Magnolia
bark (Houpo)
Pharmaceutical Name : Cortex Magnoliae officinalis
Botanical Name : 1. Magnolia officinalis
Rehd. et wils.; 2. Magnolia officinalis Rhed.
et Wills. var. biloba Rhed. et Wills.
Common Name : Magnolia bark
Source of Earliest Record : Shennong Bencao
Jing
Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical
Preparations: Between April and June, the
bark is peeled off and dried in the shade.
After a process of boiling, piling, steaming
and drying, the herb is ready for use.
Properties & Taste : Bitter, pungent
and warm
Meridians: Spleen, stomach, lung and large
intestine
Functions:
1. To promote qi circulation;
2. To dry dampness;
3.To descend rebellious qi and relieve asthma;
4. To resolve retention offood
Indications & Combinations:
1. Disharmony of spleen and stomach due to
stagnation of dampness and retention of food
manifested as epigastric distension and fullness.
Magnolia bark (Houpo) is used with Atractylodes
rhizome (Cangzhu) and Tangerine peel (Chenpi)
in the formula Pingwei San. If dampness blocks
the spleen and stomach causing retention of
food, abdominal distension and pain and constipation,
Magnolia bark (Houpo) is used with Rhubarb
(Dahuang) and Immature bitter orange (Zhishi)
in the formula Da Chengqi Tang.
2. Cough and asthma. Magnolia bark (Houpo)
is used with Apricot seed (Xingren) in the
formula Guizhi Jia Houpo Xingzi Tang.
Dosage: 3-10 g |
