Magnolia Bark & Ziziphus Jujuba

Magnolia Trees

• Magnolias play an important part in Southern United States landscaping, according to Southern Living. These large, smooth-barked trees bloom with chalice-shaped pink or white blossoms that give off a pleasant fragrance. These trees love rich, warm, slightly acid soils and full sun. They hate wet feet and should be planted in a moist but well-drained area. Though magnolias are cold-tolerant, they're more prolific in warm climates where they can bloom for most of the year.

Magnolia Bark

• Medicinally beneficial magnolia bark comes specifically from the Magnolia officinalis tree, according to the Institute for Traditional Medicine. Magnolia bark's pleasant fragrance purportedly aids the spleen and distributes moisture throughout the body. Taken internally, magnolia bark relieves digestive complaints and tightness in the chest. It also helps relieve qi stagnation, or stagnation of bodily energies. It may be taken either in a tea combined with other herbs such as rhubarb or licorice, or applied to the body as a warm poultice wrapped in a damp cloth. The bark comes from the soft twigs harvested from the tips of the trees branches.

Ziziphus Jujuba Tree

• Commonly called jujube, this tree originated in China nearly 4,000 years ago according to California Rare Fruit Growers. As trade opened up, the jujube tree migrated throughout Russia, Europe, Northern Africa and the Southwestern United States.

  Jujube trees love very high temperatures and hot sun, but can withstand temperatures far below 0 degrees F. They feature long, glossy green leaves, pale green flowers and dark red fruits with tasty white flesh.

Ziziphus Jujuba Benefits

• As a food, jujube fruits provide fiber and a wide range of vitamins, according to Purdue University. As a medicine, the fruits may be rubbed on insect bites and skin ulcers for relief. When combined with buttermilk, the seeds help relieve nausea and abdominal pain associated with pregnancy. They also help treat arthritis pain when mixed with a carrier oil such as sweet almond.

  Jujube leaves mashed into a poultice sterilize wounds and help relieve asthma. Tea made from the bark aids the digestive system and the gums. Speak to a doctor before ingesting jujube bark; too much may be toxic.