State/School

California License Exam, Pacific College Comps, Yo San University, Southern California University of Health Sciences, NYTCM, ESATM

Pharm Name

Cinnamomi Cortex

Common Name

Cassia Bark

Category

Warm Interior and Expel Cold

Ingredients

Taste

Sweet, Acrid

Pao Zhi

Temperature

Hot

Action / Indication

1. Warms the Ming Men and strengthens Kidney yang: used to treat such symptoms of Kidney yang deficiency as cold limbs, impotence, aversion to cold, weak cold back, low libido, deficiency asthma, and frequent urination.
2. Redirects fire back to the source: used to treat the upward-floating of deficient yang resulting in flushed face, wheezing, cold weak lower extremities, and deficient and rootless pulse. Can also be used to treat upper body heat such as dry mouth and sore throat with lower body cold such as painful and cold lower extremities, and diarrhea.
3. Warms the Spleen and dispels cold: used to treat cold obstructing the middle jiao causing diarrhea, gas, bloating, and abdominal and intestinal discomfort.
4. Dispels deep cold, warms and opens the channels and vessels, and stops pain: used to treat blood stasis due to cold for such gynecological conditions such as amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, and post-partum pain, as well as yin-type boils and deep-rooted sores.
5. Generates qi and blood: added to tonic formulas to enhance circulation and absorption and boost efficacy.

Treatment Principles

Warms the Mingmen
Strengthens KidneyYang
Redirects Fire Downward
Dispels Deep Cold
Warms and Opens the Channels and Vessels
Stops Pain
Generates Qi and Blood

Contraindication

Pregnancy, yin deficiency fire, interior excess heat, and reckless movement of hot blood.

Dosages

1.5-4.5g added to decoction in the last 5 minutes. 1-2g powdered.

Meridians

LIV, HT, KD, SP

Tom's Comment

1. Rou Gui is the bark and not the twig (Gui Zhi). They do not have the same therapeutics. Rou Gui warms the interior while Gui Zhi unblocks the yang
2. Rou Gui warms and disperses cold. It is particularly useful for Lower Jiao cold pathologies such as Cold Menstrual Pain
3. Rou Gui comes in different grades. Good quality medicinal grade Rou Gui should have a strong pungent sweet smell when crushed.

Source

Formula Type