Magnolia officinalis,Its Bark Magnolia Cortex,Its Fragrance Components and Magnolia Alkaloids,Magnolol,Honokiol.
Article Content:
- .Botanical Description of Magnolia Bark.
- .Narrative History and Ancient Register of Magnolia Bark.
- .Magnolia Bark and Its Fragrance Components.
- .Properties and Indications of Magnolia Bark.
- .Common uses and Application of Magnolia Bark Extract.
- .Magnolia Bark:Administration and Suggestions.
- .How Search engine think about Magnolia.
- .Research Update:Magnolia Bark,Magnolol,Honokiol and Constituents.
Narrative History and Ancient Register of Magnolia Bark.
This herb was first described in the Shennong Bencao Jing (1) around 100 A.D., as follows:
houpu is bitter and warm, non-toxic, mainly treating wind-stroke, cold damage, headache, cold and heat, fright qi, blood impediment, and dead muscle. It removes the three kinds of worms. It grows in mountains and valleys.
Magnolia bark is a highly aromatic herbal material obtained from Magnolia officinalis of the Family Magnoliaceae. The pharmacy item is obtained by stripping the bark from stems, branches, and roots. The Chinese name for the herb, houpu, refers to the thick (hou) bark that is the unadorned (pu) portion of the plant. In modern times, it is common for magnolia bark to be sold to pharmacies in bundles of relatively uniform strips about 4 inches long.
This description differs markedly from that relied on in subsequent Chinese texts, in which the herb is mainly used for stagnation of qi and moisture circulation in the abdomen (associated with digestive disturbance) and tightness in the chest (associated with impaired breathing). However, the treatment of "fright qi" is one of the persisting indications for magnolia bark in the traditional prescriptions: it treats syndromes that are caused by emotional distress, such as plum pit qi, digestive disturbance associated with fear and anxiety, and shortness of breath due to emotional turmoil. Although magnolia bark is no longer used in the treatment of worms, its antibacterial properties are recognized and may be responsible for its ability to alleviate discomfort due to some intestinal bacterial infections. It may be prepared with ginger juice to enhance its digestive promoting effects.
1.Magnolia Bark in Traditional Formulas:
Magnolia bark was a common ingredient in many formulas described in the Shanghan Lun and Jingui Yaolue (ca. 220 A.D.). Among the smaller formulas (7 or fewer ingredients) in which magnolia bark is a major component were the following 11 prescriptions, subdivided into three categories (see Tables 1,2, 3).
Table 1: Formulas for internal accumulation, made with rhubarb and chih-shih.
|
Formula Name (Common) |
Ingredients List |
Applications |
Magnolia Three Combination (Houpu Sanwu Tang) |
magnolia bark, chih-shih, rhubarb |
qi stagnancy with heat, abdominal fullness, and constipation |
|
Minor Rhubarb Combination |
magnolia bark,chih-shih, rhubarb (different proportions from above formula) |
accumulation and heat,with constipation occurring as a consequence of a febrile disease |
|
Major Rhubarb Combination |
magnolia bark,chih-shih, rhubarb, mirabilitum |
accumulated internal heat, with constipation and fullness, dryness, and mental agitation |
|
Apricot Seed and Linum Combination (Maziren Wan) |
magnolia bark,chih-shih, rhubarb linum (cannabis seed), apricot seed, peony |
persistent dry constipation |
|
Magnolia Seven Combination |
magnolia bark,chih-shih, rhubarb, ginger, licorice, jujube, cinnamon twig |
combination of interior accumulation and surface congestion, as occurs in some febrile diseases with abdominal swelling |
Table 2:Formulas for digestive system weakness, made with ginger and licorice.
|
Formula Name (Common) |
Ingredients List |
Applications |
|
Pinellia and Magnolia Comb. |
magnolia bark,pinellia, hoelen, ginger, perilla leaf |
treating of plumpit qi and for gastro-intestinal weakness associated with anxiety and fear |
|
Magnolia Five Combination |
magnolia bark,pinellia, ginger, ginseng, licorice |
tonifying qi,harmonizing the stomach, and reducing swelling |
|
Magnolia and Ginger Comb. |
magnolia bark, citrus,ginger, jujube, licorice, atractylodes |
weakness of spleen,accumulation of dampness and food stagnation |
Table 3: Formulas for stagnation of qi in the chest with difficult breathing made with either ma-huang or cinnamon twig.
|
Formula Name (Common) |
Ingredients List |
Applications |
|
Chih-shih, Bakeri, and Cinnamon Combination |
magnolia bark,chih-shih, cinnamon twig, trichosanthes fruit, bakeri |
abdominal accumulations and flushing up of qi, with coughing and pain in the chest |
|
Ma-huang and Magnolia Combination |
magnolia bark, perilla leaf, citrus, bupleurum, licorice, ma-huang, apricot seed |
wind-cold in the lungs producing cough and difficult breathing |
|
Cinnamon, Magnolia,and Apricot Seed Combination |
magnolia bark,cinnamon twig, peony, ginger, jujube, licorice, apricot seed |
cough, asthma, and surface conditions, such as chill, fever, and headache |
Magnolia bark was frequently included as an ingredient in Chinese herb formulas mentioned in famous herb guides over the centuries, though some of the Shanghan Lun formulations, such as Minor Rhubarb Combination and Pinellia and Magnolia Combination, have remained the central formulas in which magnolia bark is a major component. More often, magnolia bark is included in larger traditional formulas and thus serves as a relatively minor contributor to the total therapeutic effect.
Magnolia bark is an ingredient in several patent remedies used for digestive system disorders and abdominal bloating and discomfort, such as Mu Xiang Shun Qi Wan, Kang Ning Wan (Pill Curing), Bao Ji Wan (Po Chi Pill), Huoxiang Zhengqi Pian, and Shu Gan Wan.
Reference:
1.Magnolia officinalis,Its Bark Magnolia Cortex,Its Fragrance Components and Magnolia Alkaloids,Magnolol,Honokiol.
Statistics
Spectrum
FAQ
Of Herbs