Latin: Ramulus Cinnamomi cassiae
English: Cinnamon twig or Cassia twig
| Category: | Herbs that Release the Exterior |
| Sub-class: | Warm-acrid herbs |
| Properties (temp; flavour): | warm: acrid/sweet |
| Channels: | Heart, Lung, Bladder, (Liver), (Kidney) |
| Dosage: | external conditions: 3-10 g painful obstruction: 9-15 g tincture: 1-3 mL |
| Major Ingredients: | cinnamic aldehyde, cinnamic acid, cinnamyl actetate |
| Pharmacological Research: | antibiotic (staph. aureus, salmonella typhi; asian flu A); antipyretic (mild via vasodilation); diuretic |
| Action | Indication |
|---|---|
| Dispel cold & release exterior | For exterior wind-cold invasion [inhibits bacteria & flu virus] |
| Remove cold & stop pain | For Bi pain due to wind-cold-damp (eg/ arthritis) [analgesic] |
| Invigorate blood circulation; promote menstruation | For abdominal pain due to cold in the middle jiao; for amenorrhea due to cold stasis [analgesic][vasodilator] |
| Warm Yang Qi; promote water metabolism | For water retention (edema); induces sweating. |
Common Combinations
| + Ma Huang | for patterns of exterior cold |
| + Bai Shao | for external wind-cold seen as ying/wei disharmony with exterior deficiency and spontaneous sweating |
| + Zhi Gan Cao | for palpitations and shortness of breath from injured yang of chest |
| + Dan Shen | for palpitations and chest pain due to Heart Yang deficiency and subsequent blood stasis blocking the channels |
| + Mu Li and Long Gu | for irritability and insomnia due to floating yang in upper jiao and injured yin in lower jiao (from Heart yang deficiency) |
Contraindications
Not for use for warm-febrile diseases, yin deficiency with heat signs and heat in the blood with vomiting. Use cautiously during pregnancy or in cases of excessive menstruation.
Other Notes
Dr. Xiao mentioned using Gui Zhi for angina – the herb goes to the Heart and warms Yang Qi which can increase heart reat and increase blood pressure (similar actions to nitroglycerin). See above with Dan Shen.
Cinnamon bark is also used in TCM: Rou Gui. It is and herb that warms the interior and expels cold. Both are warming but Rou Gui is more for warming the interior and tonifying the Kidney Yang while Gui Zhi releases the exterior and warms and opens the channels.
Cinnamon contains coumarin which is toxic to the liver and kidneys. “In 2008, the European Food Safety Authority considered the toxicity of coumarin, a component of cinnamon, and confirmed a maximum recommended tolerable daily intake (TDI) of 0.1 mg of coumarin per kg of body weight.” (from Wikipedia). Cinnamomi cassia can contain 0.1-12 mg/ gram of cinnamon while C. verum only has 0.005-0.09 mg/ gram cinnamon.
Gui Zhi Tang – The Splashing Paddle
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