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Trichosanthes cucumerina (Wang Gua)

Bitter in taste, cold in nature. Non-toxic. Another view holds that it has slight toxicity. It grows in marshes, fields, and along fences, ditches, and walls. Also known as Tu Gua (Earth Melon), it is found everywhere.
The "Monthly Ordinances" states: "In the fourth month, Trichosanthes cucumerina grows," referring to this plant. It is a vine that produces leaves, is thorny, and slightly round. It flowers at the Summer Solstice with deep yellow, single-petal flowers. The fruits are about one to two cun long, maturing between the seventh and eighth lunar months. The outer shell is red-yellow, resembling Trichosanthes kirilowii (Gua Lou), while the inner seeds are purple-red, resembling the head of a mantis. For medicinal prescriptions, both roots and seeds are used.
It treats frequent urination and involuntary enuresis, moistens the Heart and Lungs, resolves Gu poison (parasitic disease), and eliminates jaundice and icterus; for these indications, seeds should be used raw. It treats dysentery with mixed red and white discharge, expels intestinal wind, clears Lung flaccidity (Fei Wei), and stops hemorrhages such as blood spitting and bloody diarrhea; for these, seeds must be stir-fried. Root juice can remove pediatric conditions like Shan Pi (sudden swelling/mass), fullness, epidemic febrile diseases causing mania, and sudden onset of phlegm-malaria; all may be taken, though effects are considered unique; (excessive intake causes vomiting and diarrhea). Root decoction breaks up firm abdominal masses (Xue Jia) in women, treats pain from traumatic blood stasis, and promotes lactation; these should be drunk, but not in excess. It also expels latent fluid in joints, reduces sores on the neck, removes damp-bi acid pain, and dissipates carbuncles and swellings. It unifies menses and induces abortion, tonifies Qi, and cures deafness.

Official Cinnamon (Guan Gui)

Cinnamon (Gui)

Male Cinnamon (Mu Gui)

Pungent and sweet in taste, hot in nature. Floating, belonging to Yang within Yang. Slightly toxic. Bark should be harvested at the Winter Solstice; it is contraindicated to consume with raw green onions. Harvested bark must be dried in the shade (avoid fire or direct sun). Use by slicing into pieces. Remaining material must be wrapped tightly in paper to prevent wind exposure, which would cause the pungent aroma to dissipate. There are many varieties from various regions.
Zheng Gui (True Cinnamon) is round without bone-like texture (resembling bamboo), produced in Jiaozhi Guilin. Mu Gui (Male Cinnamon) has broad, thin bark, produced in the valleys of Nanhai. Guan Gui (Official Cinnamon) is of high quality, suitable for tribute (a prefecture name in Guangdong. One theory suggests people abbreviated "Guan" due to its complexity, similar to abbreviating other characters, making "Gong" acceptable). Mu Gui (Wood Cinnamon) has very thick bark with coarse, spongy flesh, originating from Lingnan. Tong Gui (Tube Cinnamon) has tender bark rolled like a tube; Ban Gui (Board Cinnamon) has old, flat bark. Liu Gui (Willow Cinnamon) refers to soft branch tips; Rou Gui (Meat Cinnamon) refers to thick, fleshy bark. Gui Zhi (Cinnamon Twig) consists of small twigs, not the thick trunk; Gui Xin (Cinnamon Heart) is the yellowish flesh near the wood, after removing the rough outer bark. Once varieties are clearly distinguished, deception is difficult. Their respective therapeutic actions must also be understood in detail.
Gui Tong (Cinnamon Tube) is identical to Gui (Cinnamon) (one theory says "Gui" and "Tong" were confused due to visual similarity, becoming a custom). It nourishes spirit, harmonizes complexion, and delays aging. Mu Gui and Ban Gui are of the same category; they strengthen bones and joints, unblock blood vessels, and induce abortion.
All four have pungent-warm properties and are difficult to use as primary treatments for wind-cold. Liu Gui and Gui Zhi have a bland taste; they treat upper Jiao head and eye disorders, extend horizontally to arm pain, harmonize Ying Blood, release the muscle layer, stop irritability and sweating, disperse pathogens and wind. As the classics state: "Thin qi releases and vents." Rou Gui and Mu Gui are hot in nature; they treat lower Jiao cold, autumn and winter abdominal pain, Ben Tun (fleeing tumor/gas), promote water pathways, warm tendons and viscera, break blood stasis, and unblock menses. As the classics state: "Dense qi generates heat."
"Gui Xin" implies beauty/refinement; its action is somewhat stabilizing, treating middle-level issues. "Guan Gui" implies nobility; its taste is very pungent, easily releasing the exterior. These differences arise because what originates from Heaven tends toward the upper, and what originates from Earth tends toward the lower. This is natural law, inherent and unchangeable. However, Liu Gui and Gui Zhi enter the Foot Taiyang Bladder Fu; Gui Xin enters the Shaoyin Kidney Meridian. The "Shennong Ben Cao Jing" notes: Cinnamon has slight toxicity, transforming according to its companions. With Huang Qin (Scutellariae Radix) and Huang Lian (Coptidis Rhizoma), the slight toxicity is neutralized; with Wu Tou (Aconiti Radix) and Fu Zi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata), it fully acquires heat properties. With Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix), Mai Dong (Ophiopogonis Radix), and Gan Cao (Glycyrrhizae Radix), it regulates the Middle, tonifies Qi, secures Wei, and protects Ying; with Chai Hu (Bupleuri Radix), Zi Shi Ying (Hematitum), and Shu Di Huang (Rehmanniae Radix Preparata), it primarily treats retching. With Ba Dou (Crotonis Fructus), Sha Ren (Amomi Fructus), Gan Qi (Lac Sumach), Chuan Shan Jia (Manis Squama), Shui Zhi (Hirudo), and Meng Chong (Tabanidae), among other toxic substances, the slight toxicity transforms into major toxicity. Contraindicated in Spring and Summer; suitable for decoction in Autumn and Winter.
(Chen Jiamo) Commentary: The different treatments provided by various Cinnamons are simply applications based on their specific materials. However, the "Ben Cao Jing" states: Cinnamon stops irritability and sweating. Zhang Zhongjing, treating Shang Han (Cold Damage), stated: Do not administer Gui Zhi if there is no sweat. He also said: If sweating is excessive, use Gui Zhi Gan Cao Tang (Cinnamon Twig and Licorice Decoction). This uses it to stop sweating, seemingly contradicting the classic text. Or does one herb have two uses? Alas! This is precisely "different paths leading to the same destination." Cinnamon excels at unblocking blood vessels. When the "Ben Cao Jing" says it stops irritability and sweating, it does not mean Cinnamon opens the Cou Li (pores) to induce sweat. Rather, by harmonizing Ying Blood, Wei Qi becomes balanced, pathogens have no place to reside, and spontaneous sweating occurs, resolving the disease. When Zhang Zhongjing says using Gui Zhi for excessive sweating, it is not that Gui Zhi closes the Cou Li to stop sweat. By harmonizing Ying and Wei, pathogens exit with sweat; once pathogens are gone, sweating stops naturally. Ignorant practitioners misunderstand the concepts of inducing and stopping sweat. They use Gui Zhi Tang (Cinnamon Twig Decoction) for all Cold Damage cases. Fortunately, for Taiyang Wind Strike with spontaneous sweating, it yields miraculous results. But if applied to Taiyang Cold Damage without sweat, the harm would be profound. Some claim Zhang Zhongjing used it solely to consolidate deficiency sweat for exterior deficiency; this is a gross misunderstanding of the classic intent.