INDIVIDUAL HERBS

Pharmaceutical Latin: Cortex Magnoliae Officinalis
Common English: Magnolia Bark
Aromatic Herbs that Dispel Dampness
Taste Temperature Entering Meridians Dosage
Bitter
Acrid
Aromatic
Warm
Large Intestine
Lung
Spleen
Stomach
3-10g
Tincture: 1-4ml
Actions Indications/Syndromes

Promotes the movement of Qi in the Middle Jiao and resolves Stagnation

(Resolves Food Stagnation)

Qi Stagnation affecting the Spleen and Stomach and Food Stagnation with chest and/or abdominal distention and fullness

Promotes the movement of Qi downward, dries Dampness and transforms Phlegm

Dampness or Phlegm Obstructing the Middle Jiao with distention, fullness, nausea and diarrhea

Descends Rebellious Qi, reduces Phlegm and calms wheezing

Cough and wheezing due to Phlegm congesting the Lungs

CONTRAINDICATIONS
  • Use caution during pregnancy.
  • Use caution for those with Qi Deficiency.
INCOMPATIBILITIES
HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS
  • This herb has a mild anticoagulant effect and should be used with caution when taken with anticoagulants such as heparin, warfarin (Coumadin) and enoxaparin or antiplatelet drugs such as aspirin, dipyridamole (Persantine) and clopidogrel (Plavix).

Fr. Aurantii Immaturus
Zhi Shi

Fr. Aurantii Immaturus
Zhi Shi

Rz. Atractylodis Macrocephalae
Bai Zhu

Fr. Aurantii Immaturus
Zhi Shi

Rz. et Rx. Rhei
Da Huang

Stagnant Qi failing to move with abdominal distention, wheezing, shortness of breath, nausea and constipation.

Abdominal or chest distention, focal epigastric distention, wheezing, shortness of breath, nausea, rebellious Qi or constipation from Cold, Heat, Dampness or Phlegm as long as clumped Qi is at the root of the problem. (use with caution in weaker patients)

Epigastric and abdominal distention due to Qi and Food Stagnation.

Relatively severe accumulation and Stagnation with abdominal distention and pain and constipation.

Food Stagnation with abdominal pain and constipation.

For paralytic ileus use a larger dosage of Hou Po.

Fr. Aurantii
Zhi Ke

Ram Cinnamomi
Gui Zhi
Rz. Zingiberis
Gan Jiang

Rz. Cyperi
Xiang Fu
Per. Citri Reticulatae
Chen Pi

Abdominal distention due to Qi and Food Stagnation.

Distention and fullness due to congealing of Cold leading to Qi Stagnation.

Epigastric and abdominal bloating due to Dampness Obstructing the Qi.

Fr. Crataegi
Shan Zha
Fr. Hordei Germinatus
Mai Ya
(Massa Medicata Fermentata)
(Shen Qu)

Rx. Ginseng
Ren Shen
Rx. Glycyrrhizae
Gan Cao

Rz. Pinelliae Preparatum
Zhi Ban Xia
Poria
Fu Ling

Food Stagnation causing accumulation and leading to belching with a rotten odor.

Distention and fullness due to Deficiency Cold.

Phlegm Obstructing the Qi, leading to coughing, vomiting or a sense of something stuck in the throat.

Rz. Atractylodis
Cang Zhu
Per. Citri Reticulatae
Chen Pi

Rz. Zingiberis
Gan Jiang
Sm. Alpiniae Katsumadai
Cao Dou Kou

Rz. Zingiberis
Gan Jiang

Stomach Excess with epigastric fullness and distention, acid regurgitation, distasteful belching, and nausea and vomiting.

Dampness Accumulation with Qi Stagnation.

Cold-Dampness in the Middle Jiao.

Acute diarrhea from Cold attacking the Middle.

Rz. Coptidis
Huang Lian

Fr. Perillae
Zi Su Zi
Cx. Cinnamomi
Rou Gui

Sm. Pruni Armeniacae
Xing Ren
Hb. Ephedrae
Ma Huang

or

Sm. Pruni Armeniacae
Xing Ren
Ram. Cinnamomi
Gui Zhi

Acute diarrhea associated with sudden turmoil disorder from Damp-Heat.

