Magnolia Tea: One Of The Most Popular Sleep Teas

Magnolia tea has been used in Chinese medicine for centuries The Chinese drink Magnolia tea to help with sleep disorders.

They also drink Magnolia tea to reduce stress and depression, and to help relieve asthma symptoms.

More recently in the West, Magnolia tea is also used to help improve many health issues. Magnolia buds, flowers, or the bark of the Magnolia tree is used to make Magnolia tea.

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Are Magnolia Flowers Edible?

Can you eat Magnolia flowers? Yes, some Magnolia flowers are edible. Here is a list of edible Magnolia flowers. You can use them to make herbal tea and in salads.

They are not only edible, Magnolia flowers but they provide several benefits. And one of the easiest ways to get those benefits is to drink Magnolia flower tea.

Magnolia Tea For Sleep

Lab studies found that Magnolia flowers contain bioactive compounds that may help you sleep. 

According to one report approximately two hundred and fifty chemicals were identified by scientific studies of Magnolia cones, barks, flowers and leaves.

One human trial used postpartum women as test subjects for three weeks.  The study concluded that drinking Magnolia tea did help to improve the quality of the women’s sleep. 

It recommended that Magnolia tea could be used as supplementary aid to help postnatal women who have problems sleeping.

How to Make Magnolia Flower Tea

You can use fresh or dried Magnolia petals to make Magnolia flower tea.

• Simply place a few Magnolia petals in a cup.

• Fill the cup with hot water and cover it with a saucer. Let it steep for about 10 minutes.

• Strain, sweeten and enjoy the pleasant tasting Magnolia tea.

Some varieties of Magnolia flowers taste bitter. However, if you choose the white or lighter pink flowers you will have a pleasant tasting tea.

Today Magnolia tea is just as popular in China today as it was back then.

Magnolia Bark Tea  

It takes a bit more effort to make Magnolia bark tea from scratch. You will need 4 cups of water and 2- 4 pieces of 4inch long Magnolia bark to make Magnolia bark tea.

Magnolia Tea Benefits

What is Magnolia Tea Good For?

Today many people still use Magnolia bark tea to help treat headaches, reduce anxiety and stress, lose weight and cure constipation.

Tea made from the flower buds or flowers is used to treat sinus infections, runny noses, the common cold, fevers, and respiratory infections.

Two of the main chemical ingredients identified in the bark extracts are magnolol and honokiol.  Both of these compounds contain anxiolytic properties. 

This means the compounds have the ability to reduce anxiety, block signals to the brain and in effect promote relaxation induce sleep.

Magnolol. One study reported on mice that were given doses of magnolol. The findings showed that it took less time for mice given magnolol doses to fall asleep. 

Honokiol.  Studies conducted on animal subjects also confirm the effect honokiol has on promoting sleep.

Honokiol (10 and 20 mg·kg⁻¹) significantly shortened the sleep latency to non-rapid eye movement (non-REM, NREM) sleep and increased the amount of NREM sleep.

Source: British Journal of Pharmacology

Magnolia Tea Safety

Is it safe to drink Magnolia tea? There are several studies that were conducted to determine the safety of Magnolol and Honokiol. These are the two main bioactive chemicals in Magnolia.

These studies confirm that it is generally safe to consume Magnolia tea. So it may be safe for most people to drink Magnolia tea

Magnolia Tea Side Effects

However, some people have reported experiencing some side effects common side effects afters using Magnolia products long-term. These side effects include: headaches, extreme drowsiess, nausea,,and vomiting.

Interaction

In addition here are a few things to consider if you fall into certain categories. For example you should learn about interaction with any current medications you take.

Drowsiness. If you take medication for sleeping,  you should exercise caution when using Magnolia products as these can excessive drowsiness.

Anticoagulants.  Magnolia bark is known to slow blood clotting therefore it may be wise to speak to your doctor if you are on medications such as coumadin or other blood thinners.

Sedatives.  Because using Magnolia affects the Central Nervous System, you should avoid is if you take sedative medications.

Pregnant or Breastfeeding.  Magnolia tea made with flowers and bark extracts is generally safe.  However, there is little information on their effect on pregnant and breastfeeding women.

  Therefore it may be advisable to avoid these products if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

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Where to Buy Magnolia Tea

You can find Magnolia tea at your local health food store or are different online marketplace such as Etsy and Amazon.

Magnolia products come in different formulations. For instance, there are flower tea bags and loose leaf tea.  There is also Magnolia bark that comes cut in four to six-inch pieces. The bark is also available in Powder form.

You are also able to buy Magnolia supplements and tinctures online.

Conclusion

Magnolia tea has been used as raditional medicine for centuries. It is used by people who have a hard time falling asleep.

The tea can be made from magnolia flowers or bark extracts. Other magnolia product formulations are also available for purchase in stores and online.

Early research shows that Magnolia tea may really be helpful for sleep disorders. However, more human studies need to be done.

Drinking magnolia tea and using other magnolia products is generally safe. But you should always speak with your doctor before starting on any herbal regimen.

Disclaimer: This website is for informational purposes only. Therefore nothing stated on this site should be viewed as medical advice. Please speak with your professional healthcare provider about matters relating to your medical care.