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Cura x Cura

Hou Po厚朴

Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex · Magnolia Bark

Aromatic Herbs that Transform Dampness 化湿药《神农本草经》

Overview

The bark of Magnolia officinalis, bitter, acrid, warm and unmistakably aromatic. It does two things at once — it dries the damp that clogs the middle burner and it pushes qi downward — so distension, fullness and a stuffed chest all ease together. Ginger-processed bark is the everyday dispensary form, gentler on the throat and better at settling the stomach; honey-fried bark is moister and leans toward the Lung and a phlegm-damp wheeze.

Nature & Flavor

Bitter, acrid · Warm

Channels

Spleen · Stomach · Lung · Large Intestine

Typical Dosage

3–10 g in decoction
厚朴Photography for this entry is on its way.

Actions

3 core actions

  • Moves qi, disperses fullnessEpigastric and abdominal distension and fullness, worse after eating; the standard pairing is with Zhi Shi 枳实.
  • Dries damp, transforms phlegmDamp obstructing the middle: heavy limbs, a greasy tongue coat, nausea and thick sticky phlegm.
  • Directs qi downward, calms wheezingCough and wheeze with copious phlegm and a full chest, where qi is rebelling upward.

In Formulas

Formulas containing Hou Po

Indications & Clinical Uses

  • Abdominal and epigastric distension, fullness and bloating
    - Damp obstruction with nausea, heaviness and a greasy tongue coat
    - Constipation with distension (combined with purgatives)
    - Phlegm-damp cough and wheeze

Western Medical Keywords

Searchable condition terms

BloatingFunctional dyspepsiaConstipationProductive cough

Contraindications

Cautions

Drying and downward-moving: not appropriate in qi deficiency without stagnation, or in yin-deficient dryness, where it depletes further. Keep courses short in frail or elderly patients, and reduce it once the distension has gone rather than continuing out of habit.

Contraindicated in pregnancy: Used with caution in pregnancy — it moves qi downward strongly; practitioner supervision required

For licensed practitioners’ reference only

References

  1. Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing《神农本草经》(classical source, public domain).
    2. Bensky, Clavey & Stöger. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica, 3rd ed.
    3. 《中华人民共和国药典》.

Professional reference notice. Entries are scholarly references for licensed TCM practitioners and students — not medical advice, and not a recommendation to self-prescribe. Chinese herbal formulas should be used under the guidance of a qualified practitioner. Content is an original editorial compilation by Cura x Cura, cross-checked against the cited references.