Family Name: Magnoliaceae

Introduction

Magnolia Bark was used to treat malaria when quinine failed. An interesting factoid because even today malaria is a problem and there are those that cannot take quinine or for whom quinine does not work!

Notes from the Eclectic Physicians

Notes from the Eclectic Physicians

1854. John King. Materia Medica. – MAGNOLIA GLAUCA
Properties and Uses – Magnolia Bark is an aromatic tonic bitter of considerable power, and appears likewise to possess antiperiodic properties. Intermittent fevers have been cured by it after cinchona had failed. It is not so apt to disagree with he stomach and bowels, nor to induce fullness of the head as the Peruvian bark, and can be continued a longer time with more safety in all respects. Its curative agency is said to be favored by the diaphoretic action which generally follows its administration. in dyspepsia, with loss of tone in the stomach, it is very useful as a tonic, and has also proved highly beneficial in the treatment of remitents having a typhoid character. A warm infusion acts as a gentle laxative and sudorific; a cold one as a tonic and antiperiodic, as does also the tincture and powder. The powder is considered the preferable form of administration. The bark of the M. Tripetala, chewed as a substitute for tobacco, has cured an inveterate tobacco chewer of the filthy habit, and deserves a further trial among those who wish to break up the pernicious practice. The bar in powder may be administered in half drachm or drachm doses, to be repeated five or six times a day; the infusion may be taken in wineglassful doses, repeated five or six times a day. It is used in theabove forms of disease, as well as inthe chronic rheumatism. The tincture made by adding two ounces of the cones to a pint of brandy, has long been used as a domestic remedy for dyspepsia and chronic rheumatism; it is given three or four times a day in doses of from one to four fluidrachms. Magnolia is contra-indicated whenever inflammatory symptoms are present.

1873: Scudder
The magnolia glauca and acuminata possess tonic and stomachic properties, which may be useful in medicine. Will some of our southern readers prepare a tincture from the recent bark, and test it thoroughly. It may not prove better than a dozen similar articles, and yet supply a very good medicine to those who live where it is abundant.

1883: Scudder (tonic)
(The bark of Magnolia Acuminata – U.S. )

Preparation – Tincture of Magnolia.

Dose – From five drops to one drachm.

Therapeutic Action – Magnolia is a stimulant tonic, possessed of aromatic and diaphoretic properties, and has been employed in intermittents and remittents with advantage. If taken freely between the paroxysms, it has been found capable of arresting them. In torpid and phlegmatic habits of body, where a stimulant is desirable, this may answer a very good purpose, but it can not be relief on as a substitute for the cinchona.

1898: Felter and Lloyd: MAGNOLIA – MAGNOLIA
Action, Medical Uses, and Dosage – Magnolia bark is an aromatic tonic bitter, of reputed efficacy, and appears likewise to possess antiperiodic properties. Intermittent fevers have been cured by it after cinchona had failed. It is not so apt to disagree with the stomach and bowels, nor to induce fullness of the head as cinchona, and can be continued a longer time with more safety in all respects. Its curative agency is said to be favored by the diaphoretic action which generally follows its administration. In dyspepsia, with loss of tone in the stomach, it is very useful as a tonic, and has also proved of much service in the treatment of remittents with typhoid symptoms. A warm infusion acts as a gentle laxative and sudorific; a cold one as a tonic and antiperiodic, as does also the tincture and powder. The powder is considered the preferable form of administration. The bark of the M. Umbrella, chewed as a substitute for tobacco, has cured an inveterate tobacco chewer of the filthy habit, and deserves a further trial among those who wish to break up the pernicious practice. The bark in powder may be administered in 1/2 drachm or drachm doses, to be repated 5 or 6 times a day. It is used in the above forms of disease, as well as in chronic rheumatism. The tincture, made by adding an ounce of the powder to a pint of brandy, an dallowing it to macerate for 10 or 12 days, may be given in tablespoon doses 3 times a day, for the same purposes. A tincture made by adding 2 ounces of the cones to a pint of brandy, has long been used as a domestic remedy for dyspepsia an dchronic rheumatism; it is given 3 or 4 times a day in doses of from 1 to 4 fluid drachms. Magnolia is contraindicated whenever inflammatory symptoms are present. Though possessing undoubted tonic properties, magnolia is now seldom employed.

1919: Ellingwood – MAGNOLIA, MAGNOLIA GLAUCA
Synonyms – Beaver Tree, Sweet Magnolia, White Bay , Swamp Sassafras, White or Red Laurel .

Preparations – The powdered bark. Dose, fron one-half to one dram, five or six times a day. Infusion, wine-glassful. Tincture from one-half to two drams.

Therapy – In the treatment of intermittent fevers, after the active stage has passed, magnolia has been used. It is not an agent for inflammatory conditions, but restores the tone of the gastro-intestinal tract, which has been lost through the persistence of prostrating fevers, or active malarial conditions. In chronic rheumatism, accompanied with prostration, and loss of appetite, with mal assimilation, the remedy may be used to advantage. It is not an active remedy, but one that has a few enthusiastic advocates.