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Latin pharmacognostic name: Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex

Kingdom: Plant

Origin in PRC Pharmacopoeia: Magnolia officinalis Rehd. et Wils.; Magnolia officinalis Rehd. et Wils. var. biloba Rehd. et Wils. (PRC Pharmacopoeia)

Origin (other sources): Magnolia officinalis Rehd. et Wils.; Magnolia officinalis Rehd. et Wils. var. biloba Rehd. et Wils.

Use: Medicinal

Category: Aromatic dampness-transforming agents

Properties: Bitter, acrid; warm.

Channel entry: Spleen, stomach, lung, and large intestine channels.

Indications:

• Moves qì and dries dampness: Oppression in the stomach duct, abdominal fullness, abdominal pain, or retching due to qì stagnation and dampness obstructing the center burner.
• Disperses accumulations: Accumulation and stagnation in the stomach and intestines with bound stool and distension and fullness in the stomach duct and abdomen.
• Calms panting: Phlegm-rheum panting and cough.

Dosage & Method: Oral: 3–10g in decoctions; also used in pills and powders. Mostly used stir-fried (with ginger)

Warnings: Use with care in pregnancy.

Notes: Hòu pò varies considerably in appearance because it is sliced in several different ways. High quality hòu pò is expensive and has a high oil content; it glistens in the sunlight.

Product Description: This product comes in the form of single or double quills, roughly 35 cm long, and 2–5 mm wide. The outer surface is a dull, grayish brown in color and is rough and scaly in texture, with an irregular grain. The inner surface is a purplish brown with a straight grain. This bark is hard and breaks to leave a jagged fibrous edge.

Quality: Good quality barks have an outer layer thicker than the inner layer and have a clear reddish-purple hue on the cross section. They have a high oil content, a strong smell, and a sweet, acrid taste.

Product Area: Sìchuān, Húběi, Zhèjiāng, the best coming from Sìchuān.

Etymology: The name hòu pò 厚朴 is said to reflect the thickness (hòu 厚) of this bark and its unadorned simplicity (朴, 朴). XXX

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