味甘辛。入足厥阴经。功专疗沉寒痼冷。益火消阴。通经催生。得人参、麦冬、甘
草能益中气。得紫石英治吐逆。得二苓、泽泻、白术行水。去粗皮用。得人参、甘草、麦冬
良。忌生葱、石脂。足 筋急。桂末和白酒涂。外肾偏肿水调涂均效。产交趾者良。
味苦。入手少阴足太阴经。功专引血化汗。内托痈疽。同丁香治痘疮灰塌。消瘀生
肌。补虚寒。宣气血。利关节。治风痹症瘕。噎膈腹满。心腹诸痛。桂枝去皮为桂心。
味辛温。入足太阳经。功专温经通脉。去风止汗。得芍药、甘草能利营卫。得雄鸡
肝治小儿遗尿。阴虚者忌服。
辛温。同百药煎孩儿茶作膏饼噙咽。生津辟臭化痰。治风虫牙痛。同麻油蒸熟润
发。及作面脂。以叶煎汤洗发去垢除风。嫩枝为桂枝。
味甘。入足厥阴少阴经。功专补精血。得杜仲、萆 治肾虚腰痛。得青盐、川椒
治肝虚目暗。叶名天精草。苦甘而凉。清上焦心肺客热。代茶止消渴。子酒润捣用。得熟地
良。便滑者宜避。
味甘淡。微苦。入手太阴经。功专退热除烦。得麦冬、小麦治劳渴。得青蒿子治
虚热。得生地酒煮服治带下。若吐血尿血。捣鲜汁服效。妇人阴肿或生疮。以之煎水频洗良
。中寒及便溏者忌。甘草水浸一宿用。有汗之骨蒸最宜。
味酸。入足厥阴少阴经。功专助阳固阴。得熟地补肾虚。得五味摄精气。强阳不
痿。小便不利者忌用。核滑精。用尤宜去。陈者良。恶防己、防风、桔梗。
[Cinnamomi Cortex (Rou Gui)]
Taste: Sweet, Acrid. Meridian Tropism: Foot Jueyin Liver Meridian. Actions: Specifically treats deep-seated cold and chronic cold conditions. Benefits Fire to dissipate Yin (tonates Mingmen Fire to dispel cold), unifies meridians, and facilitates childbirth. When combined with Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma (Renshen), Ophiopogonis Radix (Maidong), and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Gancao), it benefits Middle Qi. Combined with Purified Pyrum (Zishi Ying), it treats vomiting and rebellious Qi. Combined with Poria (Fuling), Polyporus (Zhuling), Alisma Rhizoma (Zexie), and Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma (Baizhu), it promotes water metabolism. Use after removing the rough bark. It is effective when combined with Renshen, Gancao, and Maidong. Contraindicated with raw Allium fistulosum (Cong) and Red Earth Stone (Shizhi). For tendon spasm in the foot, apply Cinnamomi Cortex powder mixed with white wine externally; this is effective. For unilateral swelling of the external genitalia, applying Cinnamomi Cortex powder mixed with water is also effective. The variety produced in Jiaozhi (modern-day Northern Vietnam) is of superior quality.
[Cinnamomi Cortex Medulla (Gui Xin)]
Taste: Bitter. Meridian Tropism: Hand Shaoyin Heart Meridian and Foot Taiyin Spleen Meridian. Actions: Specifically guides blood to transform into sweat, and internally supports the expulsion of carbuncles and sores. Combined with Eugeniae Flos (Dingxiang), it treats collapsed acneiform eruptions. Eliminates stasis, generates flesh, tonifies deficiency-cold, circulates Qi and Blood, benefits joints, treats wind-bi and masses, dysphagia, abdominal fullness, and various pains in the heart and abdomen. Cinnamomi Ramulus (Guizhi) without its bark is called Cinnamomi Cortex Medulla (Guixin).
[Cinnamomi Ramulus (Guizhi)]
Taste: Acrid, Warm. Meridian Tropism: Foot Taiyang Bladder Meridian. Actions: Specifically warms meridians and unifies vessels, expels wind, and stops sweating. Combined with Paeoniae Radix Alba (Shaoyao) and Gancao, it harmonizes Ying and Wei (Nutritive and Defensive levels). Combined with the liver of a rooster, it treats nocturnal enuresis in children. Contraindicated in patients with Yin deficiency.
[Young Cinnamomi Ramulus / Leaves]
Taste: Acrid, Warm. Combined with Bai Yao Jian and Child's Tea (Haier Cha) to make paste tablets for sucking, it generates fluids, eliminates bad breath, and resolves phlegm. Treats wind-worm toothache. Steamed with Sesamum indicum oil (Mayou), it moistens hair and can be used as facial cream. Washing hair with decoction of leaves removes dirt and expels wind. Young branches are referred to as Guizhi.
[Tianjing Cao - Leaves of Cinnamomum]
Taste: Sweet. Meridian Tropism: Foot Jueyin Liver Meridian and Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian. Actions: Specifically tonifies Essence and Blood. Combined with Eucommiae Cortex (Duzhong) and Dioscoreae Hypoglaucae Rhizoma (Bixie), it treats lower back pain due to Kidney deficiency. Combined with Green Salt (Qingyan) and Zanthoxyli Fructus (Chuanjiao), it treats dim vision due to Liver deficiency. The leaves are named Tianjing Cao. Taste: Bitter, Sweet, Cool. Clears exogenous heat in the Upper Jiao (Heart and Lungs). Used as tea to treat polydipsia. The fruit should be moistened with wine and pounded before use; it is effective when combined with Prepared Rehmanniae Radix (Shudihuang). Avoid in patients with loose stools.
[Dugupi - Cortex Lycii Radicis]
Taste: Sweet, Pale, slightly Bitter. Meridian Tropism: Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian. Actions: Specifically reduces fever and relieves irritability. Combined with Maidong and Triticum aestivum (Xiaomai), it treats thirst due to consumption diseases. Combined with Artemisiae Annuae Semen (Qinghaozi), it treats deficient heat. Taken with wine after boiling with Rehmanniae Radix (Shengdi), it treats leukorrhea. For hematemesis or hematuria, taking fresh juice extracted by pounding is effective. For vulvar swelling or sores in women, frequent washing with decoction is beneficial. Contraindicated in patients with Interior Cold and loose stools. Soak in Licorice water overnight before use. It is most suitable for bone-steaming fever accompanied by sweating.
[Shanzhuyu - Corni Fructus]
Taste: Sour. Meridian Tropism: Foot Jueyin Liver Meridian and Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian. Actions: Specifically assists Yang and secures Yin. Combined with Shudihuang, it tonifies Kidney deficiency. Combined with Schisandrae Fructus (Wuweizi), it grasps Essence and Qi. Strengthens Yang preventing flaccidity. Contraindicated in patients with difficulty urinating. The seed causes seminal emission; it should be removed before use. Older fruits are of better quality. Incompatible with Stephaniae Tetrandrae Radix (Fangji), Saposhnikoviae Radix (Fangfeng), and Platycodonis Radix (Jiegeng).