HomeTraditional Chinese Medicine HerbsOfficinal Magnolia Bark

Officinal Magnolia Bark

Latin Pharmaceutical Name

Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex

Chinese Name

厚朴

Category

Tree barks and root barks

Officinal Magnolia BarkMore Info

Production Regions

Primarily produced in the Chinese provinces of Sichuan, Zhejiang, Hubei, Hunan.

Macroscopic Features

Trunk bark: Rolled tube-shape or double rolled tube-shape, 30~35cm long, 2~7mm thick, also called ‘tube pu’; one end of the trunk bark is flattened like a trumpet near the root, also called ‘boot tube pu’. Externally grayish-brown, rough, cortex is scale-like, falls off relatively easily, lacks obvious oval lenticels and horizontal wrinkles, yellowish-brown after scratching the cortex; inner surface is purple-brown or dark purple-brown, with thin dense longitudinal lines, oil marks when scratched. Hard texture, difficult to break; fractured surface is granular, exterior is grayish-brown, inside is purple-brown or brown, oily, with numerous small sparkling stars. Aromatic odor; acrid and spicy and slightly bitter taste. Root bark (root pu): Main root and lateral root bark, 3~5mm thick, uneven thickness, tuberous, flake-like, shaped like a goat ear; it may be thin, small and curved like a chicken intestine, and is also called ‘chicken intestine pu’. Externally grayish-yellow or grayish-brown. Slightly hard texture, easily broken, fractured surface is fibrous. Branch bark (branch pu): Single tube-shaped, 10~20cm long, 1~2mm thick. Outer surface is grayish-brown, inner surface is yellowish-brown. Brittle texture, easily broken, factured surface is fibrous.

Quality Requirements

Superior medicinal material has thick skin, thin interior, very oily texture, purple-brown fractured surface, with small bright stars, and potent aromatic odor.

Properties

Bitter, acrid; warm

Functions

Moves qi, disperses stagnation, dries dampness, eliminates fullness, downbears qi, calms panting. Apply to dyspeptic disease and qi stagnancy, abdominal distention and constipation, dampness stagnates the middle-jiao, vomiting and diarrhea, accumulation of phlegm and reversed qi, cough and panting due to fullness of cheat.

Origin

The dried trunk bark, branch bark and root bark of Magnolia officinalis Rehd. et Wils(Magnoliaceae).

Officinal Magnolia BarkHerbs in the formula

Agastache Qi-Correcting Powder

Action：Releases the exterior and removes dampness, rectifies qi and harmonizes the center.

Indication：Huo Xiang Zheng Qi San is indicated for the contraction of exogenous wind-cold and internal damage by internal dampness. The symptoms include aversion to co1d with fever, headache, chest and diaphragm distension and depression, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, bowel sounds and diarrhea. The tongue has a white, greasy tongue coating. It can also be used to treat conditions that are contracted from the clouds and mists in the mountains, malaria, etc.

View Details Dampclearing formulas

Immature Bitter Orange, Chinese Chive and Cinnamon Twig Decoction

Action：Unblocks yang and dissipates masses, dispels phlegm and lowers qi.

Indication：Zhi Shi Xie Bai Gui Zhi Tang is indicated for chest bi caused by chest yang weakness, phlegm obstruction, and counterflow qi. The symptoms are fullness and pain in the chest, chest pain radiating to the back, panting, cough, spitting, shortness of breath, hypochondriac qi counterflowing upward to heart and chest. The coating is white and greasy, and the pulse is deep, wiry or tight.

View Details Qi-regulating formulas

Immature Bitter Orange and Glomus-Dispersing Pill

Action：Disperses and relieves fullness, fortifies the spleen and harmonizes the stomach.

Indication：Spleen deficiency and qi stagnation with cold and heat combined, characterized by fullness below the heart, no desire to eat or drink, tiredness, lack of strength, difficult defecation, greasy, slight yellow tongue coating, and a wiry pulse.

View Details Digestive formulas

Turtle Shell Decocted Pill

Action：Moves qi, invigorates blood, dispels dampness, dissolves phlegm, softens hardness, and disperses concretions.

Indication：Bie Jia Jian Wan is indicated for chronic malaria with masses below the costal region and abdominal masses. Long-lasting malaria causes masses to gather underneath the costal region. It is called chronic malaria with masses. Symptoms include: Masses underneath the costal region that stay firm when pushed, abdominal pain, weak muscles, decreased appetite, occasional cold or fever, and inhibited menses.

View Details Blood-regulating formulas

Perilla Fruit Qi-Descending Decoction

Action：Directs qi downward, dispels phlegm, relieves cough and panting.

Indication：Su Zi Jiang Qi Tang is indicated for coughing or wheezing in patterns of upper excess and lower deficiency. The symptoms are phlegm-drool accumulation, chest and diaphragm fullness and oppression, coughing, panting, shortness of breath, and exhaling more than inhaling. It is accompanied by lumbago, weakness in the legs, fatigue, lassitude, or swollen limbs. The tongue coating is glossy, white or greasy, white, and the pulse is wiry and slippery.

View Details Qi-regulating formulas

Spleen-Strengthening Powder

Action：Warms yang and fortifies the spleen, moves qi, and promotes urination.

Indication：Shi Pi San is indicated for a pattern of yin edema caused by spleen-kidney yang deficiency and retention of water-dampness in the interior. The symptoms are swelling of the lower limbs, cold hands and feet, no thirst, fullness and distention of chest and abdomen, loose stool as well. The tongue coating is white and greasy and the pulse is deep, wiry and slow.

