13 Proven Magnolia Bark Benefits (Withdrawal, Dosage, High)

13 Magnolia Bark Benefits

In the video below, David Tellman explains the nootropic benefits of Magnolia Bark. Including why we use Magnolia Bark as a nootropic, recommended dosage, side effects, clinical research, and the best type of Magnolia Bark to buy.

This is our recommended Magnolia supplement (Amazon’s Choice):

Magnolia Bark 1800 mg 180 Vegetarian Caps (Non-GMO, Extract 4:1 & Gluten-Free) Supports Healthy Weight, Calm Mood and Liver Functions*

What is an appropriate Magnolia Bark Dosage?

Dosages below are for a 1-10% basic Magnolia Bark extract:

For general health, stress: 200-400mg
For menopausal symptoms: one 60 mg tablet
For learning or depression: 1.1-2.2mg/kg (220-440 mg for a 200lb person)
For anxiety, sedation, and epilepsy: 5-10 mg
Herbal preparations used as decoctions: 3 to 10 g per person
Relora: one 300 mg capsule 2 to 3 times daily

The typical dosage for Magnolia Bark extract supplements ranges from 200 to 800 mg daily.

In general, it is recommended that users begin with the lowest suggested dose, and gradually increase as needed. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe. Be sure to follow the directions on product labels and consult your doctor before using them.

What is a good Magnolia Bark Dosage for Sleep?

Typical Magnolia Bark supplement doses for sleep are 200-400mg, and up to 500 mg per day. Individual dosing will vary, depending on body weight, health conditions, and the strength of the extract.

Magnolia Bark for Menopause Dosage

One study treated manopause patients with a dosage of one 60 mg tablet of Magnolia Bark extract daily for 24 weeks.

Does Magnolia Bark have any Withdrawal Effects?

Magnolia Bark causes a stress-relieving effect through sedation, so its withdrawal effects are likened to benzodiazepines:

mouth/throat numbness
lightheadedness
tiredness
dizziness

However, some Magnolia Bark users don’t experience any withdrawal effects.

Magnolia Bark is less likely to cause “motor dysfunction” than benzodiazepines, so sometimes it’s used to taper off and lighten the withdrawal effects of benzodiazepines.

Can Magnolia Bark Extract cause the effects of a “High”?

Magnolia Bark Extract can reduce stress due to “honokiol”, which works similarly to prescription sedatives. Both Magnolia and prescription sedatives increase the levels of GABA, a relaxing hormone. The difference is that honokiol works in specific areas of the brain, and prescription sedatives affect receptors throughout the entire body, causing the effects of a “high” like hangover, muscle weakness, fatigue, and more. Magnolia, being more selective, should not make you feel “high” or doped up.

Does Magnolia Bark Extract have Skin Benefits?

Anti-oxidant: protects against free radicals and decelerates the aging process.
Anti-inflammatory: helps reduce redness, irritation, and soothes the skin.
Anti-bacterial: helps against acne and itching.
Moisturizer: prevents the loss of skin elasticity and reduces small wrinkles. The skin looks firmer, fresher and younger.
Skin whitener: helps fade dark spots and gives the appearance of an even complexion.

Study Information

Number of Subjects: 30.
Health condition: Acne Vulgaris.

Method used

The extract: A magnolia solution was prepared by dissolving 100 mg of magnolia bark extract per ml of dimethyl sulphoxide. This solution was used for the efficacy and irritancy studies.
Bacteria: Two types of acne-exacerbating bacteria were tested: P. acnes and Propionibacterium granulosum

Results

P. acnes and P. granulosum, researchers introduced a disk diffusion method, with which erythromycin was employed as a positive control. Initially, the magnolia extract was found to have significant antibacterial activities against both bacterial cells, although its activity was less potent than erythromycin.
Determination of MIC of magnolia extract: The antibacterial activities of the magnolia extract were further evaluated by determining the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC); i.e., the lowest concentration of the test sample used that yielded no bacterial growth.
Cytokine production: Magnolia extract also inhibited P. acnes-induced secretion of proinflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-8 and TNF-α.
Human skin primary irritation test of magnolia extract: To evaluate the irritation effect of the magnolia extract for clinical applications to human skin, a patch test was performed. In the test, the magnolia extract was applied to the skin at 0.1%, 1.0%, 5.0%, 10.0% and 20.0%, and compared to a control of petrolatum. As a result, not one of the 30 subjects experienced a reaction based on the 30 min reading and 1 day reading. Specifically, researchers did not observe adverse reactions such as erythema, burning or pruritus in the study subjects that was related to the topical treatment of the magnolia extract.

Conclusions

Having relatively low cytotoxic effects, the magnolia extract may be suggested for use as a safe topical therapeutic agent for acne. To further test the safety of the magnolia extract, a patch test was performed and confirmed it to be safe for use on human skin.
Based on these results, the researchers conclude that the magnolia extract may be introduced as a possible therapeutic agent for acne, as well as a soothing agent; although, the mechanisms of action were not determined and its possible inhibition mechanisms of pro-inflammatory cytokines require further study.
Overall, in the present study, researchers found the magnolia extract collectively exhibited strong antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities, indicating its potential introduction as a cosmetic material indicated to soothe irritated skin, or to improve skin diseases such as acne and atopic dermatitis.

Can you use Magnolia Bark for Menopause Symptoms?

