Herb module
Hou Po
Magnolia BarkMagnolia officinalis
The thick, fragrant bark of a magnolia tree, used to move stuck Qi downward and ease fullness in the belly and chest.
Hou Po is the bark of a magnolia tree. Traditional Chinese Medicine uses it when Qi gets stuck in the middle and pushes upward instead of flowing down. It dries Dampness, transforms Phlegm, and helps settle both digestion and breathing. It appears in four Zoi formulas: Metabolic Balance™, Resilience | Fós™, Longevity | The Zoi™, and Digestive Relief | Édafos™.
Best functions
- Moves Qi in the Middle Jiao and relieves food stagnation
- Promotes the downward movement of Qi and descends rebellious Qi
- Dries Dampness and transforms Phlegm
- Reduces Phlegm and is traditionally used to calm wheezing
- Relieves fullness and distension
Fascinating facts
- The name Hou Po is commonly translated as 'thick bark,' a fitting description of the sturdy strips peeled from the tree.
- Hou Po is nicknamed 'the bark that opens the belly.' The name nods to its traditional role of moving Qi downward through the digestive system.
- Magnolias are among the oldest flowering plants on Earth. Their flowers evolved before bees existed and are pollinated by beetles.
- Research has looked at honokiol and magnolol, two compounds in the bark. Studies suggest they interact with the brain's calming receptors and may support stress tolerance.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine
Hou Po is warm in nature, with a bitter and pungent flavor, and it is a Qi-regulating herb. It enters the Large Intestine, Lung, Spleen, and Stomach channels.
Biomedical deep dive
Hou Po Magnolia Bark
From the Zoi Medicinals fact sheets’ Biomedical Details, with lines from Noa’s herb notes marked “Noa’s notes”.
On the fact sheet
- Hou Po (Magnolia Bark, Magnoliae officinalis) is warm and enters the LI, LU, SP, and ST channels; moves Qi in the middle and relieves food stagnation, promotes movement of Qi downward, dries damp, transforms phlegm, descends rebellious Qi, reduces phlegm and calms wheezing. Metabolic Balance · Resilience | Fós · Longevity | · The Zoi · Digestive Relief | Édafos sheets
Key active constituents
- Honokiol and magnolol, two bark compounds named in the sheets' cited research on stress, mood and the brain.
Pharmacology and mechanisms
- Magnolia bark lowers triglycerides (blood fats) and has anti-diabetic activities.
- Magnolia bark has relaxant and antispasmodic (cramp-easing) effects.
- Magnolia bark has broad antimicrobial activity against many bacteria and Candida (a yeast), and known anti-inflammatory activity.
- A component of magnolia bark has shown antidepressant effects and calmed an overactive HPA axis (the brain-adrenal stress system) in animals.
- Magnolia bark appears to improve stress tolerance, affecting symptoms of anxiety and depression.
- Magnolia bark extracts have been shown to cross the blood-brain barrier.
- Magnolia bark is listed among herbs that benefit the cardiovascular system and that have anti-tumor functions in research.
- Honokiol and magnolol are positive allosteric GABA-A modulators: they boost the brain's main calming receptor (anxiety-easing). Noa’s notes
- Inhibits NF-κB, COX-2 and iNOS together, three key drivers of inflammation. Noa’s notes
- Helps regulate blood glucose through insulin-receptor signalling in liver cells. Noa’s notes
What the research says
- In animals, magnolol and honokiol reduced stress-induced depressive behaviors (Cheng et al., Int Immunopharmacol 2018; Wang et al., 2018).
- Magnolia combined with Phellodendron bark reduced the impact of cortisol, fatigue, and feelings of stress and anxiety in moderately stressed adults (Talbott et al., J Int Soc Sports Nutr 2013).
- Magnolia bark lowers triglycerides and has anti-diabetic activity (Poivre and Duez, J Zhejiang Univ Sci B 2017).
- Magnolia bark extracts crossed the blood-brain barrier and showed anti-tumor activity in lab research (Eliaz, Natural Medicine Journal 2013).
- Bioactive parts of magnolia bark were studied alongside other approaches in tumor research.
Safety, interactions and cautions
- Every Zoi fact sheet: do not use if pregnant or breastfeeding unless directed by your health care practitioner.
- The Metabolic Balance fact sheet cautions that the formula may be contraindicated with prescription blood thinners or anti-diabetic drugs.
- The Resilience | Fós fact sheet cautions anyone with a medical condition or taking medication to consult their doctor before use.
- The Resilience | Fós fact sheet notes that if the formula interferes with sleep, the last dose should be taken earlier, at least 3 hours before bed.
- Avoid in pregnancy. Noa’s notes
- Caution with Yin or fluid deficiency, or Qi deficiency without stagnation (Traditional Chinese Medicine terms). · Noa’s notes
- Metabolic Balance™ is not for everyday use in children. It can be used short term to support the gut with parasites or gut infections in children, at 1 dropper full 3x per day. Always review an infection with your physician.
In these Zoi formulas
- Metabolic Balance (#10 on the fact sheet)
- Resilience | Fós (#7 on the fact sheet)
- Longevity | The Zoi (#9 on the fact sheet)
- Digestive Relief | Édafos (#7 on the fact sheet)
