Key Highlights: 

• Schisandra is a fruit-bearing vine with traditional uses in Chinese medicine 
• Available in various forms such as supplements, extracts, tea, and tinctures 
• Potential health benefits include improving cognitive function, liver health, menopausal symptoms, stress management, and more 
• Generally safe to consume but may interact with certain medications; consult with a healthcare provider 
• Further research is needed to fully understand the range of health advantages provided by Schisandra 

Introduction 

Schisandra chinensis, often known as the five-flavour fruit, is a vine that produces fruit. It has a deep-rooted past in Chinese tradition and is touted for its unique blend of tastes. It’s sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and sharp all at the same time. For hundreds of years, this plant has been used for several health issues, but are these benefits backed up by modern research?  

In this article, we’ll discuss about Schisandra in detail. We’ll explore how it started, what forms it comes in, and, most importantly, its proposed health benefits. We’ll talk about its potential strengths like boosting brain function and supporting liver health. Plus, we’ll address the commonly asked queries about using Schisandra. 

What is Schisandra? 

Schisandra chinensis is a special vine that grew first in northeastern China. Its berries pack in five flavours: sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and pungent. These flavours are supposedly linked to its healing traits. Also in Chinese medicine, Schisandra is said to boost the body’s “qi” or energy flow and is thus used for a lot of health issues. 

Forms of Schisandra 

There are several options available for Schisandra use, each form comes with its own unique potency and proposed benefits. These are: 

• Supplements: Usually available as dried powder or pills. They contain set amounts of active compounds. They also come with safe intake instructions. 
• Extracts: These are richer versions of the bioactive compounds of the plant. These can be taken with water or other drinks. 
• Tea: Schisandra tea is made by soaking dry berries in hot water. It is a soothing drink with several potential health perks. 
• Tinctures: These are alcohol-based liquid extracts of Schisandra. They give a more potent dose of the plant’s active compounds. They can be added directly to food or drink for easy intake. 

Potential Health Benefits of Schisandra  

Schisandra has always been admired for its healing force in traditional medicine. Some recent studies have shown the potential health benefits of Schisandra. Let’s have a look at these. 

1. Alzheimer’s disease 

Schisandra may be helpful in battling cognitive decline linked to Alzheimer’s disease. Studies found that Schisandrin B, an active compound in Schisandra, blocks the growth of harmful amyloid-beta peptides in the brain. Furthermore, it has shown anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects. Although further studies are needed, the benefits of schisandra in Alzheimer’s disease look promising. 

2. Liver disease 

Studies have analysed Schisandra for its liver-shielding qualities. Some of them found that it may help stop liver damage and boost liver function in cases of acute and chronic hepatitis. Its anti-inflammatory properties might help manage non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. We need more human-based research to affirm these findings though. 

3. Menopause 

A study found Schisandra extract helped relieve menopausal symptoms such as fewer hot flashes, less sweating, and reduced heart palpitations. Schisandra might prove to be a natural hormone replacement therapy for some women, but further studies are needed. 

4. Depression 

Emerging research hints that Schisandra extract may have antidepressant effects. A study involving mice showed the extract had mood-lifting effects. Schisandra’s adaptogenic properties might help the body resist stress and anxiety. We need to explore more large-scale human studies to confirm this. 

5. Stress 

Schisandra is said to act as an adaptogen. It may help your body counter stress. Despite the lack of much human studies, Schisandra’s use to manage stress in traditional medicine suggests it could help us today too, but further long-term studies should be done to explore this. 

6. Other potential benefits 

Schisandra comes with other possible advantages too. For instance, its antioxidant properties may protect the body from harmful radicals. It also has anti-inflammatory effects, which might help manage liver disease and safeguard brain health. Other potential benefits include treating erectile dysfunction, regulating glucose metabolism, aiding hair growth, and calming the respiratory system. Further large-scale human research should be done to corroborate these findings. 

Safety and Side Effects 

Possible side effects and risks 

While Schisandra is generally considered safe to eat, it is crucial to know the potential side effects and risks tied with its intake: 

• As with any supplement, don’t exceed the suggested intake of Schisandra. Too much Schisandra could lead to gastrointestinal issues like heartburn and acid reflux.  
• If you have conditions like ulcer, GERD, or hyperchlorhydria, be careful. Remember to consult your healthcare professional before including any herbal therapy or supplement in your diet, including schisandra.  
• Rarely, it may even cause allergic reactions, like itchiness or skin rashes, and reduced hunger. Beware of any such signs and immediately contact your doctor. 

Contraindications 

Despite no specific contraindications being identified, caution is needed in certain situations: 

• Pregnancy and lactation: Not enough safe and effective information exists about using Schisandra during these periods. Always consult your healthcare provider first. 
• Medication interactions: As Schisandra may affect how certain drugs are metabolized, it is vital to discuss potential drug interactions before you start taking it. 

Conclusion 

Schisandra may have a lot of possible health benefits that deserve a closer look. The potential benefits range from boosting cognitive function in Alzheimer’s patients to supporting liver health and providing comfort for menopausal symptoms. While more human studies are needed to confirm Schisandra’s effects, it seems an exciting prospect for natural wellness support. As with any supplement, you need to be careful with Schisandra intake. Always seek advice from a healthcare provider before adding Schisandra into your daily routine. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 

References:  

1. American Cancer Society. Key Statistics for Colorectal Cancer [Internet]. [cited 2024 Jun 20]. Available from: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/colon-rectal-cancer/about/key-statistics.html 

2. American Cancer Society. American Cancer Society Guideline for Colorectal Cancer Screening [Internet]. [cited 2024 Jun 20]. Available from: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/colon-rectal-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/acs-recommendations.html 

3. National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). A Comprehensive Review on Schisandrin B and Its Biological Properties – PMC [Internet]. [cited 2024 Jun 20]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7102409 

4. National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of Schisandra chinensis for menopausal symptoms [Internet]. [cited 2024 Jun 20]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27763802 

5. National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). Antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects of Schisandra chinensis pollen extract on CCl4-induced acute liver damage in mice [Internet]. [cited 2024 Jun 20]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23201450 

6. National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). Schisandra chinensis produces the antidepressant-like effects in repeated corticosterone-induced mice via the BDNF/TrkB/CREB signaling pathway [Internet]. [cited 2024 Jun 20]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27387555 

7. National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). The effect of Schisandra chinensis extracts on depression by noradrenergic, dopaminergic, GABAergic and glutamatergic systems in the forced swim test in mice [Internet]. [cited 2024 Jun 20]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27225351 

8. National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). 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 [Internet]. [cited 2024 Jun 20]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28891753 

9. ScienceDirect. Schisandrin B exerts anti-neuroinflammatory activity by inhibiting the Toll-like receptor 4-dependent MyD88/IKK/NF-κB signaling pathway in lipopolysaccharide-induced microglia. [Internet]. [cited 2024 Jun 20]. Available from: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0014299912004736 

10. National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). Search Page [Internet]. [cited 2024 Jun 20]. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=search&term=Jonathan%20Steven%20Alexander 

11. National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). Search Page [Internet]. [cited 2024 Jun 20]. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=search&term=Yuping%20Wang 

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