INDIVIDUAL HERBS
| Pharmaceutical Latin: | Cortex Magnoliae Officinalis |
| Common English: | Magnolia Bark |
| 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 |
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INCOMPATIBILITIES |
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HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS |
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Fr. Aurantii Immaturus |
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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 |
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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. |
Rz. Pinelliae Preparatum |
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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. Zingiberis |
Rz. Zingiberis |
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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 |
Sm. Pruni Armeniacae or |
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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 |
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Cough and wheezing due to Excess in the Upper Jiao (Phlegm Obstructs Lung Qi) with Deficiency in the Lower Jiao (Kidney Deficiency). |
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- Many sources include this herb in the Regulate Qi category.
- This is an important herb for reducing and eliminating distention and fullness and can be used whenever these symptoms occur due to Qi Stagnation.
- This herb assists in purgative formulas to normalize Qi.
- This herb is very aromatic; it penetrates through Dampness, moving and drying it, and breaking up congested Qi while settling the disturbed Qi.
- Used in large doses for abdominal bloating, pressure, gas pains and for difficult breathing.
- This herb has recently been used to treat microbial toxicosis, viral infections and cell-mediated allergies.
- This herb treats passive cutaneous anaphalaxis (PCA).
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.