Guì Zhī · Cinnamon Twig
Guì Zhī (桂枝, Cinnamon Twig) is a herb of Warm nature and Pungent, Sweet flavor, in the “Warm Exterior-Releasing” category. Tradition uses it to release Exterior Wind-Cold, Warm and Unblock Yang Qi, Harmonize Ying and Wei.
Energetic profile
- Pinyin name
- Guì Zhī
- Characters
- 桂枝
- Botanical name
- Cinnamomum cassia (L.) J.Presl
- Family
- Lauraceae
- Part used
- Twig
- Nature
- Warm
- Flavor
- Pungent, Sweet
- Meridians
- Bladder, Heart, Lung
- Category
- Warm Exterior-Releasing
- Toxicity
- Non-toxic
- Pregnancy
- Caution
- Origin
- China, Vietnam
Actions according to tradition
- Release Exterior Wind-Cold
- Warm and Unblock Yang Qi
- Harmonize Ying and Wei
- Warm Channels
Traditional uses
- Wind-cold exterior patterns with aversion to cold
- Heart yang deficiency with palpitations and chest pain
- Cold-damp arthritis and painful obstruction
- Edema from yang deficiency failing to transform water
- Cold limbs and poor circulation
Studied effects and current applications
- Releases exterior wind-cold with sweating
- Warms and unblocks yang qi in chest and limbs
- Promotes circulation through channels and collaterals
- Harmonizes nutritive and defensive qi levels
- Warms middle jiao and disperses cold
Applications under investigation
- Common cold and flu (early stage)
- Cardiovascular disease and heart failure
- Raynaud's phenomenon and cold extremities
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Hormonal imbalances
An effect being investigated does not mean it has been proven in humans.
Contraindications and adverse effects
Absolute contraindications
- Excess heat patterns
- Yin deficiency heat conditions
- Excessive bleeding
Relative contraindications
- Pregnancy (large doses)
- Hypertension with liver yang rising
- Pregnancy
- Small doses in formula context are generally safe. Avoid large doses alone.
- Breastfeeding
- Generally safe in moderate formula doses.
- Children
- Safe for children in appropriate formulas for cold conditions.
- Older adults
- Excellent for elderly with cold limbs and yang deficiency. Avoid in heat conditions.
Possible adverse effects
- Sweating (desired therapeutic effect)
- Mouth dryness with excess use
- Potential fever aggravation in heat conditions
When to stop
- Heat conditions appear
- Excessive sweating
- Pregnancy (large doses)
Interactions with medications
| Group | Drugs | Severity | Effect and recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anticoagulants | Warfarin, Aspirin | Mild | Mild antiplatelet activity Monitor INR |
| Antihypertensives | Calcium channel blockers, ACE inhibitors | Mild | Complex interaction - may affect blood pressure variably Monitor blood pressure |
With other herbs
- bai_shao Classic Gui Zhi Tang formula combination for harmonizing ying and wei
Reference dose
- Decoction
- 3-9 grams daily
- Powder
- 1-3 grams daily
- Tincture
- 1-3 ml (1:5) 3 times daily
- Acute use
- 1-2 weeks
- Chronic use
- 3-4 weeks in formulas
- Maximum
- Short-term preferred; avoid in warm conditions
- Children
- Safe in children at reduced doses for cold conditions.
Forms of preparation
Add at end of cooking (last 5-10 min) to preserve aromatic compounds. Simmer 3-9g.
Cold exterior patterns, warming
Steep 3-6g in hot water 10 min. Add ginger for enhanced warming.
Common cold prevention, warming on cold days
Approximate doses from the literature; they are not a prescription. Consult a professional.
Active compounds
Cinnamaldehyde, cinnamic acid and coumarins (less than bark)
Phenylpropanoid aldehyde · Diaphoretic, peripheral vasodilator, antibacterial
Cutaneous vasodilation (↑ peripheral blood flow), COX inhibition, antimicrobial · 55-75% of branch essential oil
Phenylpropanoid · Analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial
Na+ channel blockade, COX-1/2 inhibition, bacterial membrane disruption · 5-15% of essential oil
Phenylpropanoids · Antifungal, antioxidant, mild anti-inflammatory
Radical scavenging, inhibition of fungal ergosterol biosynthesis · 1-3%
Dimeric proanthocyanidins · Vasoprotector, antioxidant, insulin sensitizer
Radical scavenging, endothelium protection, insulin mimicry · 0.1-0.5%
Harvesting and processing
- Harvest
- All year round in tropical crops; spring-summer for greater concentration of oils
Young, tender cinnamon sticks harvested before woody maturity. Guangxi province is the main producer.
Washed young twigs, cut into 2-4 mm oblique slices and dried in the sun or with gentle heat. It acts on the surface and the meridians, it does not penetrate as deep as the inner cortex.
Formulas it appears in
Health notice. Educational and study content. It describes concepts of Traditional Chinese Medicine and does not replace diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional. Needling, medicinal herbs and invasive techniques must be applied by trained professionals. Safety guide.
