Product Overview
Parts used: Dried flower buds
TCM category: Herbs that regulate Qi
TCM nature: Warm
TCM taste(s): Bitter
Meridian affinity: Spleen Lung
Scientific name: Magnolia officinalis
Use of houpu magnolia flowers (Hou Po Hua) in TCM
Please note that you should never self-prescribe TCM ingredients. A TCM ingredient is almost never eaten on its own but as part of a formula containing several ingredients that act together. Please consult a professional TCM practitionner, they will be best able to guide you.
Preparation: Collect flower buds in spring, remove impurities, wash, steam slightly and dry under low temperature.
Dosage: 3 -9 grams
Main actions according to TCM*: Regulates Qi flow and resolves Dampness.
Primary conditions or symptoms for which houpu magnolia flowers may be prescribed by TCM doctors*: Chest congestion Loss of appetite Depression
Contraindications*: Not recommended for those with Heat due to Yin deficiency.
Key TCM concepts behind houpu magnolia flowers (Hou Po Hua)'s properties
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), houpu magnolia flowers are plants that belong to the 'Herbs that regulate Qi' category. Herbs in this category typically treat a TCM condition called 'Qi Stagnation'. Concretely it means that Qi is blocked in the body's Organs and Meridians, most typically the Stomach, Liver, and to a lesser extent, the Lungs. In modern medicine terms, Qi Stagnation often translates into psychological consequences such as depression, irritability or mood swings. It's also frequently associated with conditions such as premenstrual syndrome (PMS), menopausal symptoms, the development of breast swellings as well as various digestive disorders.
Furthermore houpu magnolia flowers are plants that are Warm in nature. This means that houpu magnolia flowers tend to help people who have too much "cold" in their body, although with less effect than a plant that would be Hot in nature. Balance between Yin and Yang is a key health concept in TCM. Those who have too much cold in their body are said to either have a Yin excess (because Yin is Cold in nature) or a Yang deficiency (Yang is Hot in Nature). Depending on your condition houpu magnolia flowers can help restore a harmonious balance between Yin and Yang.
Houpu Magnolia flowers also taste Bitter. The so-called "five elements" theory in Chinese Medicine states that the taste of TCM ingredients is a key determinant of their action in the body. Bitter ingredients like houpu magnolia flowers tend to have a cleansing action on the body by clearing heat, drying dampness and promoting elimination via urination or bowel movements.
The tastes of ingredients in TCM also determine what organs and meridians they target. As such houpu magnolia flowers are thought to target the Spleen and the Lung. In TCM the Spleen assists with digestion, blood coagulation and fluid metabolism in the body. In addition to performing respiration, the Lungs are thought to be a key part of the production chain for Qi and the body fluids that nourish the body.
