How the Herb Gui Zhi, or Cinnamon Twig, is Used in the Practice of Traditional Chinese Medicine

The practice of Traditonal Chinese medicine incorporates the use of many herbs and plants. Some of the herbs and plants used in Chinese medicine are not often found or used in the United States, or any other part of the world for that matter. Some of the herbs and plants used are very familiar to us, but just used in a way that is unfamiliar to us. One example of this is cinnamon twigs, known as Gui Zhi in Chinese medicine. We often use the ground bark of the plant as a common seasoning in sweet and savory dishes.

 

Gui Zhi belongs to a group of warm, acrid herbs that release exterior conditions; that is, superficial illnesses caused by viruses, with symptoms in the skin or muscle layers. These mainly cause sweating, or stop sweating where necessary. Gui Zhi is both sweet and warming; it is most commonly used on the Lung and Bladder channels of the body.

 

Practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine prescribe the herb because it adjusts the body's sweating in externally caused Cold conditions. Gui Zhi also warms the meridians and disperses Cold, which makes it useful for rheumatic ailments and also for gynecological problems caused by Cold obstructing the Blood. The herb moves the Yang and transforms Qi so it can be used for water retention (edema) from Cold, where poor circulation of Yang Qi has failed to move the fluids in the body. It also strengthens the Heart Yang so it can be helpful for palpitations when the active functioning of the Heart is weak.

 

Gui Zhi also has quite a few more practical uses. Gui Zhi is used mainly for colds and flu, and commonly in combination with Bai Shao, when there is too much sweating in a cold condition and the patient is becoming weak. It is often added to prescriptions for rheumatic complaints in the joints and limbs, especially the shoulders, caused by Cold Obstruction causing pain, where it sends warmth through the channels. Use for edema, as mentioned above, where it sends warm yang energy through the meridians to move and transform the settled fluid. It is often used with licorice (Gan Cao) for palpitations and shortness of breath due to Deficient Heart yang. It can be used for menstrual cramps or irregular menstruation caused by Cold.

 

Be mindful when using Gui Zhi as it is contraindicated in cases of diseases caused by excess Warm in the body. For example, fever, deficient Yin with Heat signs or Heat in the blood with vomiting.

 

Sources:

 

Chmelik, Stefan Chinese Herbal Secrets: The Key to Total Health 1999

 

Reid, Daniel A Handbook of Chinese Healing Herbs 1995

 

Tiera, Michael The Way of Chinese Herbs 2008