Single Herb Glossary
Ròu Guì 肉桂
| Pharmaceutical name | Cinnamomi Cortex Cinnamomum cassia bark, cinnamon bark |
| Category | Warm Interior, Expel Cold |
| Key Properties | Warms and Tonifies the Yang Disperses Cold Promotes the movement of Blood |
| Properties | Acrid Sweet Hot |
| Tropism | HT, KD, LV, SP |
| Actions & Indications | 1) Fortifies the Kidney and Spleen Yang, Warms the Heart Yang and Fortifies the Yang 2) Disperses deep Cold, Warms the Channels, Unblocks the Channels and Vessels, and Alleviates Pain 3) Leads the Fire back to its Source 4) Encourages the generation of Qi and Blood |
| Dosages | 1.5-4.5g; added near end of decocting process. For powders and pills, use 1-2g per dose. |
| Contraindications (TCM) | Pregnancy, Blazing fire from Yin Deficiency, Excess Heat, bleeding from Blood heat |
| Contraindications (Western) | |
| Chemical Composition | Cinnamic aldehyde, cinnamic acid, cinnamyl acetate, phenylpropyl acetate, cinncassiol-A, -B, -C1, -C2, -C3; cinnzeylanine, cinnzeylanol |
| Pharmacological Effects | • Cardiovascular: intravenous administration associated with marked reduction in blood pressure, decrease in heart rate, peripheral vasodilation, and decreased vessel resistance, within 3 to 5 minutes after injection; cardiovascular system returned to normal after 15 minutes • Sedative and analgesic: essential oil demonstrates marked analgesic and sedative actions in rats • Gastrointestinal: essential oil has mild stimulating effect on gastrointestinal system; increases secretion of saliva and gastric acid, enhances digestive functioning, and relieves intestinal spasms and pain • Immunostimulant: subcutaneous injection of preparation for 5 days increased white blood cell count by 150 to 200% in dogs • Antibiotic: inhibitory effect on dermatophytes, pathogenic fungi, and many gram-positive bacteria |
| Herb-Drug Interactions | • This herb antagonizes or is antagonized by Chi Shi Zhi (Halloysitum Rubrum) |
| Classical Formula(s) |
Yang He Tang(Balmy yang Decoction) 養和湯 Zan Yu Dan (Special Pill to Aid Fertility) 贊育丹 Di Huang Yin Zi (Rehmannia Drink) 地黃飲子 Du Huo Ji Sheng Tang (Angelica Pubescens and Sang-Ji-Sheng Decoction)獨活寄生湯 Guo Qi Yin (Delayed Menstruation Decoction) 過期飲 Hui Yang Jiu Ji Tang (Restore and Revive the Yang Decoction) 回陽救急湯 Nuan Gan Jian (Warm the Liver Decoction) 暖肝煎 Qian Jin Nei Tuo San (Powder to Support the Interior Worth a Thousand Gold Pieces) 千金内托散 Ren Shen Yang Rong Tang (Ginseng decoction to nourish luxuriance) 人參養榮湯 (人参养荣汤) Shao Fu Zhu Yu Tang (Drive Out Stasis from the Lower Abdomen Decoction) 少腹逐瘀湯 Shao Yao Tang (Peony Decoction) 芍藥湯 Bao Yuan Tang (Preserve the Primal Decoction) 保元湯 Gui Ling Gan Lu Yin (Cinnamon and Poria Sweet Dew Drink) 桂苓甘露飲 Ji Sheng Shen Qi Wan (Golden coffer Kidney Qi Pill) 濟生腎氣丸 (济生肾气丸) Ju He Wan (Tangerine Seed Pill) 橘核丸 Shi Liu Wei Liu Qi Yin (Sixteen Ingredient Drink for Qi Flow) 十六味流氣飲 Shi Quan Da Bu Tang (All-inclusive great tonifying decoction) 十全大補湯 (十全大补汤) Su Zi Jiang Qi Tang (Perilla Fruit Decoction for Directing Qi down) 蘇子降氣湯 (苏子降气汤) Wu Ji San (Five-accumula-tion powder) 五积散 Xiao Xu Ming Tang (Minor Prolong Life Decoction) 小續命湯 You Gui Wan (Restore the right [kidney] pill) 右歸丸 (右归丸) Zhen Ren Yang Zang Tang (True Man's Decoction to Nourish the Organs) 真人養臟湯 |
This information is a reference tool for Chinese herbal studies. It is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Please consult a primary health professional if you require health advisory.