By Eric Brand

Recently I did a blog on different cuts of herbs. I love herbal pharmacy and quality discernment, and Hou Po (magnolia bark) is an herb that is incredibly complex in terms of its traditional differentiation. The trunk bark, root bark, and branch bark are all used, and many grades exist depending on the age of the tree, the growing region, and the processing method. A few examples can be seen below:

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This specimen is very nice. I purchased it at the pharmacy DXD in San Diego, and it is an example of high-quality trunk bark. Top grade bark often uses this cutting method, and if you examine it in the sunlight you will find that it glistens with tiny sparkles. Adulterated pieces have sparkles added, so assess the specimen to ensure that there is not an unnaturally large amount of glitter that can be rubbed off. The true glistening sparkles are abundant but embedded in the bark, and they do not rub off easily when touched. This specimen is likely to be over 30 years old, from trunk bark that was treated with the "sweating method" and aged, according to a visual assessment from my teacher, Prof. Zhao Zhongzhen. Upper price tier.

This specimen was photographed in Taiwan, we sourced it from a high-end pharmacy and used the photo for my book Concise Chinese Materia Medica. Prof. Zhao describes this specimen as 20-25 year-old trunk bark, middle price tier.

Finally, this specimen is one that I bought in Taipei and had authenticated by China Medical University's Prof. Chang Hsien-Cheh. It is an American Herbal Pharmacopoeia specimen and the photo credit goes to Roy Upton at AHP. It is curled bark that Prof. Zhao describes as about 20 years old, mid-grade, from either trunk bark or large branch bark.

The wide range of quality seen in samples of even common herbs such as Hou Po really gives one an appreciation for the complex history, art, and science of Chinese herbal pharmacy. Truly fascinating stuff!