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: 3 ﻿
Honokiol appears nearly as effective as the benzodiazepine drug Valium (diazepam) in relieving anxiety, but with far fewer motor and cognitive side effects. 4 ﻿
With that said, results can vary based on the magnolia bark extract used. Efforts are now underway to explore the pharmaceutical potential of purified honokiol and magnolol in treating insomnia, stress, depression, and other mood-related disorders. 7 Alternative Remedies for Anxiety
Menopausal Symptoms
Magnolia bark may help ease the symptoms of menopause, suggests a 2006 study published in Minerva Ginecologica. 5 ﻿
For this study, 89 women experiencing menopause were assigned to 24 weeks of treatment with either a combination of calcium and vitamin D or a supplement containing calcium, vitamin D, magnolia bark, soy isoflavones, probiotics, and magnesium.​
According to the investigators, the supplement containing magnolia bark was far more effective in relieving menopausal hot flashes, insomnia, anxiety, depression, irritability, vaginal dryness, and loss of libido. Despite the positive findings, it is unknown how much magnolia bark contributed to these effects, if at all. Few studies since have explored the effectiveness of magnolia bark in treating menopause symptoms. Further research is needed. Natural Menopause Symptoms That Actually Work
Cavities
Magnolia bark may soon be the next big thing in cavity-fighting toothpaste, suggests a 2016 study in Microbiology and Immunology. For this study, researchers in Japan formulated a series of biofilms infused with honokiol, magnolol, and chlorhexidine (a surgical disinfectant).