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Cortex Cinnamomi (Guixin), Cortex Cinnamomi Cassiae (Rougui), Ramulus Cinnamomi (Guizhi) possess slight toxicity.

Cinnamon (Gui) primarily warms the middle jiao, promotes the free flow of Qi in the Liver and Lung meridians, treats cold-heat disorders and cold diseases of the heart and abdomen, cholera with muscle cramps, headache, and lower back pain; induces sweating, relieves irritability, stops salivation, treats cough, unblocks nasal orifices; can induce abortion, strengthens bone joints; promotes blood circulation, regulates deficiency in dispersing and descending, facilitates the action of various herbs without contraindications; long-term consumption is said to confer immortality (Recorded by Famous Physicians).

[Names] Dan Gui (Dan Cinnamon), Jiang Gui (Ginger Cinnamon).

[Morphology] According to records: The cinnamon tree grows three to four zhang high. Its leaves resemble those of the cypress but are glossy and dark black. The bark is yellow, and the wood is red. It remains evergreen through winter. No other trees grow nearby, likely because other trees wither when near cinnamon, hence the name "Gui". According to *Yanyi*, cinnamon is extremely hot. *Suwen* states that pungent and sweet flavors disperse and belong to Yang. Therefore, Zhang Zhongjing uses Guizhi Tang (Ramulus Cinnamomi Decoction) to treat exterior deficiency patterns in Cold Damage, specifically utilizing the principle of pungent and sweet dispersion. It is also stated that cold diseases should be treated with heat. Thus, among the three types of cinnamon, Jun Gui (Jun Cinnamon) and Mu Gui (Mu Cinnamon) are not selected because their properties are merely warm and insufficient for treating wind-cold diseases. Only the term "Gui" in *Benjing* describes it as pungent, sweet, and extremely hot, aligning perfectly with the *Suwen*'s principle of pungent and sweet dispersion, further indicating that Jun Gui and Mu Gui are inferior. Currently, *Erya* states that "Qin" is Mu Gui. Guo Pu's commentary notes that people in the south call the thick bark of the cinnamon tree "Mu Gui". Su Gong considers Mu Gui to be Mu Gui and the single term "Gui", which is incorrect. *Tangye Bencao* mentions categories such as Jun Gui, Mu Gui, Mu Gui, Tong Gui, Rou Gui, Ban Gui, Guixin, and Guanzi Gui, but users rarely distinguish between them. *Yanyi* questions the origin of the name "Guan". Researching various materia medica, varieties from Guanbin Prefecture are considered superior. People abbreviate the character due to its complexity, writing only "Guan", similar to how Huangbo is written as Huangbai and Shengjiang as Jiang. Various cinnamons described in materia medica differ in thickness. Generally, thin pieces are branches, thick and resinous pieces are flesh (bark interior), and the middle part after scraping off the outer bark and inner lining is called Guixin. Therefore, Zhang Zhongjing uses Guizhi (Ramulus Cinnamomi) to release the exterior and Rougui (Cortex Cinnamomi Cassiae) to tonify the Kidney, following the principle that "what belongs to Heaven亲近 upper parts, what belongs to Earth亲近 lower parts."

[Origin] Tao Hongjing states: Produced in Xiangzhou, Guizhou, and Jiaozhou. [Authentic Sources] Guiyang, Guangzhou, Guanzhou.

[Season] [Growth] New leaves sprout in spring. [Harvest] Bark is collected in February, August, and October. [Storage] Dried in the shade. [Medicinal Parts] Bark, inner bark, twigs.

[Texture] Similar to Phellodendri Cortex (Huangbo) but thinner. [Color] Purple. [Flavor] Pungent, Sweet. [Nature] Extremely Hot. [Qi] Strong aroma indicates Yang. [Odor] Fragrant.

[Actions] Subdues Liver Qi, expels cold pathogens.

[Meridian Tropism] [Gui] Enters the Hand Shaoyin Meridian. [Guizhi] Enters the Foot Taiyin Meridian.

[Processing] Remove coarse bark.

[Therapeutic Effects] [Efficacy] *Yaoxing Lun* states: Guixin stops nine types of heart pain, kills parasites, breaks blood stasis, unblocks amenorrhea and leg weakness/numbness, treats retained placenta, relieves cough with qi stagnation, obstruction, unbearable cold pain in the abdomen, dysentery, and nasal polyps. *Rihua Zi* states: Guixin treats all wind-pathogens, opens the nine orifices, benefits joints, warms the waist and knees, breaks accumulations and masses, resolves blood stasis and wind-bi joint contracture, reconnects tendons and bones, generates muscle tissue. *Tangye Bencao* states: Guizhi releases the exterior and treats spontaneous sweating due to exterior deficiency; light/thin varieties are suitable for eye-related dispersing formulas. ○ Rougui treats deep-seated cold and stubborn cold, abdominal pain in the lower abdomen during autumn and winter, and Ben Tun (rushing tumor). *Bielu* states: Guixin treats sudden onset of nausea and pain, and infant umbilical swelling; apply hot compress after heating. ○ Gui treats abdominal distension and fullness, and unilateral swelling/pain of the external genitalia; powder mixed with water (one cun bi dose) applied topically.

[Tonic Effects] *Rihua Zi* states: Benefits essence and brightens eyes, treats five exhausters and seven injuries. *Tangye Bencao* states: Rougui tonifies deficiency of fire in the Lower Jiao and tonifies the Kidney.

[Combinations] Combined with Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma (Renshen), Ophiopogonis Radix (Maidong), Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Gancao), Rheum Radix et Rhizoma (Dahuang), and Scutellariae Radix (Huangqin) to regulate the middle and benefit Qi. ○ Combined with Bupleuri Radix (Chaihu), Psilomini Fructus (Zishiying), and Rehmanniae Radix Preparata (Shudihuang) to stop vomiting and regurgitation. ○ Two liang of Guixin powder mixed with hot wine, taken one qian bi dose at any time, treats cold hernia with heart pain, cold limbs, and complete anorexia.