Magnolia flower bud
Magnolia biondii · 辛夷
Herbs & Roots. Chinese Medicine.
Also called Xin yi hua, Xin yi, Magnolia bud, Magnolia biondii bud
Pinyin: Xīn yí
Limited safety dataThe unopened flower buds of a magnolia tree, used in Chinese medicine for a stuffy nose and sinus pressure.
Did you know? Magnolias are among the oldest lineages of flowering plants, with fossil relatives tens of millions of years old.
What it may help, and how strong the proof is
- Allergies. Used in tradition for stuffy nose and sinus problems. Lab studies exist, but human trials are lacking.Traditional proof
- Pain & headaches. Used in tradition for headache. No good human trials exist.Traditional proof
Parts of the body
Traditional use
Traditional Chinese Medicine has used magnolia flower buds for a blocked or runny nose, sinus pain and headache from wind-cold. Practitioners use them in nasal formulas.
How it is classified
- Herbal actions
- Anti-inflammatory, Antimicrobial, Analgesic. Energy: warming.
- Chinese medicine
- 辛夷 Release the exterior. Nature: warm. Flavour: pungent. Enters the Lung and Stomach channels.
How people take it
Traditional doses are about 3 to 10 grams of dried buds in a decoction. Human studies are few, so no standard dose is set.
Decoction and tea.
Where to get it
Buds come from magnolia trees grown in central and southwestern China. Dried buds are sold in Asian herb shops and online.
Be careful
Generally mild. The buds contain aromatic oils that may irritate the nose or stomach at high doses. Pregnancy and breastfeeding are not well studied.
Avoid if: pregnancy; breastfeeding.
Mixing with other things
- Works well together
Cang Er Zi San (Xanthium Powder) pairs magnolia flower with peppermint and angelica root for a stuffy, blocked nose.
The honest take
Magnolia flower has a long history for stuffy noses, and lab studies show anti-inflammatory activity. Human trials are few, so its benefit for sinus or allergy problems is not proven. Pregnant people and young children need medical advice first.