Magnolia Bark

The bark has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine, and Japanese Traditional Medicine. It is very fragrant and contains large amount of two aromatic compounds called magnolol and honokiol. It was common to find it used to help support healthy digestion. Magnolia's 'stimulant' and 'tonic' benefits were included in the U. S. Pharmacopoeia from 1820 through 1894. Much of the research on this plant has centered around these two constituents. Magnolia bark and it's various constituents have been shown to modulate cortisol production. The bark is commonly used in formulas to support healthy response to stress and calm occasional nervousness as well as to support sleep.
The extract of the bark of Magnolia trees (Magnolia officianalis) has been used for some 1,000 years in traditional Chinese and Japanese medicine for treatment of maladies ranging from asthma to depression to headaches to muscle pain. It is generally considered safe if taken orally and for the short term.

It also has a place in Native American medicine as an antimalarial.

More than 250 ingredients can be found in the bark, flowers and leaves of the Magnolia, but two of the main compounds used in dietary supplements are magnolol and honokiol. They are used in cosmetic and weight loss products, and their use as anti-cancer, antioxidative, and anti-inflammatory agents is being studied.

Why do people take magnolia?
People have traditionally used magnolia to try to treat:

Anxiety. In one study, a treatment containing magnolia extract was linked to less anxiety in menopausal women.

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Digestive problems. In some studies, a treatment that contained magnolia lessened pain and constipation in people with a type of indigestion.

Allergies. Some studies suggest it has anti-allergy effects.

In addition, some research — in humans and animals — suggests magnolia may also be useful in these ways:

As an antioxidant
Lessen inflammation from rheumatoid arthritis
Improve heart health. Magnolia may protect blood vessels from damage from LDL "bad" cholesterol and other causes.
For liver protection
Lower blood pressure
Reduce the growth of bacteria

Some research has suggested some other possible benefits for magnolia: It might also help treat or prevent:

Alzheimer's disease
Asthma
Cancer. Chemicals from magnolia have been useful against numerous types of cancer in lab tests. For example, studies found that they reduced tumor size and increased life span in mice with colorectal cancer.
Depression
Diabetes. In lab tests using rats fed a high-fat diet, magnolol and honokiol reduced fat and protected against insulin resistance.
Diarrhea
Stroke. A chemical in magnolia reduced damage in the brain in mice after oxygen loss, such as occurs with stroke.
Ulcers