. Its primary action is astringent: it consolidates the Lung for chronic cough, astringes the Kidney to prevent spermatorrhea and urinary incontinence, and restrains sweating. It also nourishes Heart Yin to calm the Shen for insomnia, and generates fluids to quench thirst. As a modern adaptogen, it is widely used for fatigue and cognitive support.
Western Herbalism Properties
Pharmacological Effects
- Antihepatotoxic: Lignans lowered elevated GPT and liver damage in CCl4/thioacetamide-treated mice, stimulated glycogen synthesis, protected cultured hepatocytes (wuweizisu C, schisantherin D, gomisins), and schisandrol B restored bile flow in CCl4 rats; mechanism linked to antiperoxidation and microsomal enzyme induction.
- CNS: Stimulates CNS reflexes and improves mental work in volunteers, yet extract and several lignans prolonged barbiturate sleep, reduced spontaneous activity and antagonized chemically induced convulsions in mice.
- Respiratory stimulation: i.v. decoction increased respiratory rate and depth in rabbits and dogs via direct action on the respiratory center.
- Cardiovascular: Vasodilating and hypotensive in animals, but raised blood pressure in circulatory failure, suggesting a regulatory effect.
- Adaptogen-like and immunoregulating: Increased nonspecific resistance (burn edema, survival), countered adrenal atrophy; alcoholic extract was immunosuppressive and prolonged myocardial graft survival in mice.
- Uterine: Induced rhythmic contractions of rabbit uterus in vitro and in vivo, oxytocin-like.
- Antibacterial: Alcoholic extract inhibited numerous bacteria in vitro including S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, Salmonella enteritidis and Vibrio comma.
Source: Zhu YP. Chinese Materia Medica: Chemistry, Pharmacology and Applications. Harwood Academic, 1998, p. 653.
Used In Formulas (43)
Relationships
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Botanical Description
Schisandra chinensis is a deciduous, dioecious woody climbing vine in the family Schisandraceae, native to forests of northeastern China, the Russian Far East, Korea, and Japan. It reaches 8-10 m in length, climbing by twining stems with brown, flaking bark. The simple, alternate leaves are elliptic to obovate, 5-10 cm long, with finely serrate margins and a glossy upper surface that turns yellow in autumn. Fragrant, cream to pale pink unisexual flowers appear in spring, solitary in the leaf axils. The fruit is a pendulous spike of bright red, fleshy berries 6-8 mm in diameter, each containing one or two kidney-shaped seeds. The plant thrives in moist, well-drained humus-rich soils in partial shade along forest edges and stream banks, and is cultivated commercially in China for its medicinal fruit.
Active Constituents
Schisandrin (schizandrol A)
Dibenzocyclooctadiene lignanConcentration: Major lignan; a Pharmacopoeia marker (>=0.4% with related lignans)
The principal lignan of the fruit. Hepatoprotective (raises hepatic glutathione and antioxidant enzymes), adaptogenic and neuroprotective; improves learning/memory in animal models and underlies the Qi-tonifying, fluid-generating and spirit-calming uses of the herb.
Schisandrin B (gamma-schisandrin, Sch B)
Dibenzocyclooctadiene lignanConcentration: Major lignan
A potent antioxidant and hepatoprotective lignan that induces phase-II detoxifying enzymes and modulates cytochrome P450 activity; also cardioprotective and anti-inflammatory.
Schisandrin C
Dibenzocyclooctadiene lignanConcentration: Minor lignan
Among the most active hepatoprotective lignans; markedly lowers elevated ALT/AST in models of chemical liver injury.
Gomisin A (schizandrol B)
Dibenzocyclooctadiene lignanConcentration: Moderate lignan
Hepatoprotective and mildly hypotensive; promotes liver regeneration and inhibits hepatic fibrosis in preclinical studies.
