Schisandra: Nature’s Hormone Food

When it comes to hormone health, picking key foods that have multiple benefits for balancing hormones is helpful. Schisandra berry is one such food and may be an anti-aging food as well.

What is Schisandra?

Schisandra (schisandra chinensis) is a fruit-bearing vine. In China, schisandra is known as a "five-flavor" fruit, because it contains the flavors sweet, sour, salty, bitter and pungent which, in traditional Chinese medicine, all represent various health properties. This may also explain its complex taste.

Research has confirmed that compounds found in the berries, called schisandrins, help to restore internal balance within the body in many ways, including supporting the nervous system, liver function, digestion, reducing inflammation, improving menopausal symptoms, and more.  ​

Benefits for the Nervous System

Even more specifically, with regard to supporting the nervous system, animal studies have found that schisandra can counter the stimulating effect of caffeine.
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Taking schisandra, while either cutting down on coffee or going cold turkey, lessens the nervous, shaky and anxious symptoms that come with withdrawal. It also helps keep the blood sugar stable and lessens the severity of the headache that always accompanies caffeine withdrawal

It further supports the nervous system by supporting the adrenals. It is a known adrenal adaptogen, making it a perfect food for the body during times of stress.

Benefits for Liver Function and Digestive Health

​As for the liver, schisandra may help protect it from toxic substances in a similar manner to milk thistle, the most well-known liver protective supplement. It may be helpful in the recovery from hepatitis and acts as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory to help protect the liver.

One double-blind placebo study looked at 12 racehorses, all of similar age, weight, temperament and training and all with high liver enzymes and low performance issues. After 14 days, the horses on schisandra had lower liver enzymes in comparison to the placebo. Fifty percent of the horses on schisandra also had improved appearance and performance. And while we are not race horses, we often conduct our lives like we are, so some schisandra could really help us with our performance issues.

Digestively, schisandra may be helpful for proper peristalsis (gastric muscle contractions), stress-induced gastric ulcers, and regulating stomach acid. It may also help with diarrhea and be protective against infections.

Benefits for Anti-Aging

For many of us, the number one benefit for schisandra may be the research that states it has anti-aging properties. This would include the fact that it has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory abilities, two important elements in preventing age-associated issues. 

Studies have also shown it may help with age-related memory loss, and act as a tonic for the heart. It can supply us with more energy, help with depression, and help support the immune system.

And finally, schisandra may help our appearance by promoting a clearer complexion, improved skin elasticity, and diminish the appearance of scars or wrinkles. Does it get any better than that?

Benefits for Menopause

Research also supports schisandra may be effective at alleviating some of the symptoms of menopause. A randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial using natural extract of Schisandra chinensis was conducted for 12 weeks in women between the ages of 40 and 70 who reported menopausal symptoms. At the end of 12 weeks, the rates of reduction in menopausal symptoms specific to hot flashes, night sweats, and heart palpitations were about 50% from the beginning to the end.

Are There Risks or Side Effects?

If you are currently taking prescriptions to treat any existing conditions, it's possible that schisandra could affect the way other medications or supplements are absorbed by the body, which is why it's best to talk with your doctor before beginning use and for appropriate dosage recommendations. 
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Schisandra may not be appropriate for everyone. Pregnant or nursing women and people with gastric conditions such as GERD, ulcers, or high stomach acid should be cautious of taking schisandra without their doctor’s approval. 

Where to Buy Schisandra

​Getting a high-quality source of schisandra may be difficult. Here are some of my top recommendations:

Nature’s Way* has a great capsule that is available in the US only right now.

St. Francis makes a good tincture.

Microingredients* has an organic powder.

You can also find loose berries in health food or Asian stores. These can be ground in a coffee grinder and added to a smoothie or made into a tea.
 
If you are buying a supplement, watch out for standardized extracts. Although many science types might recommend this as the preferred version, a standardized extract is usually just one phytochemical found in a plant and does not represent all the chemicals found in the whole plant or in this case, the berry.

There are approximately 40 different phytochemical compounds in schisandra – there would have to be for it to do all the amazing things it is credited for! This is ideally what we should be consuming – the whole berry – if we want to get the most benefits from it. 
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Would you like to get coaching support to help you work through hormone imbalance? Book a free phone consultation with me so we can talk more about your health and how you can make the best decisions going forward. Schedule your free call by clicking HERE.
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References:

Hancke, J., et al. “Reduction of serum hepatic transaminases and CPK in sport horses with poor performance treated with a standardized Schisandra chinensis fruit extract.” Phytomedicine 1996, 3 (3):237–240.

Ip, S. P., et al. “Effect of a lignan-enriched extract of Schisandra chinensis on aflatoxin B1 and cadmium chloride-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.” Pharmacology and Toxicology 1996, 78 (6):413–416.

Ko, K. M., et al. “Effect of a lignan-enriched fructus Schisandra extract on hepatic glutathione status in rats: Protection against carbon tetrachloride toxicity.” Planta Medica 1995, 61 (2): 134–137.

Lu, H., and G. T. Liu. “Anti-oxidant activity of dibenzocyclooctene lignans isolated from Schisandraceae.”Planta Medica 1992, 58 (4):311–313.
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Nishiyama, N., Y. L. Wang, and H. Saito. “Beneficial effects of S-113m, a novel herbal prescription, on learning impairment model in mice.” Biological Pharmaceutical Bulletin 1995, 18 (11):1498–1503. Song, W. Z., and P. G. Xiao. “Medicinal plants of Chinese Schisandraceae and their lignan components.” Chinese Traditional and Herbal Drugs 1982, 13 (1):40–48.

J Y Park, K H Kim. "A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of Schisandra chinensis for menopausal symptoms." Climacteric 2016, 19 (6):574-580.