Magnolia bark, Hou Po 厚朴
Hou Po (TCM)
Hara-Champa (Unani)
Hara-Champa (Unani)
Magnolia denudatum
Kerner, Hortus sempervirens, 1812
Kerner, Hortus sempervirens, 1812
Botanical name:
Magnolia officinalis, M. officinalis, var. biloba
Magnolia denudata is used synonymously in Unani.
Parts used:
Bark
Temperature & Taste:
Warm, dry. Bitter, pungent
Magnolia officinalis, M. officinalis, var. biloba
Magnolia denudata is used synonymously in Unani.
Parts used:
Bark
Temperature & Taste:
Warm, dry. Bitter, pungent
Uses:
1. Moves Stomach Qi, Opens Obstructions:
-epigastric and abdominal distention and fullness
-nausea, poor appetite
-Food Stagnation
2. Moves the Qi, Clears Damp and Phlegm:
-distention, fullness, nausea, poor appetite from Damp obstruction with thick or greasy tongue coat
-phlegm obstructing the Chest or Stomach
-Damp-type Diarrhea and Dysentery; used for hot or cold types depending on the herbs its used with
-Turbid urine from excess Damp
3. Directs Qi Downward, Clears Phlegm, Stops Cough and Wheezing:
-Phlegm obstruction causing Coughing and Wheezing
DOSE:
3–9 grams in Decoction;
1–3 grams in Powder
PREPARATION:
1. It can be stir-fried with Ginger juice to enhance its stomach-warming effect
2. Some older sources boiled with Ginger and Licorice root to dryness, then dried the bark thoroughly, then powdered.
CORRECTIVE:
Milk; Barley water (Unani)
SUBSTITUTE:
Magnolia denudata
3–9 grams in Decoction;
1–3 grams in Powder
PREPARATION:
1. It can be stir-fried with Ginger juice to enhance its stomach-warming effect
2. Some older sources boiled with Ginger and Licorice root to dryness, then dried the bark thoroughly, then powdered.
CORRECTIVE:
Milk; Barley water (Unani)
SUBSTITUTE:
Magnolia denudata
Main Combinations:
1. To warm the Stomach, clear Cold and Damp and move Qi: Magnolia Hou Po with fresh Ginger
2. Diarrhea:
i. Acute Cold-type Diarrhea, Magnolia Hou Po with dry Ginger, Costus (Mu Xiang)
ii. Acute Heat-type Diarrhea, Dysentery Magnolia Hou Po with Coptis Huang Lian
3. Stomach weakness with Damp and Qi stagnation, Gastritis, Gastroenteritis:
i. Magnolia Hou Po with Atractylodes Bai Zhu, Poria Fu Ling and Citrus Chen Pi.
ii. Magnolia Hou Po with Atractylodes Cang Zhu, Citrus Chen Pi, Honey-fried Licorice (Zhi Gan Cao) (as in Ping Wei San)
iii. Magnolia Hou Po with Atractylodes Cang Zhu, Pogostemon Huo Xiang,
4. Damp obstructing the Stomach and Spleen, Magnolia Hou Po with Alpinia katsumadai Cao Dou Kou, Atractylodes Cang Zhu.
5. Qi stagnation with Phlegm obstruction, Magnolia Hou Po with Pinellia Ban Xia, Poria Fu Ling, fresh Ginger (as in Ban Xia Hou Po Tang)
6. Epigastric distention and abdominal bloating, Magnolia Hou Po with Cyperus rotundus (Xiang Fu)
7. Abdominal distention with a fast pulse, Magnolia Hou Po with Rhubarb and Immature Bitter Orange (Zhi Shi) (Ben Cao Gang Mu)
8. Food Stagnation, Magnolia Hou Po with Hawthorn fruit (Shan Zha) and Barley Sprout (Mai Ya)
9. Intestinal obstruction, Magnolia Hou Po with Euphorbia Gan Sui, Rhubarb (Da Huang), Peach kernel (Tao Ren)
10. Wheezing from acute Wind-Cold, Magnolia Hou Po with Cinnamon twig (Gui Zhi) and Almond kernel (Xing Ren)
11. Turbid Urine from Damp, Magnolia Hou Po with Poria Fu Ling (Ben Cao Gang Mu)
Major Formula:
Ban Xia Hou Po Tang
Da Cheng Qi Tang
Ping Wei San
Po Chai Pill
Huo Xiang Zheng Qi Shui
Cautions:
1. Use cautiously during pregnancy
Main Preparations used:
1. Use cautiously during pregnancy
Main Preparations used: