What is the difference between Houpo flower and Houpo?

Houpo is a medicinal herb, and the whole plant can be used for medicinal purposes. Many people like to stew it in soup with Banxia and other ingredients, which has the effect of promoting the flow of qi and dispersing accumulations, and descending adverse qi and resolving phlegm. So what is the difference between Houpo flower and Houpo?

1. What is the difference between Houpo flower and Houpo?

Houpo flower is the dried flower bud of Houpo. Houpo is a plant of the Magnoliaceae family and the Magnolia genus, commonly including two species: Houpo (Magnolia officinalis) and concave-leaf Houpo (Magnolia officinalis var. biloba). In addition, in traditional Chinese medicine, the dried trunk bark, root bark and branch bark used as medicine are called Houpo, while the dried flower buds used as medicine are called Houpo flower.

2. What are the effects and functions of Houpo?

1. Descending qi and relieving asthma

Houpo has the effect of descending qi and relieving asthma. When people have persistent coughs, or people who often do physical labor catch a cold and then cough incessantly and experience symptoms of being unable to catch their breath, eating Houpo can relieve the symptoms of persistent coughing and excessive phlegm stuck in the throat. It can be used in combination with Xingren, Ganjiang, Wuweizi, Mahuang and Banxia for treatment.

2. Promoting the flow of qi and resolving dampness

Houpo also has the effect of promoting the flow of qi and resolving dampness, and can relieve symptoms of long-term dry throat and dampness-stagnation colds. In particular, people who catch a cold and live in places with very heavy dampness will have this phenomenon. Once they start coughing, it is very uncomfortable. If not treated in time, symptoms of excessive phlegm will appear, and over time it will involve head pain and a feeling of stuffiness in the chest. We can combine Houpo with Huoxiang and other medicinal materials, decoct them together and take them.

3. Abdominal bloating and constipation

Houpo has the effect of descending qi and soothing the middle burner, and is beneficial for treating constipation, stomach bloating and abdominal distension. For some patients who have constipation and at the same time excessive internal heat, it can reduce the heat and resolve the accumulated fire toxin in the body. After several courses of treatment, one can feel that the intestinal bloating has improved well, the bowels are much smoother, and the pain during bowel movements is reduced.

4. Inhibiting skin tumors

Houpo contains a substance called houpo powder, which is a methanol extract. This substance can inhibit the early-stage proliferation rate and spread of cancer cells in the human body, prevent cancer cells from gathering together to form malignant tumors, stimulate the operation of hematopoietic cells, promote blood circulation, and make the speed of resolving tumor cells faster.

5. Lowering blood pressure and resisting allergies

Houpo has the effect of lowering human blood pressure, keeping blood pressure at a very stable level. In addition to lowering blood pressure, it can also play an anti-allergy role. This can have a certain effect on a variety of allergic symptoms, and is very helpful for common skin allergies, but for some people's seafood allergies the effect is not so obvious. So patients with skin allergies can use it.