Schisantherin A (gomisin C)
Dibenzocyclooctadiene lignanConcentration: Minor lignan
Anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective; a substrate/inhibitor of drug-metabolizing enzymes contributing to Schisandra's pharmacokinetic interactions.
Organic acids (citric, malic, and schisandra-derived acids)
Organic acidsConcentration: High in the fleshy fruit
Impart the herb's sour taste and astringent (securing) quality; contribute antioxidant activity and the traditional actions of astringing sweat and consolidating fluids.
Essential (volatile) oil - sesquiterpenes
Terpenoid volatile oilConcentration: ~2-3% of the seed
Contains sesquiterpenes (e.g., ylangene, chamigrene) with antioxidant and antimicrobial activity contributing to the herb's aroma and preservative quality.
Polysaccharides
PolysaccharidesConcentration: Variable
Show immunomodulatory and antioxidant effects in preclinical models, supporting the tonifying reputation of the fruit.
⚠ Drug Interactions
Tacrolimus (and other calcineurin inhibitors)
Schisandra lignans inhibit intestinal/hepatic CYP3A4 and P-glycoprotein, reducing first-pass metabolism and efflux of tacrolimus and substantially raising its blood concentration (documented in transplant patients and healthy volunteers, especially with Schisandra sphenanthera preparations).
Clinical note: Monitor tacrolimus/cyclosporine trough levels closely; dose adjustment may be required (this interaction has been exploited clinically to reduce tacrolimus dosing).
CYP3A4 substrates (midazolam, some statins, calcium-channel blockers)
By inhibiting CYP3A4, Schisandra lignans can raise plasma concentrations of drugs cleared by this enzyme; conversely, chronic exposure may induce some pathways, so the net effect can vary.
Clinical note: Use caution with narrow-therapeutic-index CYP3A4 substrates and monitor for enhanced effect or toxicity.
P-glycoprotein substrates (e.g., talinolol, digoxin)
Inhibition of intestinal P-glycoprotein by schisandrin/schisantherin reduces efflux and can increase the absorption and plasma levels of P-gp substrate drugs.
Clinical note: Monitor for enhanced effect of P-gp substrate medications.
Warfarin
Effects of Schisandra on CYP-mediated warfarin metabolism could theoretically alter INR, though human data are limited.
Clinical note: Monitor INR if combined.
Dosage
| Form | Amount | Frequency | Duration | Population | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| decoction | 2–6 g | Daily | — | — | 中国药典 2020 【用法与用量】2～6g。 【性味与归经】酸、甘，温。归肺、心、肾经。 — Chinese Pharmacopoeia 2020, quoted verbatim; route and cautions preserved. Replaces a cleared category-filler value. |
Preparation Methods
Raw Wu Wei Zi decoction (crushed fruit)
Parts: dried ripe fruit
Typical dose 1.5-6 g decocted (1-3 g as powder). The fruits should be crushed/broken before decocting to release the lignans and organic acids. The raw form is used to astringe the Lung and stop chronic cough and wheezing and to generate fluids.
Vinegar- or wine-processed Wu Wei Zi (cu/jiu wu wei zi)
Parts: fruit steamed with vinegar or wine
Steaming with vinegar (or wine) enhances the sour, astringent quality and strengthens the actions of securing Essence, stopping seminal emission/leukorrhea and consolidating the Kidney; this processed form is preferred for Kidney-related astringing.
Powder / medicinal wine
Parts: dried fruit, ground or macerated
Ground to powder (1-3 g) for chronic cough and night sweats, or macerated in alcohol as a tonic wine. Owing to the sour, warming nature, it is combined with tonics for spontaneous/night sweating and Qi/fluid deficiency.
Dui Yao — Herb Pairs
The classical two-herb combinations this herb appears in, each with an action neither herb has alone.
A warm, pungent dispersing herb paired with a sour astringent one: the combination warms and transforms cold fluids in the Lung while restraining leakage of Lung qi, so dispersing does not injure qi and astringing does not trap the pathogen.
