by Eric Brand

Wu Wei Zi exists in two main varieties. The “southern” form is known as Nan Wu Wei Zi (Fructus Schisandrae Sphenantherae) and the “northern” form is known as Bei Wu Wei Zi (Fructus Schisandrae Chinensis). Traditionally, the Wu Wei Zi from Manchuria in Northeastern China (Bei Wu Wei Zi) was regarded as the genuine item, although both Nan and Bei Wu Wei Zi are now commonly seen in trade.

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Bei Wu Wei Zi is traditionally regarded as superior, and it can be distinguished by its color (top grades are whitish) and seed. The seed in Bei Wu Wei Zi is shiny and has an indentation at the top. According to some of the QC experts at KP’s granule factory in Taiwan, Bei Wu Wei Zi is much higher in active constituents.

While Bei Wu Wei Zi is regarded as the superior and more authentic traditional item, Nan Wu Wei Zi is also an important medicinal in its own right. It has been extensively researched in Japan and is popular there. After speaking to several pharmacy experts in mainland China and Taiwan, it seems that the general consensus is that both items are legitimate for clinical use, but they should still be distinguished from one another in trade. Wu Wei Zi is considered to have one source that is better and more expensive, and another source that is a cheaper alternative that has clinical value but reduced potency.

The Wu Wei Zi forms could be compared to Ban Lan Gen or Huang Qi. Like Wu Wei Zi, Ban Lan Gen also has a southern and northern variety in use, but the northern variety is considered to be the authentic item and the southern variety is considered to be a substitute. Similarly, Huang Qi has two source plants that are both traditionally acceptable but chemically different. Both Huang Qi and Ban Lan Gen are traditionally regarded as equally effective regardless of the source plant used, but the evidence base of the official item is more established than that of the substitute. In the case of Wu Wei Zi, expert opinion seems to generally favor the northern variety but both have been researched and used rather extensively.

Pictured here are some fresh schisandra berries (Bei Wu Wei Zi) that I photographed during a recent trip to Chang Bai Shan in Northeastern China. Chang Bai Shan is home to authentic ginseng, schisandra, and the deer that are used to produce Lu Rong. It is also home to a Manchurian version of Hong Jing Tian, a famous local herb called Bu Lao Cao (“don’t get old herb”) and a forest frog that is used for its ovaries and fallopian tubes, which are made into a supplementing chilled dessert.

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