English: Biond’s magnolia flowers
Chinese: 辛夷花
Parts used: Dried flower bud
TCM category: Warm/Acrid herbs that release the Exterior
TCM nature: Warm
TCM taste(s): Pungent
Scientific name: Magnolia biondii
Other names: Hope for spring flower, Magnolia Flower, Yulan Magnolia Bud, Sprenger Magnolia Flower Bud
Use of Xin Yi Hua (biond’s magnolia flowers) in TCM
Please note that you should never self-prescribe TCM ingredients. A TCM ingredient is almost never eaten on its own but as part of a formula containing several ingredients that act together. Please consult a professional TCM practitioner, they will be best able to guide you.
Preparation: Remove impurities and slightly pan-fry the flower buds until the outside fine hair turn black
Dosage: 3 - 10 grams
Main actions according to TCM*: Releases the Exterior and dispels Wind-Cold. Relieves nasal congestion.
Primary conditions or symptoms for which Xin Yi Hua may be prescribed by TCM doctors*: Nasal congestion Headache Sinusitis Common cold
Contraindications*: This herb should not be used by those who are Yin Deficient with signs of Heat as it is very drying. Overdose may cause dizziness and/or red eyes.
Common TCM formulas in which Xin Yi Hua is used*
Xin Yi Qing Fei Yin
Source date: 1617
Number of ingredients: 10 herbs
Formula key actions: Spreads Lung Qi. Clears Heat. Unblocks the orifices (specifically the nose) .
Conditions targeted*: Nasal polypsSinusitis and others
Xin Yi Hua is a king ingredient in Xin Yi Qing Fei Yin. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
In Xin Yi Qing Fei Yin, Xin Yi Hua disperses Wind and unblocks the nose.
Cang Er Zi San
Source date: 1253
Number of ingredients: 5 herbs
Formula key actions: Disperses Wind. Relieves pain. Unblocks the nose.
Conditions targeted*: Acute sinusitisChronic sinusitis and others
Xin Yi Hua is a king ingredient in Cang Er Zi San. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
In Cang Er Zi San, Xin Yi Hua is acrid and warm. It unblocks the
nasal passages, and are frequently used in treating profuse nasal discharge.
Xin Yi San
Source date: 1253 AD
Number of ingredients: 9 herbs
Formula key actions: Disperses Wind-Cold. Unblocks the nasal passages.
Conditions targeted*: Nasal congestionAllergic rhinitis and others
Xin Yi Hua is a king ingredient in Xin Yi San. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
In Xin Yi San, Xin Yi Hua disperses Wind-Cold, and unblocks the nasal passages. It also relieves headache, neck pain, running nose, and toothache.
Key TCM concepts behind Xin Yi Hua's properties
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Xin Yi Hua belongs to the 'Warm/Acrid herbs that release the Exterior' category. Herbs that release the Exterior aim to to treat the early stages of diseases that affect the upper respiratory tract, the eyes, the ears, the nose, the throat or the skin. TCM believes that External diseases such as colds or allergies can only invade the body if the External environment overwhelms our Wei Qi (the TCM version of the immune system). In order to counteract this invasion Warm/Acrid herbs aim to induce sweating by increasing the flow of sweat to our capillary pores. The belief is that this will expel the disease from the body and stop it from invading further.
As suggested by its category Xin Yi Hua is Warm in nature. This means that Xin Yi Hua tends to help people who have too much 'Cold' in their body, although with less effect than a plant that would be Hot in nature. Balance between Yin and Yang is a key health concept in TCM. Those who have too much Cold in their body are said to either have a Yin Excess (because Yin is Cold in nature) or a Yang Deficiency (Yang is Hot in Nature). Depending on your condition Xin Yi Hua can help restore a harmonious balance between Yin and Yang.
Xin Yi Hua also tastes Pungent. The so-called 'Five Phases' theory in Chinese Medicine states that the taste of TCM ingredients is a key determinant of their action in the body. Pungent ingredients like Xin Yi Hua tends to promote the circulations of Qi and Body Fluids. That's why for instance someone tends to sweat a lot when they eat spicy/pungent food.
The tastes of ingredients in TCM also determine what Organs and Meridians they target. As such Xin Yi Hua is thought to target the Stomach and the Lung. In TCM the Stomach is responsible for receiving and ripening ingested food and fluids. It is also tasked with descending the digested elements downwards to the Small Intestine. In addition to performing respiration, the Lungs are thought in TCM to be a key part of the production chain for Qi and the Body Fluids that nourish the body.
Research on Xin Yi Hua
A wide range of pharmacological actions of Flos Magnoliae have been reported, including anti-allergy, anti-inflammation and anti-microbial activity.1
The addition of NDC-052 , an extract of the medicinal herb Magnoliae flos, to inhaled corticosteroids had a beneficial effect on asthma control in patients with mild to moderate asthma, with good tolerability and fewer side effects.2
Flos Magnoliae volatile oil nano-liposome nasal drops has some positive effects on pediatric allergic rhinitis.3
Sources:
1. Shen Y, Li CG, Zhou SF, Pang EC, Story DF, Xue CC. ( 2008). Chemistry and bioactivity of Flos Magnoliae, a Chinese herb for rhinitis and sinusitis. Curr Med Chem. , 15(16):1616-27.
2. Park CS, Kim TB, Lee JY, Park JY, Lee YC, Jeong SS, Lee YD, Cho YS, Moon HB. ( 2012). Effects of add-on therapy with NDC-052, an extract from Magnoliae Flos, in adult asthmatic patients receiving inhaled corticosteroids. Korean J Intern Med. , 27(1):84-90. doi: 10.3904/kjim.2012.27.1.84.
3. Wu M, Zhang JY, Zhang X. (2009). Clinical observation of Flos magnoliae volatile oil nano-liposome nasal drops in treating pediatric allergic rhinitis. Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. , 29(8):740-2.