Evidence supporting the use of: Magnolia
For the health condition: Anxiety Disorders

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 3

Magnolia bark (Magnolia officinalis) has a long history of use in traditional Chinese medicine for treating anxiety, stress, and sleep disturbances. In recent years, scientific interest in magnolia's anxiolytic (anxiety-reducing) properties has led to several animal and human studies. The primary active compounds, honokiol and magnolol, are believed to exert anxiolytic effects by modulating gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors in the brain, which play a key role in calming neuronal activity.

Preclinical studies in rodents have shown that magnolia bark extracts and its constituents can reduce anxiety-like behaviors, often with efficacy similar to conventional anxiolytic drugs like diazepam, but with fewer sedative effects. Some small human clinical trials and open-label studies suggest that standardized magnolia bark extracts may reduce symptoms of anxiety and improve sleep quality, especially in combination with other calming herbs like Phellodendron amurense.

However, high-quality randomized controlled trials in humans are still limited, and most existing studies have small sample sizes, short durations, or use combination products. Thus, while there is promising scientific evidence for magnolia's use in supporting anxiety disorders, more robust clinical research is needed to fully establish its efficacy and safety in this context. Overall, magnolia bark demonstrates both traditional use and scientific support, with current evidence rated as moderate (3/5).

More about magnolia
More about Anxiety Disorders

Other health conditions supported by magnolia

Anxiety
Anxiety Disorders
Depression
Insomnia
Stress