Bark of Officinal Magnolia
- Chinese
- 厚朴
- Pinyin
- Hou Pu
- Latin
- Cortex Magnoliae Officinalis
Known in TCM as Hou Pu (厚朴), this bitter and acrid, warm herb enters the Lung, Large Intestine, Spleen, and Stomach. Traditionally, it moves Qi and resolves focal distention - a key herb for fullness, bloating, abdominal pain, epigastric oppression, and food stagnation when stagnant Qi knots in the middle burner, most often applied for abdominal pain, constipation, and acid reflux. Modern research has identified Magnolol among its active constituents.
Part used: Bark
Also Known As
Latin: Cortex Magnoliae Officinalis | Pinyin: Hou Pu | Chinese: 厚朴
TCM Properties
- Taste
- bitter, acrid
- Temperature
- warm
- Channels
- Lung, Large Intestine, Spleen, Stomach
Traditional Use
Primary Actions
- Moves Qi and resolves focal distention - a key herb for fullness, bloating, abdominal pain, epigastric oppression, and food stagnation when stagnant Qi knots in the middle burner.
- Dries Dampness and harmonizes the Spleen-Stomach - used when damp obstruction causes poor appetite, nausea, greasy coating, sluggish digestion, loose stool, and heavy obstructed sensation.
- Descends rebellious Qi and transforms phlegm - classically used for wheezing, cough, chest congestion, plum-pit Qi, and phlegm-damp obstruction of the throat and chest.
- Opens constrained downward movement in the intestines - especially helpful in constipation where Qi stagnation and fullness predominate more than severe dryness or blood deficiency.
Secondary Actions
- Frequently included in formulas to prevent rich tonics or greasy damp-resolving herbs from causing secondary stagnation.
- Its warm aromatic bitterness makes it especially useful when emotional constraint, phlegm, and digestive blockage overlap, as in globus sensation and stress-related nausea.
Classic Formulas
- Ban Xia Hou Pu Tang (半夏厚朴汤) - from Jin Gui Yao Lue, combining Hou Pu with Ban Xia, Fu Ling, Sheng Jiang, and Zi Su Ye for plum-pit Qi, throat obstruction, nausea, and emotional constraint with phlegm.
- Ping Wei San (平胃散) - the classic dampness-transforming formula in which Hou Pu helps move Qi, dry damp, and relieve epigastric and abdominal fullness.
- Hou Pu San Wu Tang (厚朴三物汤) - from Jin Gui Yao Lue, using Hou Pu with Zhi Shi and Da Huang for abdominal fullness, pain, and constipation driven by severe Qi stagnation.
- Ma Zi Ren Wan (麻子仁丸) - includes Hou Pu to move constrained Qi and assist bowel opening in dry constipation with abdominal distention.
Classical References
- Classical materia medica consistently describe Hou Pu as bitter, acrid, warm, and aromatic, entering the Spleen and Stomach to move Qi, dry dampness, and direct stagnation downward.
- Zhang Zhongjing's formulas use Hou Pu repeatedly when fullness, phlegm, and impaired descent are central, especially in Ban Xia Hou Pu Tang and Hou Pu San Wu Tang.
- Sacred Lotus preserves the standard caution that Hou Pu should be used carefully in pregnancy and in clear Qi-deficiency states because its descending, moving action is relatively strong.
Modern Research
Active Compounds
- Magnolol (neolignan) - one of the two signature bioactive compounds in Hou Pu bark with anti-inflammatory, antiplatelet, and neuroactive effects
- Honokiol (neolignan) - major anxiolytic, anti-inflammatory, and antitumor research constituent
- Obovatol (biphenolic neolignan) - contributes anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective research interest
- 4-O-methylhonokiol (neolignan derivative) - studied for neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory potential
- Essential oil sesquiterpenes and related aromatic constituents - support the bark's volatile digestive and antimicrobial profile
Studied Effects
- Mechanistic review literature details anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and apoptosis-targeting anticancer actions of magnolol and honokiol from Magnolia officinalis bark (PMID 22466367)
- Pain and inflammatory mediator modulation - honokiol and magnolol reduced glutamatergic and inflammatory pain responses in animal models, supporting the herb's traditional fullness-and-pain indications (PMID 19832997)
- More recent review work summarizes broad structure-activity and pharmacologic findings for magnolol and honokiol derivatives, reinforcing continued interest in neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, and antitumor applications (PMID 38714288)
- MSK's clinical summary notes Magnolia officinalis is also used to regulate gastrointestinal motility, which fits the classical profile of descending and unblocking middle-burner Qi.
