Individual Herbs Notebook

厚朴 Hou Po

Translation: Generous / Thick / Substantial and Sincere / Unadorned / Simple / Plain

Pharmaceutical: Cortex Magnoliae
Taxonomy: Magnolia officinalis

Other names: Magnolia Bark

Category: Aromatic Herbs that Transform Dampness


Properties: Bitter, pungent, warm

Meridans Entered:
Primary: Spleen, Stomach, Lung and Large Intestine
Sinews: Taiyin
Extraordinary Vessels: Ren

Traditional Actions/Indications:
  1. Promotes the movement of Qi in the Middle Jiao and resolves Stagnation
    Abdominal, epigastric, and/or chest fullness, bloating, loss of appetite, poor digestion, constipation
    Plum Pit Qi, a feeling of a lump in throat, usually considered psychosomatic today (globus hystericus). Hou Po has modern indications as neuroprotective and also features in formulas like Da/Xiao Cheng Qi Tang which deal with neuropsychiatric symptoms like delirium.
  2. Promotes the movement of Qi downward, dries Dampness and transforms Phlegm
    Dampness or Phlegm Obstructing the Middle Jiao with distention, fullness, nausea and diarrhoea
  3. Descends Rebellious Qi, reduces Phlegm and calms wheezing
    Cough and wheezing due to Phlegm congesting the Lungs
  4. Removes the Three Worms
    Said in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing that it removes the Three Worms. These may refer to difficult to treat metabolic disorders caused by overindulgence and should be accompanied by fasting, meditation and exercise regimes.

Suggested Daily Dosage: 3-10g in decoction.

Cautions: It should be used with cautions for the syndrome of qi deficiency and fluid consumption, and in pregnant women. Due to some of the anticoagulant effects of its constituents it should be used with caution in conjunction with blood thinners.

Notable Constituents:
  1. Magnolol
    Lignan with non-steroidal anti-inflammtory activity, platelet aggregating inhibitory activity and anti-arryhtmic activity. It may also act on GABA receptors, stimulate oesteoblasts while inhibiting oestoclasts, antifungal and antiperidontal effects. Li et al, (2019) also identified vasodilatory properties.
  2. Honokiol
    Isomer of magnolol with high bioavailability that can readily cross the blood brain barrier. It has many therapeutic effects including pro-apoptotic effects in many cancers, neuroprotective and neurotrophic effects (promoting nerve growth), anxiolytic effects through GABA modulation, antithrombitic, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. It has also displayed inhibition of calcium mediated excitotoxicity for the control of tremors and convulsions, inhibition of Hep C and HIV-1 virus and metabolic modulation, normalising blood sugar and preventing weight gain in diabetic mice.

Notes:

It is interesting to note that its constituent Honokiol has considerable neurological and anxiolytic activity which is reflected in its use in formulas such as Ban Xia Hou Po Tang and Da Cheng Qi Tang that are commonly used for psychological disturbance yet the herb itself has no "spirit calming" properties. This is because of the Chinese approach to psychology as being essentially a bodily phenomenon and so these actions are encompassed by the ability of Hou Po to move Qi Stagnation in the Yangming channels and transform Dampness and Phlegm.

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Due to the many potential translations of both 厚 and 朴 it can be translated as "Generous and Sincere" or "Thick and Plain" which clearly have different connotations in English. However, the connotation of both is that of being generous though being bountiful and sincere through simplicity and without adornment.

Appears in 83 formulae listed on this site: (click to display)
Research Links & References: (click to display)
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