Hou Po - 厚朴 - Cortex Magnolia Officinalis - Magnolia Bark
| Pharmaceutical Latin: | Cortex Magnoliae Officinalis |
| Common English: | Magnolia Bark |
Category
Aromatic Herbs that Dispel DampnessProperties
| Taste | Temperature | Entering Meridians | Dosage |
| Bitter Acrid Aromatic | Warm | Large Intestine Lung Spleen Stomach | 3-10g Tincture: 1-4ml |
Actions And Indications
| 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, Incompatibilities And Herb/Drug Interactions
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| INCOMPATIBILITIES |
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| HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS |
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Major Combinations
| Fr. Aurantii Immaturus | Fr. Aurantii Immaturus | Fr. Aurantii Immaturus |
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 | Ram Cinnamomi | Rz. Cyperi |
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 | Rx. Ginseng | Rz. Pinelliae Preparatum |
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 | Rz. Zingiberis | Rz. Zingiberis |
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 | Fr. Perillae | Sm. Pruni Armeniacae Or Sm. Pruni Armeniacae |
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 | Rz. Atractylodis | Sm. Armeniacae |
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 | ||
Cough and wheezing due to Excess in the Upper Jiao (Phlegm Obstructs Lung Qi) with Deficiency in the Lower Jiao (Kidney Deficiency). |
Notes
- A number of sources classify this herb in the Regulate Qi category.
- It is a key herb for reducing and eliminating distention and fullness, and may be used whenever Qi Stagnation produces these symptoms.
- In purgative formulas, it helps normalize Qi.
- Highly aromatic, this herb penetrates Dampness, moving and drying it, and breaks up congested Qi while settling disturbed Qi.
- Large doses are used for abdominal bloating, pressure and gas pains, and for difficult breathing.
- Recently it has been used for microbial toxicosis, viral infections and cell-mediated allergies.
- It is used for passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA).
- Hou Po and Fr. Aurantii Immaturus Zhi Shi both treat obstruction from food, Dampness or Phlegm that results in 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 relieve distention and fullness. Zhi Shi is cold and breaks up Qi Stasis to disperse Phlegm.
- Hou Po and Rz. Atractylodis Cang Zhu are both acrid, bitter and warm; both enter the Spleen and Stomach channels and dry Dampness to treat Damp obstruction in the Middle Jiao. Hou Po is outstanding at descending Qi to relieve abdominal distention and fullness. What sets it apart is its ability to treat distention whether or not it has form, e.g. constipation or formless Dampness. It also treats wheezing. Cang Zhu is particularly drying. Internally it strengthens the Spleen, and externally it induces sweating to release the exterior and dispel Wind-Dampness. Combined with Cx. Phellodendri Huang Bai, it treats Damp-Heat in the Lower Jiao.
- Ginger Magnolia Bark Jiang Hou Po irritates the throat less and transforms Dampness more strongly to harmonize the Stomach. Its bitterness and stimulating effects are lessened, so it is less likely to cause nausea and Stomach discomfort. It is the best choice for abdominal distention.
- Prepared Magnolia Bark Zhi Hou Po irritates the throat less, harmonizes the Stomach and, above all, is more effective at promoting the flow of Qi to treat rebellious Qi that causes wheezing and nausea.
- Flos Magnoliae Officinalis Hou Po Hua is acrid, bitter, slightly warm and aromatic, and enters the Spleen and Stomach channels. It promotes the movement of Qi and transforms Dampness, but it is weaker and less drying than Hou Po. It acts mainly on the Upper and Middle Jiaos and is used to open and ease the Middle Jiao and chest when Dampness has caused Qi Stagnation with epigastric and abdominal fullness and distention, a stifling feeling in the chest and anorexia. The dosage is 3-6g.
From Class
- Hou Po (Magnolia bark): Regulates qi to move stagnation, transforms damp accumulation, helps redirect the Lungs. (Lewis)
- Winter pregnancy support: Gui Pi Tang, ginger, Hou Po, Gan Cao, Tu Si Zi, An Zhong Tang: Decoctions preferred over pills; sticky herbs helpful; ascending herbs for a weak Spleen; Tu Si Zi warms the center without too much heat.