PubMed References
- Targeting apoptosis pathways in cancer with magnolol and honokiol, bioactive constituents of the bark of Magnolia officinalis (2011)
- Antinociceptive actions of honokiol and magnolol on glutamatergic and inflammatory pain (2009)
- Honokiol and magnolol: A review of structure-activity relationships of their derivatives (2024)
Safety & Interactions
Contraindications
- Qi deficiency or dryness without true stagnation, dampness, or phlegm obstruction
- Yin deficiency dryness with depleted fluids and no damp blockage
Cautions
- Its warm, aromatic, drying nature can aggravate thirst, dry constipation, or depletion if used too aggressively in already dry patients
- Use with caution during pregnancy because its strong Qi-moving and descending action may disturb fetal stability in susceptible patients
Drug Interactions
- Diabetes medications … Magnolia bark extract may enhance glucose-lowering effects and increase the risk of hypoglycemia (Moderate) Source: Memorial Sloan Kettering Integrative Medicine - Magnolia officinalis
- Sleep or anxiety medications … Magnolia bark extract may increase sedative or anxiolytic effects (Moderate) Source: Memorial Sloan Kettering Integrative Medicine - Magnolia officinalis
- Blood thinners … Magnolia bark extract may increase bleeding risk (Moderate) Source: Memorial Sloan Kettering Integrative Medicine - Magnolia officinalis
- CYP450 substrate drugs … Magnolia bark extract may alter drug metabolism and change the effects of medications handled by CYP pathways (Moderate) Source: Memorial Sloan Kettering Integrative Medicine - Magnolia officinalis
- P-gp substrate drugs … Magnolia bark extract may alter transporter-mediated drug disposition and modify medication exposure (Moderate) Source: Memorial Sloan Kettering Integrative Medicine - Magnolia officinalis
- UGT substrate drugs … Magnolia bark extract may alter glucuronidation-dependent drug clearance (Moderate) Source: Memorial Sloan Kettering Integrative Medicine - Magnolia officinalis
Conditions
- Abdominal Pain Traditional ★★★★☆ JSON
- Constipation Traditional ★★★★☆ JSON
- Acid Reflux Traditional ★★★☆☆ JSON
- Phlegm Accumulation Traditional ★★★★☆ JSON
- Nausea Traditional ★★★★☆ JSON
- Anxiety Research ★★☆☆☆ JSON
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Bark of Officinal Magnolia used for?
Bark of Officinal Magnolia is traditionally used to Moves Qi and resolves focal distention - a key herb for fullness, bloating, abdominal pain, epigastric oppression, and food stagnation when stagnant Qi knots in the middle burner., Dries Dampness and harmonizes the Spleen-Stomach - used when damp obstruction causes poor appetite, nausea, greasy coating, sluggish digestion, loose stool, and heavy obstructed sensation., Descends rebellious Qi and transforms phlegm - classically used for wheezing, cough, chest congestion, plum-pit Qi, and phlegm-damp obstruction of the throat and chest., Opens constrained downward movement in the intestines - especially helpful in constipation where Qi stagnation and fullness predominate more than severe dryness or blood deficiency.. Research has investigated its effects on: Mechanistic review literature details anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and apoptosis-targeting anticancer actions of magnolol and honokiol from Magnolia officinalis bark (PMID 22466367); Pain and inflammatory mediator modulation - honokiol and magnolol reduced glutamatergic and inflammatory pain responses in animal models, supporting the herb's traditional fullness-and-pain indications (PMID 19832997).
What are other names for Bark of Officinal Magnolia?
Bark of Officinal Magnolia is also known as Magnolia. In TCM: 厚朴 (Hou Pu); Cortex Magnoliae Officinalis.
Is Bark of Officinal Magnolia safe during pregnancy?
The safety of Bark of Officinal Magnolia during pregnancy has not been established. Consult a qualified healthcare provider before use.
What are the contraindications for Bark of Officinal Magnolia?
Bark of Officinal Magnolia should not be used in: Qi deficiency or dryness without true stagnation, dampness, or phlegm obstruction; Yin deficiency dryness with depleted fluids and no damp blockage. Consult a qualified practitioner before use.
Does Bark of Officinal Magnolia interact with any medications?
Bark of Officinal Magnolia may interact with: Diabetes medications - Magnolia bark extract may enhance glucose-lowering effects and increase the risk of hypoglycemia - (Moderate severity); Sleep or anxiety medications - Magnolia bark extract may increase sedative or anxiolytic effects - (Moderate severity); Blood thinners - Magnolia bark extract may increase bleeding risk - (Moderate severity); CYP450 substrate drugs - Magnolia bark extract may alter drug metabolism and change the effects of medications handled by CYP pathways - (Moderate severity). Always inform your healthcare provider of any herbal supplements you are taking.