Magnolia Bark
厚朴 · Hòu Pò
Eases bloated bellies and tight chest tension
What it does
Magnolia bark eases the bloated, distended feeling in the belly and chest, plus the stress-driven tension that makes you sigh constantly. In TCM, it eliminates dampness and relieves stuck qi, the pattern behind globus sensation, sighing, and abdominal fullness. Honokiol and magnolol are research targets for sleep and anxiety, binding GABA receptors in lab studies.
How to take it
Decoct 3–9g of dried magnolia bark in 4 cups water for 25 minutes. Drink 1 cup, 1–2x daily for bloating and stress. Pairs with tangerine peel and atractylodes.
Try a Ping Wei San formula daily during digestive heaviness with stress
Take a standardized magnolia bark capsule (typically 200–400mg of magnolol/honokiol extract) once or twice daily. Often combined in calm-and-sleep formulas.
Try a magnolia bark capsule before bed during high-stress weeks
Safety
- Skip during pregnancy. Strong qi-moving and uterine effects
- May lower blood pressure. Monitor with antihypertensives
- Don't combine with sedatives or alcohol
- Skip with severe yin-deficient dryness
- Talk to your doctor before starting, especially if you take medication
Where it comes from
Magnolia officinalis is a deciduous tree native to central and southern China. The aromatic bark has been used in TCM for over 2,000 years. The Chinese name Hòu Pò means 'thick simple,' a description of the bark's substantial layer. Magnolia bark is the lead herb in Ping Wei San (Calm the Stomach Powder) for digestive heaviness, and Ban Xia Hou Po Tang for the classical 'plum pit qi' sensation of a stuck lump in the throat from emotional unease.