Classic for cough and wheezing with copious thin, watery sputum from cold thin mucus, as in Xiao Qing Long Tang.
Named pairing — Lu Jingshan, Shi Jinmo Dui Yao; Bensky et al., Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica
Moistening and sour-astringent actions together generate fluids, nourish Lung and Heart yin and restrain the loss of qi and sweat.
Used with Ren Shen for qi and yin damage after heat or chronic cough, with sweating, thirst and a weak pulse.
Core pair of a classical formula — Sheng Mai San, Yi Xue Qi Yuan (Zhang Yuansu)
Warming the Spleen and Kidney while astringing the intestines, the pair treats chronic daybreak diarrhea from cold that neither checks as well alone.
Also contained in Si Shen Wan.
Core pair of a classical formula — Wu Wei Zi San, Pu Ji Ben Shi Fang (Xu Shuwei)
Dispersing is paired with astringing, so cold-fluids in the lung are warmed and scattered while lung qi is kept from leaking, stopping chronic cough and wheezing without over-dispersing.
Xi Xin is toxic in excess; avoid in yin-deficient dry cough.
Named pairing — Bensky et al., Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica; used together in Xiao Qing Long Tang, Shang Han Lun (Zhang Zhongjing)
Evidence Tier
Moderate evidence · 1 studyRecorded studies by study design, strongest design at the top. This is a study-design tier only, not a GRADE rating: it does not weigh risk of bias, consistency or precision.
Systematic review / meta-analysis
0
Randomized controlled trial
1
1 verified · 0 unverified
Other clinical trial
0
Observational / case report
0
In vitro / animal
0
Other / unclassified
0
Verified: design read from PubMed for a DOI that resolves to the cited paper Unverified: taken from the study's recorded description
Clinical Studies
Effect of Schisandra chinensis Extract Supplementation on Quadriceps Muscle Strength and Fatigue in Adult Women: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial
Forty-five middle-aged/post-menopausal women took 1000 mg/day of Schisandra chinensis extract or placebo for 12 weeks. The Schisandra group showed significantly greater quadriceps peak torque (isokinetic muscle strength) and reduced fatigue markers compared with placebo, consistent with the herb's traditional tonifying and anti-fatigue reputation.
⚠ Safety & Contraindications
Contraindications
- Should not be prescribed for ulcer patients.
Source: Zhu YP. Chinese Materia Medica: Chemistry, Pharmacology and Applications. Harwood Academic, 1998, p. 653.
Side Effects
- Low toxicity; stomach burning, stomachodynia and poor appetite reported in a few cases.
Source: Zhu YP. Chinese Materia Medica: Chemistry, Pharmacology and Applications. Harwood Academic, 1998, p. 653.
Historical Texts
Shennong Bencao Jing (Divine Farmer's Materia Medica)
Eastern Han dynasty, c. 200 CEXin Xiu Ben Cao (Newly Revised Materia Medica), by Su Jing et al.
Tang dynasty, 659 CEShang Han Lun (Treatise on Cold Damage), by Zhang Zhongjing
Eastern Han dynasty, c. 200 CEReferences
- Zhang F, Zhai J, Weng N, Gao J, Yin J, Chen W. A comprehensive review of the main lignan components of Schisandra chinensis (North Wu Wei Zi) and Schisandra sphenanthera (South Wu Wei Zi) and the lignan-induced drug-drug interactions based on inhibition of CYP450 and P-glycoprotein activities . Frontiers in Pharmacology (2022) [DOI]
- Park DJ, Kwon HC, Han SH, et al.. Effect of Schisandra chinensis Extract Supplementation on Quadriceps Muscle Strength and Fatigue in Adult Women . International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (2020) [DOI]
- Bensky D, Clavey S, Stoger E. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica, 3rd Edition . Eastland Press (2004) [DOI]
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.
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