补心脾，润肝肾
辛甘而润。其气清香，能透心肾而悦脾（昂按∶凡补脾药多燥，此润药而香能舒脾，燥
脾药中兼用最良）。养心气，润肾燥，助脾滋肝（王好古曰∶肝经气分药），益智宁神（养心）
，聪耳明目（甘益血，香通窍），益血止汗（心生血，汗为心液），除风湿。愈惊痫，泽皮肤，
辟鬼魅。
炒研去油，油透者勿用。畏菊花。
补阴，凉血
苦涩微寒（《本草》微温）。养阴滋肺而燥土最清血分，为补阴要药。
止吐衄崩淋，肠风尿（血）痢（血），一切血证，去冷风湿痹，历节风痛（肢节大痛，
昼静
夜剧，名白虎历节风。亦风寒湿所致）。涂汤火伤（捣烂水调涂），生肌杀虫，炙罨冻疮，汁
乌髭发。
取侧者（丹溪曰∶多得月令之气，随月建方取），或炒或生用。桂、牡蛎为使。恶菊花。
宜酒（万木皆向阳，柏独四指，受金之正气，坚劲不凋，多寿之木，故元旦饮椒柏酒以辟邪）
。
大燥，补肾命火
辛甘大热，气浓纯阳。入肝、肾血分（平肝、补肾），补命门相火之不足（两肾中间，
先天祖气，乃真火也。人非此火，不能有生，无此真阳之火，则无以蒸糟粕而化精微，脾胃
衰败，气尽而亡矣），益阳消阴。治痼冷沉寒，能发汗疏通血脉，宣导百药（辛则善散，热
则通行）。去营卫风寒，表虚自汗（阳虚），腹中冷痛，咳逆结气（咳逆亦由气不归元，桂能
引火，归宿丹田）。
木得桂而枯（削桂钉木根，其木即死），又能抑肝风而扶脾土（肝木盛则克土，辛散肝
风，甘益脾土），从治目赤肿痛（以热攻热，名曰从治），及脾虚恶食（命火不足），湿盛泄
泻（土为木克，不能防水。古行水方中，亦多用桂，如五苓散、滋肾丸之类），补劳明目，
通经堕胎（辛热能动血故也）。
出岭南桂州者良（州因桂名）。色紫肉浓，味辛甘者，为肉桂（入肝、肾、命门）。去粗
皮用（其毒在皮），去里外皮，当中心者，为桂心（入心），枝上嫩皮，为桂枝（入肺、膀胱
及手足）。得人参、甘草、麦冬良。忌生葱、石脂（本草有菌桂、筒桂、牡桂、版桂之殊。
今用者亦罕分别，惟以肉浓气香者良）。
Tonifies the Heart and Spleen, moistens the Liver and Kidneys.
Pungent, sweet, and moistening in nature. Its aroma is clear and penetrating, capable of reaching the Heart and Kidneys while soothing the Spleen (Wang Ang notes: Most herbs that tonify the Spleen are drying; this herb is moistening yet its fragrance can soothe the Spleen, making it an excellent adjunct to drying Spleen-tonifying herbs). Nourishes Heart Qi, moistens Kidney dryness, assists the Spleen and nourishes the Liver (Wang Haogu states: It is a herb for regulating Qi in the Liver channel), enhances wisdom and calms the Spirit (by nourishing the Heart), sharpens hearing and vision (Sweetness benefits Blood, fragrance opens orifices), benefits Blood and stops sweating (The Heart generates Blood, sweat is the fluid of the Heart), dispels Wind-Damp. Cures epilepsy and convulsions, moisturizes the skin, wards off evil influences.
Stir-fry and grind, removing the oil; do not use if the oil has seeped out. Averse to Chrysanthemum Flower (Juhua).
Nourishes Yin, cools Blood.