View Details Dampclearing formulas

Membrane-Source-Opening Beverage

Action：Opens and vents the membrane-source, dispels filth and removes turbidity.

Indication：Latent pathogen of pestilence or malaria in the pleurodiaphragmatic interspace (membrane-source). Symptoms are aversion to cold with high fever marked by irregular onset such as one or three times per day, chest oppression, headache, vexation and agitation, wiry and rapid pulse, deep red tongue-edge, putrid and greasy tongue coating, or white, thick tongue coating like accumulated powder.

View Details Harmonizing formulas

Yellow Dragon Decoction

Action：Purges by promoting defecation, supplements qi and nourishes the blood.

Indication：This formula may be prescribed for yangming bowel excess with deficiency of qi and blood. This pattern is characterized by either the discharge of clear, watery stool that is pure green or constipation. There is stomach cavity and abdominal distention and pain which refuses pressure, fever, thirst, mental fatigue, shortness of breath, delirious speech, picking at their pajamas, teasing air as if arranging thread, unconsciousness, reversal counterflow cold of the four limbs, a dry yellow or dry black tongue coating, and a weak pulse.

View Details Purgative formulas

Cannabis Fruit Pill (Spleen Confinement Pill)

Action：Moistens the intestines, drains heat, and moves qi to promote defecation.

Indication：Ma Zi Ren Wan is indicated for spleen confinement constipation due to dryness-heat in the stomach and intestines. The symptoms are dry stool, frequent urination, a red tongue body, a dry slightly yellow tongue coating, and a rapid pulse.

View Details Purgative formulas

Coptis and Officinal Magnolia Bark Beverage

Action：Clears heat and dispels dampness, rectifies qi, and harmonizes the center.

Indication：Lian Po Yin is indicated for damp-heat cholera. The symptoms are vomiting, diarrhea, chest and epigastric pi and oppression, vexation and agitation, and scanty dark urine. The tongue coating is yellow and greasy, and the pulse is slippery and rapid.

View Details Dampclearing formulas

Mosla Powder

Action：Dispels summerheat, releases exterior, removes dampness, and harmonizes the center.

Indication：This formula is indicated for yin summerheat. The symptoms are aversion to cold with fever, heaviness of the head, body pain, absence of sweating, abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea, chest and abdominal oppression and fullness, a greasy white tongue coating, and a floating pulse.

View Details Summer-heat clearing formulas

Officinal Magnolia Bark Center-Warming Decoction

Action：Moves qi to eliminate distention, warms the center and dries dampness.

Indication：This formula is indicated for the pattern of spleen-stomach qi stagnation caused by cold-damp. The symptoms are distention, fullness, pain in the stomach cavity and abdomen, no desire to eat or drink, lassitude of the four limbs. The tongue is white and greasy. The pulse is deep and wiry pulse.

View Details Qi-regulating formulas

Stomach-Calming Powder

Action：Dries dampness and activates the spleen, moves qi and harmonizes the stomach.

Indication：This is a pattern caused by dampness accumulation in the spleen and stomach. Spleen pertains to the earth of taiyin, is localized in middle jiao, and governs transportation and transformation. It is adverse to humidity and prefers dryness. When dampness accumulation blocks the middle jiao, the result is failure of transportation and transformation marked by abdominal distension and fullness, poor appetite and tastelessness. Additionally, the stomach qi might fail to descend. Counterflow of the stomach qi leads to nausea, vomiting, belching, and acid swallowing. Dampness is a yin pathogen that is heavy and lingering by its nature. Therefore, dampness accumulation in the body leads to heavy sensation in the limbs, lassitude, and somnolence. Dampness entering the intestine results in diarrhea. The therapeutic principles are to dry dampness and to activate the spleen as the primary function and move qi and harmonize the stomach as the secondary function. The ability to remove dampness is increased when qi moves smoothly.

View Details Dampclearing formulas

Pinellia and Officinal Magnolia Bark Decoction

Action：Moves qi and dissipates masses, directs counterflow downward and dissolves phlegm.

Indication：Ban Xia Hou Po Tang is indicated for plum-stone qi (globus hystericus). The symptoms are fullness and tightness in the chest and diaphragm, coughing, and vomiting. The tongue coating is white and moist or white and glossy. The pulse is wiry and slow or wiry and slippery.

View Details Qi-regulating formulas

Major Purgative Decoction

Action：Drastically purges heat accumulation.

Indication：1. Excess heat in the yangming fu-organs. The symptoms are constipation with frequent flatulence, gastric stuffiness and abdominal fullness, abdominal pain that feels worse with pressure, and the abdomen is tense and firm when pressed. In severe cases, there may be tidal fever, delirious speech, and profuse sweating from the palms and soles. The tongue coating is dry and yellow with prickles, or dry and parched black with cracks. The pulse is deep and excessive.

View Details Purgative formulas

Three Kernels Decoction

Action：Disperses and diffuses qi movement, clears and removes damp-heat.

Indication：San Ren Tang is indicated for the pattern of more dampness than heat in the early stage of damp-warmth and summerheat-warmth with dampness. The symptoms are headache, aversion to cold, heavy body, general pain, fatigue, a light yellow complexion, chest distress without hunger, afternoon fever, and no thirst. The tongue coating is white and the pulse is wiry, thin, and soggy.

View Details Dampclearing formulas