Schisandra

Overview

Schisandra (or Schizandra) has been used in traditional Chinese medicine since ancient times for promoting well-being and vitality. Today, Schisandra is used in a similar manner in a number of preparations for medicinal and nutraceutical use designed for antioxidant, as an adaptogen, cardiovascular disease, liver disease, CNS dysfunctions related to old age, and for a treatment in cancer and diabetes. The activity of Schisandra is thought to be due to a complimentary and potentiating action between its principal active components, including lignans (Opletal et al., 2001). This theory makes sense if Schisandra is viewed as an adaptogen, an herb thought to be able to balance the body functions and response to stress.

Comments

Schisandra is an ancient herb that is just becoming known by the larger world market. Numerous case reports have been documented in traditional Chinese medicine, but so far Schisandra is lacking for clinical support and little is known of its potential for adverse reactions.

Scientific Support

Schisandra has been the subject of numerous uncontrolled clinical trials in China that are referred to in a Chinese materia medica, for the treatment of hepatic disorders (hepatitis), athletic performance, Parkinson’s disease, neuroses, and pregnancy and labor disorders (to strengthen uterine contraction) (McKenna et al., 2001). Additionally, Schisandra has been included in a couple clinical trials recently in herbal formulations, where it is not known how much Schisandra contributed to the result of the trials. One of these trials is included below because it only included one other active treatment.

Panossian et al. (1999) conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study on the effects of the adaptogens, Shisandra chinensis and Bryonia alba in athletes. It was shown that the treatment with adaptogens raised the concentration of nitric oxide and cortisol in the blood plasma and saliva in a similar manner to athletes that are undergoing heavy physical exercise. Furthermore, it was noted that after the treatment with the adaptogens, when the athletes underwent heavy physical exercise, the nitric oxide and cortisol were not elevated, in contrast to the placebo group who showed increased nitric oxide. The authors presented that due to this fact, nitric oxide could be used for the evaluation of physical loading as well as an adaptogen exhibiting stress protection.

Safety / Dosage

Usual dosage of Shisandra for liver health and adaptogenic support is between 200-800 mg daily.

Schisandra is generally regarded as safe, even though toxicity and adverse reaction testing has not been well-documented, with the only reported side effects being dizziness or diarrhea, which can be mitigated by reducing dosage. Schisandra may induce uterine contraction, and therefore should be avoided by pregnant women (McKenna et al., 2001).

References

1.McKenna DJ, Jones K, Hughes K (eds). Botanical Medicines: A Desktop Reference for the Major Herbal Supplements. 2001 Haworth Press: New York

2.Opletal L, Krenkova M, Havlickova P. Phytotherapeutic aspects of diseases of the circulatory system. 7. Schisandra chinensis (Turcz. Baill.): its composition and biological activity. Ceska Slov Farm. 2001 Jul;50(4):173-80.

3.Panossian AG, Oganessian AS, Ambartsumian M, Gabrielian ES, Wagner H, Wikman G. Effects of heavy physical exercise and adaptogens on nitric oxide content in human saliva. Phytomedicine. 1999 Mar;6(1):17-26.

EDITOR'S NOTE: This monograph can be found in The Health Professional's Guide to Dietary Supplements (Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins) by Shawn M. Talbott, PhD and Kerry Hughes, MS.

Yellow Dock

Overview

Yellow dock—also called curly dock and sour dock—is a member of the buckwheat family that can be found naturalized in many parts of the world. Originally from northern Europe and Asia, it has a long history of use in traditional medicines as a digestive aid, for skin conditions, and for liver health. Yellow dock is known as an astringent due to its content of tannins, which may be the reason for its use in skin conditions. Yellow dock extracts have been confirmed to have antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. Additionally, yellow dock contains the anthraquinone glycosides, a group of compounds that are known for their laxative activity. The antraquinone glycosides are also the primary active components in other popular herbal laxatives, such as senna, cascara and aloe. The bitter principles of yellow dock leaves make them useful as digestive aids. Yellow dock is also rich in iron (Bruneton, 1995).

Comments

Yellow dock lacks clinical backing as a single phytotherapeutic agent, however, the anthraquinone glycosides are well known and have clinically confirmed activity.

Scientific Support

No clinical studies could be found that used yellow dock alone as a therapeutic agent, however, several clinical studies confirm the activity of the anthraquinone glycosides from other herbal laxatives.

Safety / Dosage

The laxative effect of yellow dock appears to be mild and safe. The fresh leaves are high in oxalates, and there have been a few reports of yellow dock toxicity in grazing sheep and at least one report of a human toxicity. If the oxalates are taken in high amounts they may inhibit nutrient absorption. Root preparations are typical, and the dosage is generally 1 gram of the dried root daily or 3-4 ml of the root extract, 3 times daily.

As with any laxative product, caution should be used by anyone who is pregnant or nursing.

References

1.Bruneton, J. Pharmacognosy, Phytochemistry, Medicinal Plants. 1995. Lavoisier Publishing, New York.

2.Gunaydin K, Topcu G, Ion RM. 1,5-dihydroxyanthraquinones and an anthrone from roots of Rumex crispus. Nat Prod Lett. 2002 Feb;16(1):65-70

3.Panciera RJ, Martin T, Burrows GE, Taylor DS, Rice LE. Acute oxalate poisoning attributable to ingestion of curly dock (Rumex crispus) in sheep. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1990 Jun 15;196(12):1981-4.

4.Reig R, Sanz P, Blanche C, Fontarnau R, Dominguez A, Corbella J. Fatal poisoning by Rumex crispus (curled dock): pathological findings and application of scanning electron microscopy. Vet Hum Toxicol. 1990 Oct;32(5):468-70.

5.Yildirim A, Mavi A, Kara AA. Determination of antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of Rumex crispus L. extracts. J Agric Food Chem. 2001 Aug;49(8):4083-9

EDITOR'S NOTE: This monograph can be found in The Health Professional's Guide to Dietary Supplements (Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins) by Shawn M. Talbott, PhD and Kerry Hughes, MS.