Jingning Magnolia Bark

Jingning Magnolia Bark

　　Jingning Magnolia Bark is a specialty of Jingning, Lishui, Zhejiang Province.

　　　Magnolia bark comes from a tall deciduous tree of the Magnoliaceae family. It thrives in cool, moist climates and typically grows in loose, fertile, sandy loam soil rich in humus with a neutral to slightly acidic pH. The plant is usually propagated by seeds, grown in nurseries, then transplanted. It takes around 20 years before the bark can be harvested. The bark is mainly processed into medicinal products and is one of the key medicinal herbs under national protection. Root bark and branch bark are stripped and air-dried directly, while trunk bark is briefly scalded in boiling water, then piled up in a damp, shady place to “sweat” until the inner bark turns purple-brown or brownish-brown. It is then steamed until soft, taken out, and dried. Commercial dried magnolia bark comes in either rolled or double-rolled form, measuring 30–35 cm in length and 0.2–0.7 cm in thickness, commonly known as “tube magnolia.” Near the root, the dried bark may unfurl at one end like a trumpet mouth, measuring 13–25 cm in length and 0.3–0.8 cm in thickness, commonly called “boot tube magnolia.” The surface of the dried bark is grayish-brown or grayish-black, rough, sometimes flaky and easy to peel off, with distinct oval lenticels and longitudinal wrinkles. When the rough outer layer is scraped off, the color appears yellowish-brown, while the inner surface is purplish-brown or dark purplish-brown, smoother with fine longitudinal striations, and shows oily marks when scratched. The texture is hard and not easily broken. The cross-section has a granular texture: the outer layer is grayish-brown, the inner layer is purplish-brown or brown, oily, and sometimes dotted with small shiny spots. The older the magnolia tree, the thicker and oilier the bark, and the higher its quality. High-quality magnolia bark features thick flesh, oil-rich texture, purplish-brown cross-section, minimal fiber, little residue when chewed, and a strong spicy aroma. Magnolia bark is a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine. It is warm in nature and has a bitter and pungent taste. It functions to dry dampness, eliminate phlegm, regulate qi, and relieve fullness. It is used for conditions such as dampness stagnation affecting the spleen, epigastric distension and vomiting, food stagnation and qi blockage, abdominal bloating and constipation, as well as cough and wheezing caused by phlegm-fluid retention. Magnolia flower is slightly bitter and warm in nature. Its efficacy is slightly less than that of the bark but still offers qi-regulating, chest-opening properties, as well as anti-pathogenic microorganisms, muscle-relaxing effects, and benefits to the digestive system and central nervous system. Magnolia bark produced in areas such as Jingning and Longquan is known for its thick bark, purple cross-section, abundant oil, and fragrant aroma. Its production accounts for about 60% of the national total. The product sells well across China and is also exported for foreign exchange earnings. Jingning Magnolia Bark and Longquan Magnolia Bark were awarded the Quality Agricultural Products Prize at the First Zhejiang Provincial Agricultural Products Expo. Jingning She Mountain Brand Magnolia Bark is a purely natural, green forest product. The powder of the bark is dark in color, with thick bark, rich oil content, and superior quality.