Chinese medicine only seems esoteric to those not familiar with its practices. The body is not just the corporeal entity that one can see, but is also made up of energy centers that allow energy, or chi, to flow easily throughout the body. When chi is flowing steadily throughout a person’s body, the person is healthy and energetic. However, should the chi be blocked or flowing irregularly, the body may become sick, requiring that those flows be returned to their correct paths.

Returning chi to its proper channels requires a number of practices. Acupuncture (piercing the centers with needles) or acupressure (properly massaging the correct centers) may be part of the process, as well as changes in diet and exercise. Also, alchemical concoctions, potions and balms made of ingredients that can cure the body, may also be part of the regimen.

This is not to demean the practice; rather, it is to point out that it is more of a philosophy than a hard science. Rather than relying on the chemicals of science, the point is that the doctor is taking care of the whole person, and not just the physical elements. Chinese medicine benefits those that are willing to believe, and not just go through the motions.

Through the potent combination of belief, the Chinese doctor is there to do whatever he can to heal the patient in both the short term and long term. The medicines he gives are meant to deal with the problem and get the patient through it, but the advice he gives is to help the patient through the problems that caused the illness in the first place.

Western science is just beginning to catch up with that concept, but as Chinese medicine benefits anyone interested in learning it and practicing it, it is hoped that at least part of its philosophy will join that of Western medicine, resulting in more effective cures for a wider range of ailments.

In the Chinese Medicine Materia Medica, the bark of the Magnolia tree is called Hou Pu. Hou Pu is the highly aromatic bark stripped from the stems, branches and roots of the magnolia tree. The first mention of magnolia bark as a Traditional Chinese medicinal substance was recorded around 100 C.E. It is used frequently by acupuncturists and practitioners of Oriental medicine in Chinese herbal formulas. These herbal remedies include formulas to resolve complaints such as abdominal distension and pain, vomiting and diarrhea. Magnolia bark’s therapeutic actions include the promotion of qi in the gastrointestinal region. For the acupuncture patient, this translates to relief of stomach fullness, bloating and discomfort.

These properties are illustrated in the Chinese herbal formula Hou po wen zhong tang also known as Magnolia bark decoction for warming the middle. This medicinal formula features magnolia bark in addition to six other ingredients. The prescription remedies the diagnosis of damp-cold injuring the spleen and stomach. This clinical picture can arise most commonly from the overindulgence of foods and drink that are uncooked and cold, especially during colder months of the year. The nature of cold is to congeal, and when this condition strikes, the qi of the digestion becomes obstructed. Symptomatically, the patient may experience fullness, loss of appetite, fatigue in the extremities and diarrhea. The herbs in this formula work synergistically to move the obstruction, warm the digestion and dry the inappropriate stagnation of fluids in the gastrointestinal tract.

Magnolia bark is an invaluable asset in the Chinese herbal arsenal to restore poor digestion due to lack of movement from cold stagnation. A licensed and experienced Oriental medicine provider brings a lot to the table in the relief of digestive complaints. Acupuncture, Chinese herbs and dietetic recommendations can be a powerful combination to combat the symptoms and to rectify the underlying issues surrounding digestive discomfort.