A large number of local species are used including S. bicolor, S. glaucescens, S. henryi, S. rubriflora, S. neglecta, S. lancifolia, S. pubescens, S. viridis
1. Warms the Kidneys, Astringes Essence, Stops Diarrhea: (TCM, Tibet) -Chronic Diarrhea from Cold and weak Spleen and Kidneys -Spermatorrhea, Nocturnal emission, Leukorrhea from Kidney Cold and weakness -traditionally for Edema from cold kidneys -Menopausal symptoms (hot flushes, sweating, palpitations) -‘nourishes the Five Viscera … helps produce Yin (Ming Yi Bie Lu) -‘reinforces Yin and enhances male sexuality’. (Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing) -“tonifies Yuan Qi” (Li Gao)
2. Warms the Lungs, Consolidates Lung Qi, Stops Cough: (TCM, Tibet) -Chronic Cough, Wheezing, Asthma from deficiency -it Warms and astringes the Lungs and supports the Kidneys, therefore good for chronic conditions -‘reinforces Qi, treat coughing with dyspnoea’. (Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing)
3. Astringes Fluids: -Excessive Sweating, Spontaneous Sweating, Night-sweating, especially with dry mouth -Diabetes and ‘Wasting and Thirsting Disorder’ (overlaps Diabetes)
4. Consolidates Heart, Calms the Spirit: -Insomnia, Dream-disturbed sleep -Irritability, Palpitations, Restlessness at night -deficiency of the Heart or poor communication between Heart Fire and Kidney Water (Heat above, Cold below) -‘eliminates restlessness’ (Da Ming) -more recently for Dementia, Alzheimer’s Disease, Cognitive Decline etc.
Dose:
Crude drug is best for Cough, the prepared fruit is best as a tonic. (Li Shi Zhen) Decoction: 1 ½–6 grams Powder: 500mg–2 grams
Comment:
1. Wu Wei Zi translates to ‘Five Flavor Herb’. It is regarded as having all 5 tastes: ‘The drug is sour and salty, so it functions on the Liver and tones the Kidney. It is also pungent and bitter, so it functions on the Heart and tones the Lung. Sweet as it is, it tones the Spleen and Stomach’. (Li Shi Zhen) 2. “Xian Men Zi, a duke living in Huainan, took Wu Wei Zi regularly for 16years. He looked like a pretty girl and could not be hurt by fire or water”. (Tang Shen Wei)
Preparation:
According to tradition, it is prepared for use in tonics, used raw for treating Cough. (Li Shi Zhen) 1. Dry-fried Schisandra Wu Wei Zi: Dry fry until lightly scorched. This enhances its warming effect on the Kidneys, and is most used for Diarrhea from Spleen and Kidney deficiency. 2. Steamed Schisandra Wu Wei Zi: The fruit are steamed, then sun-dried. Effect is similar to the preceding. 3. Honey-prepared Schisandra Wu Wei Zi: The fruit is stir-fry with Honey, then steamed and dried. This is more effective to Tonify the Lungs. 4. Wine-prepared Schisandra Wu Wei Zi: Stir fry in the fruit in wine, then steam. This warms and strengthens the Kidneys more effectively. 5. Vinegar-prepared Schisandra Wu Wei Zi: Stir-fry with Rice vinegar, then steam and dry. Most used for Cough, Spermatorrhea, Diarrhea. Research has demonstrated it to be more effective for Colitis than the unprepared fruit (see research below) 6. Ginger-prepared Schisandra Wu Wei Zi: Cut the fruit in half, soak in honey, then steam. Then soak in Ginger juice overnight, then remove and bake dry. 7. Schisandra Wu Wei Zi paste with Honey: The fresh fruit can be collected, steamed, beaten to a thin paste, then mixed with sufficient Honey to form a paste balanced with sweet and sour taste. The same can be prepared by steaming the dried fruit, then continue as above. This is good for cough and strengthens the Lungs.
Main Combinations:
Astringent: 1. Diarrhea: i. from Cold and Weak Kidneys, Schisandra Wu Wei Zi with Nutmeg ii. ‘Daybreak Diarrhea’ (early morning Diarrhea) from Kidney coldness, Schisandra Wu Wei Zi with Evodia Wu Zhu Yu (as in Wu Wei Zi San from Pu Ji Ben Shi Fang [Prescriptions for Universal Relief]). ii. chronic Diarrhea or Dysenteric disorders with Kidney deficiency, Schisandra Wu Wei Zi with Nutmeg (Rou Dou Kou), Psoralea Bu Gu Zhi, Evodia Wu Zhu Yu (as in Four Miracle Pill [Si Shen Wan]). 2. Sweating: i. Spontaneous Sweating from deficiency, Schisandra Wu Wei Zi with Astragalus Huang Qi ii. Night-sweats, Schisandra Wu Wei Zi with Astragalaus Huang Qi, Ophiopogon Mai Men Dong iii. Night-sweats from Yin deficiency, Schisandra Wu Wei Zi with Oyster shell (Mu Li), Figwort (Xuan Shen)
