Herb
Magnolia Bark (Hou po)
厚朴hou po
1 sourceCortex Magnoliae Officinalis
Dries dampness and directs qi downward to relieve fullness and distension, transforms phlegm, and calms panting.
Used in 13 formulas
Source
Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu)卷三十五·木部·乔木类·厚朴·主治（《本经》）
References
- functions_en self-translated from 本草纲目 traditional_functions (public domain; the Chinese tf carries verbatim excerpt_hash citations). No modern work consulted.
- WHO IST-TCM terminology-aligned for the English rendering.
- public pharmacopoeia & botanical facts (public-domain reference facts; no proprietary modern source).
Traditional functions
Classical source text (Chinese) — English summary above.
传统中医记载：《本经》载厚朴主中风伤寒、头痛寒热惊悸、气血痹、死肌、去三虫；《别录》温中益气、消痰下气、疗霍乱及腹痛胀满、胃中冷逆、厚肠胃；大明谓健脾、泻膀胱及五脏一切气；王好古谓主肺气胀满、膨而喘咳。
Nature, flavor & meridians
Nature & flavor: 苦，温，无毒（《本经》）；《别录》谓大温；甄权谓苦辛大热；张元素谓气温、味苦辛、气味俱厚、体重浊而微降、阴中阳。
Used in formulas
- Magnolia Bark, Fresh Ginger, Pinellia, Licorice and Ginseng Decoction
- Magnolia Bark and Ephedra Decoction
- Magnolia Bark Seven-Substance Decoction
- Magnolia Bark Three-Substance Decoction
- Magnolia Bark and Rhubarb Decoction
- Major Order the Qi Decoction
- Immature Bitter Orange, Chinese Chive, and Cinnamon Twig Decoction
- Minor Order the Qi Decoction
- Gardenia and Magnolia Bark Decoction
- Cannabis Seed Pill
- Cinnamon Twig Decoction plus Magnolia Bark and Apricot Kernel
- Vaccaria Powder
- Turtle Shell Decocted Pill
Citations
- Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷三十五·木部·乔木类·厚朴（条目标题·《本经》中品）Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its classification.
- Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷三十五·木部·乔木类·厚朴·释名Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its alternate names.
- Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷三十五·木部·乔木类·厚朴·气味（《本经》《别录》元素）Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its nature & flavor.
- Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷三十五·木部·乔木类·厚朴·主治（《本经》）Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its traditional functions.
- Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷三十五·木部·乔木类·厚朴·主治（《别录》）Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its traditional functions.
- Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷三十五·木部·乔木类·厚朴·气味（之才·为使恶忌）Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its safety notes.
- Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷三十五·木部·乔木类·厚朴·发明（元素·孕妇忌之、误服脱元气）Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its safety notes.