Northern Schisandra Fruit — Safety & Interactions
Bei Wu Wei · Fructus Schisandrae
Use with caution. Practitioner review recommended before use.
Contraindications
- Active exterior pathogen when venting is still required
- Acute excess Lung heat or acute damp-heat diarrhea
- Marked phlegm-fluid retention that should be dispersed rather than constrained
Cautions
- MSK notes that Schisandra may alter metabolism or transport of some drugs through CYP1A2, CYP3A4, CYP3A5, and P-glycoprotein effects.
- Northern and southern Schisandra are not fully interchangeable because their lignan profiles differ.
- Schisandra can reduce certain liver-enzyme lab values, which matters when interpreting follow-up testing.
Drug Interactions
| Drug Class / Substrate | Mechanism | Severity | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| CYP1A2, CYP3A4, and CYP3A5 substrates - lignans may inhibit or otherwise alter metabolism of susceptible drugs | |||
| P-glycoprotein substrates - Schisandra may affect transport and increase side-effect risk | |||
| Tacrolimus - coadministration can raise tacrolimus exposure | |||
This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using herbal medicines, especially if you take prescription medications.