Magnolia bark, Hou Po 厚朴
Hou Po (TCM)
Hara-Champa (Unani)
Magnolia denudatum
Kerner, Hortus sempervirens, 1812
Magnolia officinalis
(Photo by Karlostachys) (Wikimedia)
Botanical name:
Magnolia officinalis, M. officinalis, var. biloba
Magnolia denudata is used synonymously in Unani.
Parts used:
Bark
Temperature & Taste:
Warm, dry. Bitter, pungent
Classification:
J. Aromatics that Resolve Dampness
Uses:
1. Moves Stomach Qi, Opens Obstructions:
-epigastric and abdominal distention and fullness
-Cold-type Stomach or Abdomional pain
-nausea, poor appetite
-Food Stagnation
2. Moves the Qi, Clears Damp and Phlegm:
-distention, fullness, nausea, poor appetite from Damp obstruction with thick or greasy tongue coat
-phlegm obstructing the Chest or Stomach
-Damp-type Diarrhea and Dysentery; used for hot or cold types depending on the herbs its used with
-Turbid urine from excess Damp
-“facilitates the movement of Joints” (Da Ming)
3. Directs Qi Downward, Clears Phlegm, Stops Cough:
-Phlegm obstruction causing Coughing and Wheezing
-the downward effect on Qi was used for Convulsions traditionally
4. Clears Wind-Cold:
-Headache, Chills and Fever caused by Wind-Cold (Shen Nong Ben Cao)
5. Moves the Blood:
-“Removes Blood Stasis” (Zhen Quan)
-Retention of Lochia
-also for Postpartum disorders with Stagnation
6. Kills Worms:
-for the Three types of Worms (classical indication)
Dose:
Decoction: 3–9 grams;
Powder: 1–3 grams
Preparation:
1. Ginger-fried Magnolia Bark:
It can be stir-fried with Ginger juice, 240mls of Ginger juice to 600 grams of bark. It is best to soak the drug in the gjuice before stir-frying it to dryness. This enhances its stomach-warming effect. This was also traditionally said to correct the negative effects of Magnolia bark. It is the preferred method of processing for decoction.
2. Ginger and Licorice Prepared Magnolia Bark:
Some older sources boiled with Ginger and Licorice root to dryness, then dried the bark thoroughly, then powdered.
3. Butter Fried Magnolia Bark:
One older method of preparation was to stir-fry with Butter, 20% of the weight of the bark. This was said to be best when used in pills and powders. (Lei Xiao)
Correctives:
1. Milk; Barley water (Unani)
2. Fresh Ginger (TCM)
Substitute:
Magnolia denudata
Main Combinations:
1. To warm the Stomach, clear Cold and Damp and move Qi: Magnolia Hou Po with fresh Ginger
2. Diarrhea:
i. Acute Cold-type Diarrhea, Magnolia Hou Po with dry Ginger, Costus (Mu Xiang)
ii. Acute Heat-type Diarrhea, Dysentery Magnolia Hou Po with Coptis Huang Lian
3. Stomach weakness with Damp and Qi stagnation, Gastritis, Gastroenteritis:
i. Magnolia Hou Po with Atractylodes Bai Zhu, Poria Fu Ling and Citrus Chen Pi.
ii. Magnolia Hou Po with Atractylodes Cang Zhu, Citrus Chen Pi, Honey-fried Licorice (Zhi Gan Cao) (as in Ping Wei San)
iii. Magnolia Hou Po with Atractylodes Cang Zhu, Pogostemon Huo Xiang,
4. Damp obstructing the Stomach and Spleen, Magnolia Hou Po with Alpinia katsumadai Cao Dou Kou, Atractylodes Cang Zhu.
5. Qi stagnation with Phlegm obstruction, Magnolia Hou Po with Pinellia Ban Xia, Poria Fu Ling, fresh Ginger (as in Ban Xia Hou Po Tang)
6. Epigastric distention and abdominal bloating, Magnolia Hou Po with Cyperus rotundus (Xiang Fu)
7. Abdominal distention with a fast pulse, Magnolia Hou Po with Rhubarb and Immature Bitter Orange (Zhi Shi) (Ben Cao Gang Mu)
8. Food Stagnation, Magnolia Hou Po with Hawthorn fruit (Shan Zha) and Barley Sprout (Mai Ya)
9. Intestinal obstruction, Magnolia Hou Po with Euphorbia Gan Sui, Rhubarb (Da Huang), Peach kernel (Tao Ren)
10. Wheezing from acute Wind-Cold, Magnolia Hou Po with Cinnamon twig (Gui Zhi) and Almond kernel (Xing Ren)
11. Turbid Urine from Damp, Magnolia Hou Po with Poria Fu Ling (Ben Cao Gang Mu)
Major Formula:
Ban Xia Hou Po Tang
Da Cheng Qi Tang
Huang Long Tang
Mu Xiang Liu Qi Yin
Ping Wei San
Po Chai Pill
Huo Xiang Zheng Qi Shui
Xiao Cheng Qi Tang
Cautions:
1. Use cautiously during pregnancy. Some Traditional texts said it is prohibited during Pregnancy.
2. Overdose was said to consume Qi.