Schisandra / five-flavor berry

Schisandra chinensis

Other names: 五味子 wǔwèizǐ; 北五味子 běi wǔwèizǐ; omija, Schisandra / five-flavor berry

Edible plant

Chinese

Photo credit: Doronenko

Toxicity: Generally low for normal food/tea amounts; comprehensive human safety data limited.

Contraindications: Pregnancy caution (traditional); data limited.

Interactions: Schisandra lignans can affect cytochrome P450 / drug-metabolizing enzymes; theoretical interaction with CYP3A-metabolized drugs.

Pregnancy & breastfeeding: Caution (traditional); data limited.

Evidence level

Preclinical

Supported by laboratory or animal studies; not yet confirmed in humans.

decoction · seed

Part used: seed

Traditional use: Traditionally for coughs and shortness of breath.

How to prepare (traditional): Decoction of crushed berries (about 5 g crushed berries with about 100 ml water), divided into doses.

Dosage note (descriptive only): Divide into 3 doses and drink over a 24-hour period.

Evidence:Traditional (systematized)

Edible parts: Berries eaten dried and made into Korean cordial omija-cha; crushed leaves (lemony) used as a vegetable.

Harvest only from identified Schisandra vines; do not confuse with unrelated red-berried climbers.

Functional berry/tea; dibenzocyclooctadiene lignans (schisandrin, deoxyschizandrin, gomisins, pregomisin).

Chinese

Sources (3)

Schisandra chinensis (Wikipedia), English, accessed 2026, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schisandra_chinensis
Szopa, Ekiert & Ekiert, Schisandra chinensis... a review on the bioactive components, pharmacological properties, Phytochem Rev 2017, PMC5378736
WHO Monographs on Selected Medicinal Plants, Vol. 3