Cough and wheezing due to Excess above and Deficiency below with clogging of Phlegm.

Cough and wheezing with copious sputum due to congested fluids.

Sm. Pruni Armeniacae
Xing Ren

Rz. Atractylodis
Cang Zhu

Sm. Armeniacae
Xing Ren
Ram. Cinnamomi
Gui Zhi
Rz. Zingiberis Recens
Sheng Jiang

Strongly descends Qi, disperses Phlegm-Dampness and calms wheezing to treat cough and wheezing from Phlegm-Dampness leading to Lung Qi Stagnation.

Upper and Middle Jiao Dampness with a stifling sensation in the chest, and epigastric and abdominal distention with a feeling of fullness.

Dampness obstructing Spleen Yang with epigastric fullness, abdominal and epigastric distention, nausea, vomiting, anorexia, loss of taste and a thick, greasy tongue coat.

Coughing and wheezing due to Wind-Cold.

Fr. Perillae
Zi Su Zi
Cx. Cinnamomi
Rou Gui
Rx. Angelicae Sinensis
Dang Gui

 

 

Cough and wheezing due to Excess in the Upper Jiao (Phlegm Obstructs Lung Qi) with Deficiency in the Lower Jiao (Kidney Deficiency).

 

 

  1. Many sources include this herb in the Regulate Qi category.
  2. This is an important herb for reducing and eliminating distention and fullness and can be used whenever these symptoms occur due to Qi Stagnation.
  3. This herb assists in purgative formulas to normalize Qi.
  4. This herb is very aromatic; it penetrates through Dampness, moving and drying it, and breaking up congested Qi while settling the disturbed Qi.
  5. Used in large doses for abdominal bloating, pressure, gas pains and for difficult breathing.
  6. This herb has recently been used to treat microbial toxicosis, viral infections and cell-mediated allergies.
  7. This herb treats passive cutaneous anaphalaxis (PCA).
  8. Both Hou Po and Fr. Aurantii Immaturus Zhi Shi treat obstruction due to food, Dampness or Phlegm leading to fullness of the chest and abdomen and constipation. Hou Po descends Qi and dries Dampness to strengthen the Spleen and Stomach and disperses clumped Qi to eliminate distention and fullness. Zhi Shi is cold and breaks up Qi Stasis to disperse Phlegm.
  9. Both Hou Po and Rz. Atractylodis Cang Zhu are acrid, bitter, warm, enter the Spleen and Stomach channels and dry Dampness to treat Damp obstruction in the the Middle Jiao. Hou Po excels at descending Qi to eliminate abdominal distention and fullness. Its distinction is that it can treat distention with or without form like e.g. constipation or formless Dampness. It also treats wheezing. Cang Zhu is especially drying . Internally it strengthens the Spleen and externally it induces sweating to release the exterior and dispel Wind-Dampness. If combined with Cx. Phellodendri Huang Bai, it treats Damp-Heat in the Lower Jiao.
  10. Ginger Magnolia Bark Jiang Hou Po has a reduced throat-irritating property and a stronger Dampness-transforming action to harmonize the Stomach. Its bitterness and stimulatory effects are reduced and it is less likely to cause nausea and Stomach discomfort. It is best for abdominal distention.
  11. Prepared Magnolia Bark Zhi Hou Po has a reduced throat irritating property, harmonizes the Stomach and especially a stronger ability to promote the flow of Qi to treat rebellious Qi causing wheezing and nausea.
  12. Flos Magnoliae Officinalis Hou Po Hua is acrid, bitter, slightly warm, aromatic and enters the Spleen and Stomach channels. It promotes the movement of Qi and transforms Dampness but is weaker than Hou Po and is less drying. It focuses more on the Upper and Middle Jiaos and is used to expand and ease the Middle Jiao and chest when Dampness has led to Qi Stagnation with epigastric and abdominal fullness and distention, a stifling sensation in the chest and anorexia. Its dosage is 3-6g.