Magnolia bark
Magnolia officinalis · 厚朴
Herbs & Roots. Chinese Medicine.
Also called Hou po, Houpu, Chinese magnolia bark, Officinal magnolia
Pinyin: Hòu pò
Bleeding risk with blood thinnersThe bark of a magnolia tree, used in Chinese medicine for bloating, gas and a heavy, damp feeling in the belly.
Did you know? Two chemicals in magnolia bark, honokiol and magnolol, are studied in labs for calming, anti-inflammatory and cancer effects, but they are not yet proven in people.
What it may help, and how strong the proof is
- Digestion & gut health. Used in tradition for bloating and belly fullness. Human trials are few and small.Traditional proof
- Stress & anxiety. Honokiol and magnolol calm anxious mice in studies. Human anxiety trials are lacking.Traditional proof
Parts of the body
Traditional use
Traditional Chinese Medicine has used magnolia bark for belly fullness, bloating, cough and a damp feeling in the chest and belly. It is a core herb in Ping Wei San (Balance the Stomach Powder).
How it is classified
- Herbal actions
- Carminative, Antispasmodic, Antimicrobial. Energy: warming.
- Chinese medicine
- 厚朴 Aromatic, transform dampness. Nature: warm. Flavour: bitter, pungent. Enters the Spleen, Stomach, Lung and Large Intestine channels.
How people take it
Traditional doses are about 3 to 10 grams of dried bark in a decoction. Extract capsules should follow the label. No standard human dose has been set.
Decoction, capsule and tincture.
Where to get it
Grows in central and southwestern China. Sold as dried bark in herb shops, and as capsules and tinctures online.
Be careful
Usually mild, but upset stomach or drowsiness can happen at higher doses. Lab studies show it can slow platelets, so bleeding risk may rise with blood thinners. Avoid it in pregnancy and breastfeeding because data are limited.
Avoid if: pregnancy; breastfeeding; bleeding disorders; before surgery.
Mixing with other things
- Works well together
Ban Xia Hou Po Tang (Pinellia and Magnolia Bark Decoction) pairs them for a lump-in-throat feeling and phlegm.
- Works well together
Also in Ban Xia Hou Po Tang, where perilla leaf helps move energy in the chest.
- Works well together
Ping Wei San (Balance the Stomach Powder) pairs magnolia bark with aged tangerine peel for bloating and damp feelings in the belly.
- Works well together
Da Cheng Qi Tang (Major Order Qi Decoction) pairs rhubarb with magnolia bark to move stuck bowel contents.
- Works well together
Paired with magnolia bark in summer damp formulas for bloating and nausea.
- Works well together
Paired in Chinese formulas for bloating and blocked energy, such as Minor Order the Qi Decoction.
- Use cautionBlood thinners (warfarin, Eliquis, Xarelto, Plavix, daily aspirin)
Lab studies show it can slow platelets. With blood thinners, bleeding risk may rise. Human data are lacking.
Adds up with others that may slow blood clotting: , , , , , , , , , , , , , and 40 more.
Found in these formulas
Pinellia & Magnolia (TCM)
The honest take
Magnolia bark is widely used in Chinese herbal formulas, and its main chemicals have been studied in labs and animals. Human evidence is thin, and no good trial has proven it helps bloating or anxiety. Product quality can vary, so buy from a reliable source.