Schisandraceae, including Schisandra and Kadsura, is one of the early branches of angiosperms phylogeny. Most species distributed in China are used as folk medicines in this family. Schisandraceae plant has significant systematics and medicinal research value. While there exist some problems such as its unclear phylogenetic and systematic position, complicated evolutionary relationship, undefined generic and infrageneric classification. All of these problems may usually result in using wrongly or improperly, further affect the safety and efficiency of medicinal materials. In this paper, traditional application, natural distribution and systematic study of Schisandraceae plants were summarized, which would provide reference for the further pharmacophylogenetic research and rational utilization of Schisandraceae plants.