This product is the tender branch of the evergreen tree Cassia Bark (Cinnamomum cassia Presl) from the Lauraceae family. It is mainly produced in Guangdong, Guangxi, and Yunnan provinces. The tender branches are often harvested in spring, dried in the sun or shade, and then sliced or cut into segments for use.

bubble_chart Properties and Meridians

Acrid and sweet, warm. act on heart, lung and bladder channels.

bubble_chart Efficacy

Promoting sweating, warming and unblocking meridians and vessels, assisting yang and transforming qi.

bubble_chart Indications

1. Used for wind-cold common cold. This product is acrid, sweet, and warm in nature, with the ability to warm and unblock yang, support the defensive aspect, and thus assist in strengthening the exterior, promoting sweating, and releasing the flesh, as well as dispersing wind-cold externally. For example, to treat wind-cold exterior excess without sweating, it is often combined with Ephedra to ventilate the lung qi and disperse wind-cold, as in Ephedra Decoction. If treating exterior deficiency with sweating, it should be combined with Peony Root to harmonize the nutrient and defensive aspects and promote sweating to release the flesh, as in Cinnamon Twig Decoction.
2. Used for various pain syndromes caused by cold congealing and blood stagnation. This product has the effect of warming and unblocking the meridians and vessels, dissipating cold to relieve pain. For example, for chest yang deficiency with heart vessel obstruction and chest impediment, it is often combined with Immature Orange Fruit and Longstamen Onion Bulb, as in Immature Orange Fruit, Longstamen Onion Bulb, and Cinnamon Twig Decoction. If there is middle energizer deficiency with cold pain in the epigastrium and abdomen, it is often combined with Peony Root and maltose, as in Minor Center-Fortifying Decoction. If there is blood cold with stagnation, amenorrhea, and abdominal pain, it is often combined with Chinese Angelica and Evodia Fruit, as in Meridian-Warming Decoction. If there is wind-cold-dampness impediment with shoulder and arm pain, it can be combined with Aconite Lateral Root, as in Cinnamon Twig and Aconite Decoction.
3. Used for phlegm-fluid retention and fluid retention syndrome/pattern. This product is sweet and warm, assisting yang to transform qi and move water-dampness and phlegm-fluid retention. For example, for spleen yang deficiency with phlegm-fluid retention causing dizziness and palpitations, it is often combined with Poria and White Atractylodes Rhizome, as in Poria, Cinnamon Twig, Bighead Atractylodes and Licorice Decoction. If there is bladder qi transformation dysfunction with edema and difficulty in urination, it is often combined with Polyporus and Alisma, as in Five Ingredients with Poria Powder.
4. Used for palpitations. This product is acrid, sweet, and warm in nature, capable of warming heart yang, unblocking blood vessels, and stopping palpitations. For example, for heart yang deficiency with inability to directly unblock blood vessels, presenting with palpitations, irregular pulse, and intermittent pulse, it is often combined with Liquorice Root, Tangshen, and Ophiopogon Tuber, as in Prepared Liquorice Decoction. Additionally, if there is severe pudendal coldness causing lower energizer rushing qi to ascend and harass the heart and chest, leading to running-piglet syndrome, this product is often used in large doses, as in Cinnamon Twig plus Cinnamon Twig Decoction.

bubble_chart Documentation

1. Zhenzhunang: "Mainly treats common cold and headache, opens striae and interstice, releases the exterior to induce sweating, and removes wind-dampness from the skin."
2. Benjing Shuzheng: "Its uses can be categorized into six: harmonizing the nutrient level, unblocking yang, promoting urination, lowering qi, moving stasis, and tonifying the middle."

bubble_chart Usage and Dosage

Decoct and take 3-10g.

bubble_chart Cautions and Contraindications

This product is pungent and warm, aiding heat and easily damaging yin and stirring blood. It should be avoided in cases of external-contraction febrile disease, yin deficiency with effulgent fire, and reckless blood heat. It should be used with caution by pregnant women and those with hypermenorrhea.

bubble_chart Modern Pharmacology

This product contains volatile oil, the main components of which are cassia bark aldehyde, etc.

• Cinnamon Twig decoction has a cooling and antipyretic effect, and it inhibits Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus albus, cold-damage disease bacillus, common pathogenic skin fungi, and influenza virus. Cassia bark oil and cassia bark aldehyde have inhibitory effects on subcutaneous node bacillus.
• Cassia bark oil has stomachic, gastrointestinal spasm-relieving, diuretic, and cardiotonic effects.
• Cassia bark aldehyde has analgesic, sedative, and anticonvulsant effects.