The source is from the tender branch of Cinnamomum cassia Presl, family Lauraceae. Its producing areas are mainly in the provinces of Guangdong, Guangxi and Yunnan. The medicinal material is collected in spring and summer, and dried either in shade or in the sun, then is cut into pieces or segments for use. Medicinal Properties Pungent and sweet in flavor, warm in nature, and attributive to the heart, lung and bladder meridians. Actions Induce sweating to relieve superficies and activate yang and circulate qi by warming meridian. Application 1. It is used for the superficial syndrome due to wind and cold whether the syndrome is asthenic or sthenic. For the wind-cold syndrome with spontaneous perspiration due to superficial deficiency, it is often combined with Baishaoyao (Radix Paeoniae Alba), etc., such as Guizhi Tang (Decoction) to keep the actions of yingqi and weiqi in balance. It is combined with Mahuang (Herba Ephedrae) to treat sthenia-syndrome of the superficies with anhidrosis. 2. It is used for pains due to blood stagnancy due to stagnation of cold. It is often combined with Zhishi ( Fructus Aurantii Immaturus ), Xiebai (Allii Macrostemi), etc., such as Gualou Xiebai Guizhi Tang (Decoction) for the treatment of the weakness of thoracic yang, the obstruction in heart channel and thoracic pain due to thoracic obstruction; combined with Fuzi (Radix Aconiti Lateralis Praeparata), such as Guizhi Fuzi Tang (Decoction) for the treatment of arthralgia due to stagnation of wind-cold-damp; combined with Taoren ( Semen Persicae ) , Mudanpi ( Cortex Moutan Radicis ), etc., such as Guizhi Fuling Wan (Pill) for the treatment of irregular menstruation, dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea or abdominal mass due to blood stagnation caused by invasion of cold. 3. It is combined with Puling (Poria), Baizhu (Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae ), etc., such as Ling Gui Zhu Gan Tang (Decoction) for the treatment of palpitation, dizziness and fullness in the chest due to retention of fluids; combined with Zhuling ( Polyporus ), Zexie (Rhizoma Alismatis ), etc., such as Wuling San (Powder) for dysuria and edema. Usage and Dosage 3 -9 g is used in decoction for oral use. Notes Since it is pungent and warm in nature and easily damages yin and blood, it is contraindicated for the syndromes such as exuberant heat impairing yin in season-al febrile disease, hyperactivity of yang due to yin-deficiency in miscellaneous diseases and bleeding due to blood-heat, and must be used with caution in pregnant women. Explanation Both Guizhi (Ramulus Cinnamomi) and Mahuang (Herba Ephedrae) are diaphoretics for dispersing wind-cold, whereas Guizhi (Ramulus Cinnamomi) is moderate in action and weaker than Mahuang (Herba Ephedrae) in inducing sweating. It can be used for spontaneous perspiration due to superficial deficiency and can be combined with Baishaoyao (Radix Paeoniae Alba) to warm the meridians, activate yang, resolve fluid retention and induce diuresis, etc.. Since Mahuang (Her-ba Ephedrae) is a medicinal herb mainly attributive to the lung meridian and has the strong action of perspiration, it is often used for exterior sthenia syndrome with anhidrosis due to wind and cold and can disperse the lung and relieve asthma, promote diuresis to relieve edema.