Bitter, astringent, slightly cold (Bencao records it as slightly warm). Nourishes Yin, moistens the Lungs, and dries Dampness; it is particularly effective at clearing Heat from the Blood level, serving as a key herb for nourishing Yin.
Stops hematemesis, epistaxis, metrorrhagia, strangury, intestinal wind with bloody stool, and dysentery with blood; treats all types of bleeding disorders; expels Cold-induced Wind-Damp Bi syndrome and Li Jie Feng pain (severe joint pain, quiet during the day and worse at night, known as White Tiger Li Jie Feng, also caused by Wind-Cold-Damp); applied externally for burns and scalds (mash and mix with water for application), promotes tissue regeneration and kills parasites; roasted and applied for frostbite; juice darkens beard and hair.
Select branches growing on the side (Zhu Danxi says: They obtain the Qi of the lunar months, so harvest according to the month's construction), stir-fried or used raw. Cassia Twig (Guizhi) and Oyster Shell (Muli) act as guides. Averse to Chrysanthemum Flower (Juhua).
Best taken with wine (All plants turn towards the sun, but Cypress branches extend in four directions, receiving the righteous Qi of Metal, remaining firm and unyielding, symbolizing longevity; thus, drinking Pepper and Cypress wine on New Year's Day wards off evil).
Extremely drying, tonifies Mingmen Fire.
Pungent, sweet, and extremely hot, with a dense, purely Yang Qi. Enters the Blood levels of the Liver and Kidneys (calms the Liver, tonifies the Kidney), supplements the deficiency of Mingmen Minister Fire (located between the two kidneys, the ancestral Qi of congenital origin, which is True Fire. Without this Fire, life cannot exist; without this True Yang Fire, one cannot steam and transform waste into essence, leading to Spleen-Stomach failure, exhaustion of Qi, and death), benefits Yang and eliminates Yin. Treats entrenched Cold and deep-seated Chill, induces sweating, unblocks collaterals, and guides other herbs (Pungency disperses well, heat promotes circulation). Expels Wind-Cold from Ying and Wei levels, treats spontaneous sweating due to exterior deficiency (Yang deficiency), cold pain in the abdomen, rebellious Qi with cough and chest tightness (Rebellious Qi also stems from Qi failing to return to its root; Cassia can guide Fire back to the Lower Dantian).
Wood withers when exposed to Cassia (if Cassia chips are nailed into tree roots, the tree dies); it can also suppress Liver Wind and support Spleen Earth (Excessive Liver Wood overacts on Earth; pungency disperses Liver Wind, sweetness tonifies Spleen Earth), employs contrary treatment for red, swollen, and painful eyes (using heat to attack heat, called contrary treatment), and addresses poor appetite due to Spleen deficiency (insufficient Mingmen Fire) and diarrhea due to excessive Dampness (Spleen Earth is controlled by Liver Wood and fails to manage Water. Ancient diuretic formulas often use Cassia, such as Wuling San and Zishen Wan), tonifies chronic weakness and brightens eyes, unblocks menstruation, and induces abortion (because pungent and hot herbs move Blood).
Those from Guizhou in Lingnan are superior (the prefecture is named after Cassia). Those with purple color, thick flesh, and pungent-sweet taste are called Rou Gui (Cortex Cinnamomi / Cassia Bark) (enters Liver, Kidney, Mingmen). Use after removing the rough bark (toxicity resides in the bark); remove outer and inner layers, taking only the center, called Guixin (Cassia Core) (enters Heart); tender bark from twigs is called Guizhi (Cassia Twig) (enters Lung, Bladder, and Hand-Foot channels). Harmonizes well with Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma (Renshen), Licorice Root (Gancao), and Ophiopogon Tuber ( Maidong). Avoid raw Scallion (Cong Bai) and Red Halloysite (Shizhi) (Bencao distinguishes between Jun Gui, Tong Gui, Mu Gui, and Ban Gui. Current usage rarely distinguishes them; only those with thick flesh and strong aroma are considered good).