Title: Magnolia Bark: Benefits, Side Effects, and Preparations
Headings: The Health Benefits of Magnolia Bark
The Health Benefits of Magnolia Bark
Also Known As
Health Benefits
Anxiety and Depression
Menopausal Symptoms
Cavities
Heart Disease
Possible Side Effects
Selection, Preparation, and Storage
Common Questions

Content: Also Known As
Ho-no-ki (Japan)
Houpo (traditional Chinese medicine)
Indian bark
Japanese whitebark
Health Benefits
Practitioners of TCM use magnolia bark to treat the stagnation of qi, the "vital life force" consisting of the air, water, and food that the body needs to function normally. The stagnation of qi means that energy does not flow as freely through the body and organs as it should. According to TCM practitioners, magnolia bark specifically increases "moisture circulation" in the abdomen associated with digestive disorders and "chest tightness" manifesting with breathing problems. 2 ﻿
In alternative medicine, magnolia bark is said to aid in the treatment or prevention of the following health problems: Alzheimer's disease
Anxiety
Asthma
Cavities
Constipation
Depression
Diabetes
Gum disease
Halitosis (bad breath)
High blood pressure
High cholesterol
Insomnia
Menopausal symptoms
Obesity
Stroke
Tension headaches
So far, research into the benefits of magnolia bark has been limited, but there have been some promising findings worthy of further exploration. Scientists have found that honokiol in magnolia bark functions as a phytoestrogen and may influence hormone function in the same ways estrogen does. Another compound in magnolia bark called magnolol is classified as a lignan, a plant-based nutrient rich in soluble and insoluble fiber that not only aids in digestion but improves cardiovascular health. Here is some of what the current research says about using magnolia bark for health purposes. Anxiety and Depression
Magnolia bark has long been regarded as a potent anxiolytic (anxiety-relieving) drug. According to a 2013 review of studies in the journal Frontiers in Neurology, honokiol depresses the central nervous system while interacting with gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors—the same receptors in the brain that certain antidepressants and benzodiazepine drugs act on.