Kidney Deficiency: 3. Nocturnal emission, Schisandra Wu Wei Zi simmered with Honey and taken (Wu Wei Zi Gao from Yi Xue Ru Men [Gate of Entry to Medical Studies]). 4. Kidney weakness, with pain in the waist and back, fry Schisandra Wu Wei Zi in vinegar, and form pills 5. Impotence, Spermatorrhea, weakness and pain of the Lower Back, Schisandra Wu Wei Zi with Cornus Shan Zhu Yu, Cuscuta Tu Si Zi and Cistranche Rou Cong Rong 6. Spermatorrhea, Premature Ejaculation, Schisandra Wu Wei Zi with Poria Fu Ling, Dioscorea Shan Yao, Dodder seed (Tu Si Zi), Lotus seed (Lian Zi) (as in Fu Tu Dan) 7. Leukorrhea from Yin deficiency with Damp-Heat, Schisandra Wu Wei Zi with Phellodendron Huang Bai, Paeonia Bai Shao mixed with Liu Wei Di Huang Wan (as in Bu Shen Yi Gan Tang)
Cough, Wheezing 8. Cough and Wheezing: i. Schisandra Wu Wei Zi with Ephedra Ma Huang, Apricot kernel (Xing Ren) ii. from Lung coldness, Schisandra Wu Wei Zi with dry Ginger (Gan Jiang). (Li Gao) iii. from Lung coldness, Schisandra Wu Wei Zi with Asarum Xi Xin, dry Ginger (Gan Jiang), Licorice iv. from deficiency, Schisandra Wu Wei Zi with Ginseng, dry Ginger, Licorice v. Schisandra Wu Wei Zi with Ginseng, Astragalus Huang Qi, Mulberry bark (Sang Bai Pi), Rehmannia Shu Di Huang (as in Bu Fei Tang, Tonify the Lungs Decoction) vi. Chronic Cough, Schisandra Wu Wei Zi with Chebulic Myrobalan (He Zi), Prunus mume Wu Mei vii. incessant Cough, Schisandra Wu Wei Zi with Poria Fu Ling, Asaraum Xi Xin, Licorice (as in Wu Wei Xi Xin Tang from Ji Feng Pu Ji Fang [Universal-Relief Prescriptions from Jifeng]). viii. to constrain Lung Qi, Schisandra Wu Wei Zi with Paeonia Bai Shao and Licorice ix. to constrain floating Heat that rises to cause Cough, Schisandra Wu Wei Zi with Gall (Wu Bei Zi) x. Yin deficiency, Schisandra Wu Wei Zi with Rehmannia Shu Di Huang, Dioscorea Shan Yao, Cornus Shan Zhu Yu (as in Capital Qi Pill [Du Qi Wan) xi. from Lung Yin and Qi deficiency, Schisandra Wu Wei Zi with Ginseng, Ophiopogon Mai Men Dong. xii. from Lung Yin Deficiency, Schisandra Wu Wei Zi with Ophiopogon Mai Men Dong, added to Liu Wei Di Huang Wan (called Ba Xian Chang Shou Wan) xiii. chronic, persistent Cough, Schisandra Wu Wei Zi with Poppy capsule, Ginseng, Ass Hide Glu (E Jiao), Coltsfoot flower (Kuan Dong Hua), Fritillaria Chuan Bei Mu, Mulberry bark (Sang Bai Pi), Platycodon Jie Geng (as in Jiu Xian San) xiv. Severe Cough with thick, sticky sputum, Schisandra Wu Wei Zi with Scutellaria Huang Qin, Bitter Almond (Ku Xing Ren), Fritillaria Bei Mu, Mulberry bark (Sang Bai Pi), Platycodon Jie Geng, Asparagus root (Tian Men Dong), Licorice, Citrus Chen Pi (as in Qing Fei Tang) xv. obstinate Cough, Schisandra Wu Wei Zi is combined with Poppy capsule (as in Wu Wei Zi Wan from Wei Sheng Jia Bao Fang [Treasured Family Prescriptions for Health]).
Heart, Mind, Spirit 9. Heart Deficiency: i. Schisandra Wu Wei Zi with Ginseng, Ophiopgon Mai Men Dong (this is available as an injection in China called Yi Qi Fu Mai injection) ii. Overwork, mental stress, Schisandra Wu Wei Zi with Dang Gui, Ligusticum Chuan Xiong, Polygala Yuan Zi, Salvia Dan Shen (The Formulas of Dr. John H.F. Shen) iii. Schisandra Wu Wei Zi with Cinnamon, Saffron 10. Insomnia, Irritability, Forgetfulness: i. Schisandra Wu Wei Zi with Ziziphus Semen Suan Zao Ren, Rehmannia Sheng Di Huang, Asparagus root (Tian Men Dong) ii. Schisandra Wu Wei Zi with Salvia Dan Shen, Calamus (Shi Chang Pu), Mother of Pearl (Zhen Zhu Mu) (as in An Shen Bu Xin Wan of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia) 11. Anxiety, Schisandra Wu Wei Zi with Rhodiola (see research below) 12. To enhance Learning and Memory, Schisandra Wu Wei Zi with Ginseng, Lycium Gou Qi Zi, Notoginseng San Qi (this has been studied: see below) 13. Alzheimer’s Disease: i. Schisandra Wu Wei Zi with Evodia Wu Zhu Yu (this has been studied: see research below) ii. Schisandra Wu Wei Zi with Ginseng (this has been studied: see research below) iii. Schisandra Wu Wei Zi with Calamus (Shi Chang Pu) (this has been studied: see research below) iv. Schisandra Wu Wei Zi with Rehmannia Shu Di Huang, Paeonia Mu Dan Pi, Dodder seed (Tu Si Zi), Lycium Gou Qi Zi.
Other 14. Fatigue during Summer, Schisandra Wu Wei Zi with Phellodendron Huang Bai, Ginseng, Astragalus Huang Qi, Ophiopogon Mai Men Dong. (Zhang Yuan Su) 15. Muscular Atrophy, Schisandra Wu Wei Zi with Eucommia Du Zhong, Ginseng
1. Generally not used for exterior (acute) conditions, especially in Heat conditions. 2. Avoid overdose which may cause heartburn, abdominal discomfort