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Schisandra

Supplement botanical energygeneral nutrition
Aka: Schisandra chinensis, wu wei zi
Brands seen in Singapore: Nature's Way, Nature's Answer, Swanson Vitamins, Oregon's Wild Harvest, Solaray
Not medical advice. Check with your doctor or pharmacist before you start, stop or change the timing of anything you take.
How to use
What it’s for
Promoted for endurance and anti-aging — evidence is thin
Pros & cons
Pros
  • Long traditional use — over 2,000 years on record
  • Animal work is extensive — 54 studies pooled in 2025
  • 12-week omija-mix trial: no safety signal seen
Cons
  • The 2019 review rests on molecular and animal work
  • No human trial on energy or endurance was found
  • SG labels cannot claim liver or fatty-liver benefits
Sources
  1. Potential of Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill. in Human Health and Nutrition: A Review of Current Knowledge and Therapeutic Perspectives (Nowak et al., Nutrients 2019) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “SCE … improves physical endurance and cognitive/behavioural functions, which can be linked with its general anti-aging potency … Further research is needed to determine the molecular mechanisms of SCE action.”
  2. Nowak et al., Nutrients 2019 — basis of the evidence · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill. (SCE) is a plant with high potential for beneficial health effects, confirmed by molecular studies.”
  3. Efficacy of Schisandra chinensis in liver injury: a systematic review and preclinical meta-analysis (Huang et al., Front Pharmacol 2025) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Schisandra chinensis, a traditional Chinese medicinal herb with a history of use spanning over 2,000 years … A total of 54 animal studies were included in this review … further research is needed to validate its efficacy and safety.”
  4. Efficacy and Safety of Omija (Schisandra chinensis) Extract Mixture on the Improvement of Hyperglycemia: A Randomized, Double-Blind, and Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial (Nutrients 2022) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “we conducted a 12-week, randomized, double-blinded, and placebo-controlled clinical trial to determine the effects of OSM in humans … No clinically significant changes in any safety parameter were observed.”
  5. HSA Singapore — Guidelines on Prohibited and Restricted Ingredients in Health Supplements and Traditional Medicines, GL-CHPB-1-012 Rev. No. 001 (Oct 2025), Annex A (118 rows) and Annex B (4 rows) — schisandra / Schisandra chinensis / wu wei zi NOT LISTED in either annex · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “The objective of this guideline is to highlight the substances of concern when used in HS and TM and is not meant to be an exhaustive list.”
  6. HSA Singapore — Health Supplements Guidelines GL-CHPB-3-001 Rev. No. 020 (January 2026), clause 6.6 and Table 6 (prohibited claims) — Digestive system row: Ulcers, gastritis, hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, fatty liver, diarrhoea, constipation, inflammation of the intestines, liver or pancreas · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “HS must not be labelled, advertised or promoted for any specific medicinal purpose, i.e. treatment or prevention, implied or otherwise, of any disease or disorder … Digestive system: Ulcers, gastritis, hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, fatty liver”
  7. HSA Singapore — Health Supplements Guidelines GL-CHPB-3-001 Rev. No. 020 (January 2026), clause 4.8 with Tables 4-5 (vitamins and minerals only — no botanical rows) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “4.8 HS for use by the general adult population should not contain vitamins and minerals exceeding the stipulated limits stated in Tables 4 and 5.”
  8. iHerb Singapore — Schisandra (Schizandra) category page, default listing order · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “1 - 12 of 12 results … Nature's Way, Schisandra Fruit … Nature's Answer, Schisandra Extract … Swanson Vitamins, Full Spectrum Schizandra Berries, 525 mg … Oregon's Wild Harvest, Organic Schisandra … Solaray, True Herbs, Schizandra, 580 mg”
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Updated 2026-08-29. Every line above traces to a numbered source. Kozen-X is not a medical device and does not give medical advice. It lists what published sources have written down — nothing more. A pair not listed is unrecorded, not cleared. Before you start, stop or re-time anything, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.