Magnolia Bark
후박 (厚朴) · Magnolia officinalis Rehder & E.H.Wilson
Qi-regulating, dampness-drying herb
Warm
Bitter (some sources: pungent)
Spleen, Stomach, Lung, Large Intestine
NatureWarm
TasteBitter (some sources: pungent)
MeridiansSpleen, Stomach, Lung, Large Intestine
Part usedBark
FamilyMagnoliaceae
CategoryQi-regulating, dampness-drying herb
Overview
Magnolia bark, marked in the Donguibogam as an imported (Tang) medicine, is a foundational herb for stagnant, bloated digestion — thickening the stomach's qi and clearing years-old cold stagnation and rumbling fullness. It remains a core ingredient of classic digestive formulas today.
In the Donguibogam
東醫
寶鑑
寶鑑
性溫, 味苦一云辛, 無毒. 主積年冷氣, 腹中脹滿, 雷鳴, 宿食不消. 大溫胃氣, 止霍亂吐瀉轉筋, 消痰下氣, 厚腸胃. 治泄痢嘔逆, 去三蟲, 泄五藏一切氣.
Source: Donguibogam, Tangaek-pyeon (Herbology volume)
TranslationIts nature is warm, its taste bitter (some say pungent), and it is non-toxic. It mainly treats years-old cold qi, abdominal distension and fullness, rumbling in the abdomen, and undigested lingering food. It greatly warms the stomach qi, stops cholera-type vomiting and diarrhea with cramping, resolves phlegm and descends qi, and thickens the intestines and stomach. It treats diarrhea with vomiting and counterflow, expels the three parasites, and drains all stagnant qi of the five viscera.
Traditional functions
- Moves qi, dries dampness
- Resolves phlegm, descends counterflow qi
- Warms and strengthens the stomach
- Relieves distension and fullness
Traditional applications
- Abdominal bloating and fullness
- Food stagnation, undigested lingering food
- Cholera-type vomiting and diarrhea
- Phlegm-damp cough with chest oppression
Traditional preparation
Decoction 4–12g, traditionally prepared roasted with ginger juice.
Cautions
Caution: Pungent, warm, and drying; the classics note raw preparation irritates the throat, so it is traditionally roasted with ginger juice first. Not suited to qi deficiency without stagnation, or to pregnancy without professional guidance. Consult a professional.
Frequently asked questions
Why does the Donguibogam say to roast magnolia bark with ginger juice?
The text explicitly warns that unprepared bark irritates the throat, so ginger-juice roasting was the standard preparation before use — a detail preserved in traditional processing today.
What is magnolia bark's main traditional role?
Relieving bloated, stagnant digestion — the Donguibogam highlights abdominal distension, rumbling fullness, and undigested food as its core uses, alongside resolving phlegm and calming vomiting and diarrhea.
Sources
- 동의보감 탕액편 (원문) — 한문 원문 발췌 — 한의학고전DB 탕액편 대조 검증 완료 (DATA-001)
- 한의학고전DB (mediclassics.kr) — 국역 참조 후 자체 재서술 (LEGAL-001)
DonguiHub is an educational and informational platform about the history and tradition of Korean medicine. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional about health conditions and before using any herb.