Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex Praeparata cum Zingibere
Aliases：Jiang Chong Pi、Jiang Chi Pu、Jiang Lie Pu、Jiang Hou Pi
iang Houpo (Ginger‑processed Magnolia Bark) is a processed product of the Chinese medicinal Houpo (Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex). It is made from the dried trunk bark, root bark, and branch bark of Magnolia officinalis Rehd. et Wils. or Magnolia officinalis Rehd. et Wils. var. biloba Rehd. et Wils. (family Magnoliaceae) through cleaning, cutting into slices or shreds, and stir‑frying with ginger juice.
Efficacy & Actions
Dry dampness and transform phlegm, descend qi and relieve distension (after ginger processing, the acrid‑drying nature is moderated, and the action of harmonizing the stomach to stop vomiting is enhanced).
Indications
Dampness obstructing the middle jiao, epigastric and abdominal distension, food stagnation with qi stagnation, abdominal distension and constipation, phlegm-fluid retention with wheezing and cough, plum pit qi (globus hystericus – sensation of a foreign body in the throat), and stomach cold vomiting.
Modern Pharmacology
Anti-inflammatory: Magnolol and honokiol inhibit the release of inflammatory mediators. Antibacterial: Inhibits Staphylococcus aureus, Shigella dysenteriae, caries-causing bacteria, etc. Anti-ulcer: Protects gastric mucosa and promotes ulcer healing. Central nervous system depression: Exhibits sedative and anticonvulsant effects. Antitumor: Inhibits the growth of various tumor cells. Antioxidant: Scavenges free radicals. Anti-allergic: Inhibits the release of allergic mediators. Muscle relaxation: Relaxes skeletal muscle. Harmonizing stomach and stopping vomiting: After processing with ginger, it enhances regulation of gastrointestinal smooth muscle and relieves vomiting due to stomach cold.
Ingredients
Lignans: Magnolol, honokiol, magnaldehyde, etc. Volatile oils: Eudesmol, α-pinene, β-pinene, limonene, etc. Alkaloids: Magnocurarine, etc. Others: Tannins, saponins, polysaccharides, etc.
Usage & Dosage
Oral administration: decoct 3–10 g in water; or use in pills or powder. Precautions: Ginger‑processed Houpo contains volatile oil and should not be decocted for a long time; processing with ginger reduces its pungent and drying nature, but long‑term or excessive use should still be avoided. Contraindications: Use with caution during pregnancy; contraindicated in cases of qi deficiency with fluid depletion, and yin deficiency with dry cough.
Contraindications
This product is acrid, bitter, warm and drying in nature, and may easily consume qi and damage fluids. Therefore, it should be used with caution in cases of qi deficiency, fluid damage with blood depletion, and during pregnancy.
Selected Formulas
1. Pingwei San (Stomach-Calming Powder) Source: Taiping Huimin Heji Jufang (Peaceful Holy Benevolent Prescriptions) Ingredients: Atractylodis Rhizoma (Cangzhu, remove rough bark, soak in rice water for 2 days) – 120 g Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex (Houpo, remove rough bark, processed with ginger juice, stir‑fried until fragrant) – 90 g Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium (Chenpi, remove white inner part) – 60 g Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Gancao, stir‑fried) – 30 g Usage: Grind the above into a fine powder. Each time, take 6 g of the powder, add 1 cup of water, 2 slices of fresh ginger, and 2 red dates (jujube). Decoct until about 70% of the liquid remains. Strain, and take warm before meals. Indication: Dampness obstructing the middle jiao with spleen‑stomach disharmony, epigastric and abdominal distension, poor appetite with tastelessness, nausea and vomiting, loose stools, and white greasy tongue coating. Note: In this formula, Houpo is processed with ginger (Jiang Houpo), which exemplifies its actions of drying dampness, moving qi, harmonizing the stomach, and descending rebellious qi. 2. Banxia Houpo Tang (Pinellia and Magnolia Bark Decoction) Source: Synopsis of the Golden Chamber (Jinkui Yaolüe) Ingredients: Pinelliae Rhizoma (Banxia) – 12 g Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex (Houpo) – 9 g Poria (Fuling) – 12 g Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens (Shengjiang, fresh ginger) – 15 g Perillae Folium (Suye) – 6 g Usage: Decoct in water, one dose per day, and take orally. Indication: Plum pit qi (globus hystericus – sensation of a foreign body in the throat, unable to be coughed out or swallowed), chest and hypochondriac fullness, cough or vomiting, white moist or greasy tongue coating. Modern applications include globus sensation (pharyngeal paresthesia), chronic pharyngitis, and gastric neurosis. Note: In this formula, Houpo descends qi and relieves distension, while fresh ginger warms the middle and stops vomiting. The combination of ginger‑processed Houpo and fresh ginger enhances the actions of descending rebellious qi and harmonizing the stomach. 