Evidence in studies with menopausal women suggests that Magnolia Bark extract may decrease the frequency and severity of menopause symptoms including:

flushing
night sweats
hot flashes
vaginal dryness
libido loss
palpitations
insomnia
low mood
irritability
anxiety
stress
depression
psycho-affective symptoms
evening cortisol levels
improved systolic blood pressure

Study Information

Title: Randomized controlled study on clinical efficacy of isoflavones plus Lactobacillus sporogenes, associated or not with a natural anxiolytic agent in menopause
Duration: 12 weeks.

Subject Information

Gender: Female.
Mean Age: 53.1
Number of Subjects: 634
Health condition: menopausal symptoms.

Method used

Menopausal women were enrolled in a group study and randomized to E (isoflavones 60 mg + Lactobacillus sporogenes + calcium and vitamin D3 – Estromineral, Rottapharm Madaus) versus ES (magnolia bark extract + E – Estromineral serena) 1 tablet/night for 12 weeks.

Results

In 91 gynecological centers, 634 women were treated (300 with E and 334 with ES), mean age 53.1 years and Body Mass Index (BMI) 25.2 kg/m2; 28% were past hormone replacement therapy HRT users and 3.3% had had a previous breast cancer.
Both treatments significantly reduced versus baseline the symptoms tested at 0, 4, 8 and 12 weeks.
E and ES showed a similar efficacy on hot flushing, nocturnal sweating with awakenings, palpitations and vaginal dryness.
ES was more active on insomnia, irritability, anxiety, depressed mood, asthenia and loss of libido.
Woman’s well-being and physician’s final judgment were positive in >70% in both groups.
The rate of adverse events was 1% with E (metrorrhagia, cramps and constipation) and 1.2% with ES (gastralgia, blood loss, constipation and breast tension).

Conclusions

Isoflavones are effective in improving the classical menopause symptoms.
The clinical activity of magnolia bark extract on the relevant psycho-affective symptoms, particularly anxiety, irritability and insomnia, was evident.
ES in the mild psychical alterations that can occur in climacterium avoids to run the known dependence risks linked to psychopharmacological agents withdrawals.

Side Effects of Magnolia Bark for Menopause

Menopausal women taking Magnolia Supplements may experience some side effects including:

constipation
breast tension
blood loss
stomach pain

Is Magnolia Bark safe?

Magnolia Bark has been used for over 1,000 years in traditional Chinese Medicine without indications of safety concern.

A 2018 review of 44 articles on the safety and toxicity of honokiol and magnolol (compounds in Magnolia Bark) determined that it’s generally considered safe for human consumption for most people when used orally and for the short term.

It is not known if any side effects experienced when taking Magnolia Bark are really caused by it, or some other factor.
Not enough is known to rate the safety of topical supplements with Magnolia Bark applied to the skin.
Pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers should avoid taking Magnolia Bark.

Study Information

Title: Safety and Toxicology of Magnolol and Honokiol

Method used

Here we review the safety and toxicological properties of magnolol and honokiol as pure substances or as components of concentrated MBE, including the potential side-effects in humans after oral intake.

Results

In vitro and in vivo genotoxicity studies indicated that concentrated MBE has no mutagenic and genotoxic potential, while a study performed according to OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) guidelines established a no adverse effect level for concentrated MBE > 240 mg/kg b.w/d.
Similar to other dietary polyphenols, magnolol and honokiol are subject to glucuronidation, and despite a relatively quick clearance, an interaction with pharmaceutical active principles or other herbal constituents cannot be excluded. However, intervention trials employing concentrated MBE for up to 1 y did not report adverse effects.

Conclusions

In conclusion, over the recent years, different food safety authorities evaluated magnolol and honokiol and considered them safe.

Does Magnolia Bark affect Dopamine?

Magnolia bark acts as an antidepressant by affecting the activity of dopamine, a neurotransmitter important to mood.

Magnolia Bark extract (containing magnolol and honokiol) inhibits the dopamine transporter activity and reduces binding to dopamine D5 receptors. This means Magnolia Bark is forcing the transporter and receptor to release dopamine for reuse in your brain. So it doesn’t deplete dopamine but rather helps the brain to use it more efficiently.

Study Information

Title: Interactions of Magnolia and Ziziphus extracts with selected central nervous system receptors

Method used

To identify pharmacological targets, extracts of Magnolia officinalis (ME), Ziziphus spinosa (ZE), and a proprietary fixed combination (MZE) were tested for affinity with central nervous system receptors associated with relaxation and sleep.

In vitro radioligand binding and cellular functional assays were conducted on: adenosine A(1), dopamine (transporter, D(1), D(2S), D(3), D(4.4) and D(5)), serotonin (transporter, 5-HT(1A), 5-HT(1B), 5-HT(4e), 5-HT(6) and 5-HT(7)) and the GABA benzodiazepine receptor.

Results

Interactions were demonstrated with the adenosine A(1) receptor, dopamine transporter and dopamine D(5) receptor (antagonist activity), serotonin receptors (5-HT(1B) and 5-HT(6) antagonist activity) and the GABA benzodiazepine receptor at a concentration of 100 microg/ml or lower. ME had an affinity with adenosine A(1) and potentiated the GABA activated chloride current at the benzodiazepine subunits of the GABA receptor. ME had a modest antagonist action with 5-HT(6) and ZE with the 5-HT(1B) receptor.

Conclusions

The interactions in the receptor binding models are consistent with the traditional anxiolytic and sleep-inducing activities of Magnolia officinalis bark and Ziziphus spinosa seed.

Want to know more?

Click the links below to access the individual topic pages:

Magnolia Bark Extract

Sources

This article makes use of information from the U.S. National Library of Medicine under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

13 Proven Magnolia Bark Benefits (Withdrawal, Dosage, High)