味辛、甘，性大热，有小毒。入肝、肾二经。畏石脂。
忌生葱，去皮用。见火无功。
益火消阴，救元阳之痼冷。温中降气，扶脾胃之虚寒。坚筋骨、强阳道，乃助火之勋。
定惊
痫，通血脉，属平肝之绩。下焦腹痛，非此不除。奔豚疝瘕，用之即效。宣通百药，善堕胞
胎。
桂心∶（入心肾二经）理心腹之恙，三虫九痛皆瘥。补气脉之虚，五痨七伤多验。宣气
血
而无壅，利关节而有灵。托痈疽痘毒，能引血成脓。
肉桂乃近根之最浓者，桂心即在中之次浓者。桂枝即顶上细枝。（另列专条）以其皮薄，
又名
薄桂。肉桂在下，主治下焦，桂心在中，主治中焦，桂枝在上，主治上焦。此本乎天者亲上
、本乎地者亲下之道也。
桂性偏阳，不可误投，如阴虚之人，一切血证、及无虚寒者，均当忌之。
味辛，性热，无毒。入肺、脾二经。
破血消痰，腹痛胃翻均可服。温中下气，症瘕积胀悉皆除。开胃扶脾，消食去滞。生行
则发
汗有灵，炮黑则止血颇验。
干姜本辛，炮之则苦，守而不移，非若附子行而不止也。其止血者，盖血虚则热，热则
妄行
，炒黑则能引补血药入阴分，血得补则阴生热退，且黑为水色，故血不妄行也。然血寒者可
多用，血热者不过用三四分，为向导而已。
姜味大辛，辛能僭上，亦能散气，走血，久服损阴伤目，凡阴虚有热者勿服。
[Cinnamon Bark (Rou Gui)]
Flavor: Pungent, Sweet. Nature: Extremely Hot. Toxicity: Slightly toxic. Meridian Tropism: Liver, Kidney. Antagonism: Feared by Lithii Carbonas (Chishizhi).
Dietary Taboo: Avoid raw Allium fistulosum L. (Cong); use the bark peeled. Ineffective if exposed to fire during processing.
Actions: Benefits Fire to dissipate Yin, rescues primordial Yang from entrenched cold. Warms the Middle and directs Qi downward, supports deficiency-cold of the Spleen and Stomach. Strengthens sinews and bones, fortifies the sexual function; this is its merit in assisting Fire.
Calms fright, treats epilepsy, unblocks blood vessels; these are its achievements in pacifying the Liver. Abdominal pain in the Lower Jiao cannot be eliminated without it. Ben Tun (fleeing tumor), hernia, and abdominal masses respond immediately to its use. Promotes the efficacy of other herbs, but has a strong tendency to induce abortion.
Guixin (Cortex Cinnamomi Centra): Enters the Heart and Kidney meridians. Regulates ailments of the Heart and abdomen; cures various parasitic diseases and multiple pains. Tonifies deficiency of Qi and vessels; effective for five types of consumptive disease and seven types of internal injury. Promotes circulation of Qi and Blood without stagnation, renders joints flexible and agile. Expels toxicity from carbuncles and smallpox sores, guides blood to form pus.
Distinction: Rou Gui is the thickest bark near the root; Guixin is the next thickest part in the center; Guizhi refers to the fine twigs at the top. (Listed separately). Because of its thinness, it is also named Bo Gui. Rou Gui acts on the Lower Jiao; Guixin acts on the Middle Jiao; Guizhi acts on the Upper Jiao. This follows the principle that "what originates from Heaven tends upward, and what originates from Earth tends downward."
Contraindications: The nature of Cinnamon is biased toward Yang/Heat; it must not be administered erroneously. It is contraindicated for individuals with Yin deficiency, all hemorrhagic conditions, and those without deficiency-cold.
[Dried Ginger (Gan Jiang)]
Flavor: Pungent. Nature: Hot. Toxicity: Non-toxic. Meridian Tropism: Lung, Spleen.
Actions: Breaks up blood stasis and eliminates phlegm; suitable for abdominal pain and rebellious Stomach Qi. Warms the Middle and directs Qi downward; eliminates masses, accumulations, and distension. Opens the appetite and supports the Spleen, digests food and removes stagnation. Raw usage induces sweating effectively; charred black usage stops bleeding significantly.
Processing: Gan Jiang is naturally pungent, but becomes bitter after processing. It retains rather than disperses, unlike Fuzi which disperses without restraint. Its hemostatic effect arises because blood deficiency generates heat, causing reckless bleeding. Charring black allows it to guide blood-tonifying herbs into the Yin aspect; as blood is replenished, Yin grows and heat recedes. Moreover, black corresponds to Water, thus preventing reckless bleeding. For blood-cold patterns, it may be used in larger doses; for blood-heat patterns, only 3-4 fen should be used merely as a guiding herb.
Warnings: Ginger is highly pungent. Pungency can ascend excessively, scatter Qi, and move Blood. Long-term consumption damages Yin and injures the eyes. It should not be taken by those with Yin deficiency and internal heat.