3. Houpo Wen Zhong Tang (Magnolia Bark Decoction for Warming the Middle) Source: Neiwaishang Bianhuo Lun (Differentiation of Internal and External Injuries) Ingredients: Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex (Houpo, processed with ginger) – 15 g Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium (Chenpi, remove white inner part) – 9 g Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Gancao, honey‑fried) – 6 g Poria (Fuling, peel removed) – 9 g Alpiniae Katsumadai Semen (Caodoukou, seed kernel) – 6 g Aucklandiae Radix (Muxiang) – 6 g Zingiberis Rhizoma (Ganjiang, dried ginger) – 6 g Usage: Decoct in water, one dose per day, and take orally. Indication: Spleen‑stomach deficiency cold with cold‑dampness encumbering the spleen, epigastric and abdominal distension, poor appetite, loose stools, fatigue of the four limbs, and white greasy tongue coating. Note: In this formula, Houpo processed with ginger (Jiang Houpo) warms the middle, dries dampness, moves qi, and relieves distension. 4. Xiao Chengqi Tang (Minor Order the Qi Decoction) Source: Treatise on Cold Damage (Shanghan Lun) Ingredients: Rhei Radix et Rhizoma (Dahuang, washed with wine) – 12 g Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex (Houpo, processed with ginger) – 6 g Aurantii Fructus Immaturus (Zhishi, stir‑fried) – 9 g Usage: Decoct in water, one dose per day, and take orally. Indication: Mild Yangming fu‑organ excess pattern, abdominal distension with constipation, tidal fever and delirium, yellow, dry and thick tongue coating. Note: Houpo in this formula moves qi and reduces distension. Although it is not primarily used with ginger processing, ginger‑processing can moderate its acrid‑drying nature and reduce irritation to the spleen and stomach. 5. Suzi Jiangqi Tang (Perilla Fruit Decoction for Descending Qi) Source: Taiping Huimin Heji Jufang (Peaceful Holy Benevolent Prescriptions) Ingredients: Perillae Fructus (Zisuzi) – 75 g Pinelliae Rhizoma (Banxia, washed with boiling water 7 times) – 75 g Angelicae Sinensis Radix (Chuandanggui, remove rootlets) – 45 g Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Gancao, honey‑fried) – 60 g Peucedani Radix (Qianhu, remove rootlets) – 45 g Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex (Houpo, remove rough bark, processed with ginger) – 30 g Cinnamomi Cortex (Rougui, remove outer bark) – 45 g Usage: Grind the above into a fine powder. Each time, take 6 g of the powder, add 1.5 cups of water, 2 slices of fresh ginger, 1 red date (jujube), and 5 perilla leaves. Decoct until about 80% of the liquid remains, strain, and take warm, without time restriction. Indication: Upper excess with lower deficiency pattern manifested as profuse phlegm, cough and wheezing with shortness of breath, chest and diaphragm stuffiness, or low back pain, weak feet, and edema of the limbs. Note: In this formula, ginger‑processed Houpo descends qi, relieves wheezing, dries dampness, and transforms phlegm.
Daily Consumption
Daily Use Methods of Jiang Houpo (Ginger‑processed Magnolia Bark) – Dietary / Tea Reference Jiang Houpo and Chenpi Tea: Take 3 g of Jiang Houpo and 5 g of aged tangerine peel (Chenpi). Steep in boiling water, cover and let infuse for 10 minutes, then drink as tea. One dose per day, for no more than 3–5 consecutive days. Action: Moves qi to relieve distension, harmonizes the stomach and stops vomiting. Suitable for epigastric and abdominal distension, stomach cold vomiting. Jiang Houpo Congee: Take 5 g of Jiang Houpo (wrapped in a cloth bag) and 50 g of japonica rice. Decoct Jiang Houpo in water to obtain the liquid, then cook the rice with this liquid to make congee. Consume warm once daily for 3 days. Action: Dries dampness, moves qi, fortifies the spleen and harmonizes the stomach. Suitable for dampness obstructing the middle jiao with poor appetite. Precautions: Avoid long‑term or excessive use, as it may consume qi and damage fluids. Use with caution during pregnancy and in cases of qi deficiency or fluid damage. Avoid decocting with iron utensils.
Medicinal Parts
Bark (Processed Product)
Selection & Storage
Bark (processed product) refers to the portion of a medicinal plant that is prepared by cleaning, cutting, or processing the dried bark with auxiliary materials (such as ginger juice) before medicinal use. In Jiang Hou Pu, the processed bark (including trunk bark, root bark, and branch bark) constitutes the medicinal part.