Aidus & E-Fong Herbal Solution
Herbal Medicine for Removing Exterior Syndromes-Gui Zhi -桂枝
                                            
                                      Gui Zhi
                                      (GZ021)
                     Gui Zhi Jian or Nan Gui Zhi
                            Cinnamon Twig  
                          Ramulus Cinnamomi

This medical herb is the tender twigs of the evergreen tree Cinnamomum cassia Presl. of family Lauraceae, mainly
produced in Guangdong, Guangxi and Yunnan provinces of China. The tender twigs are usually cut off in spring, dried in
the sun or in the shade, and cut into slices or sections. The herb is also called Guizhi Jian or Nan Guizhi for some
practitioners.

Properties: The herb is pungent and sweet in flavour, warm in nature and acting on heart, lung and urinary bladder
channels. Pungent and warm for   dispersion and sweet for mild potency, without the shortcomings of hyperhidrosis
damaging Yang, the herb is often used to treat exterior syndromes of both deficiency and excess types caused by
pathogenic wind-cold. In addition, the herb can warm blood, invigorate pulse, reinforce Yang, and promote Qi flow. It
is an important herb to treat pains due to cold, deficiency of Yang and water retention.

Effects: Induces sweating to dispel extraneous pathogens, warms the channels to clear obstruction and reinforces Yang
to promote Qi flow.

Indications:

1. To treat exterior syndromes of deficiency type with symptoms of wind-cold, perspiration, aversion to wind, floating
and slow pulse, the herb is used in combination with Bai Shao ( white peony root), such as Guizhi Tang to regulate Ying
and Wei, inducing sweating and expelling pathogenic factors from muscles and skin. To treat exterior syndromes of
excess type with symptoms of wind-cold, aversion to cold, anhidrosis, and floating and tense pulse, such as in Ma
Huang Tang (Ephedra Decoction) the herb can help ephedra induce sweats and dispel extraneous pathogens.

2. The herb is often used in combination with Qiang Huo (notopterygium root), Fang Feng (ledebouriella root) and other
herbs for dispelling wind, dampness, cold, and alleviating, to treat arthralgia and pain in the limbs due to wind-cold, with
Wu Zhu Yu (evodia fruit), Chuan Xiong (chuanxiong rhizome), Dang Gui (Chinese angelica root) and other herbs, such
as Wenjing Tang for warming the channels, dispersing cold, regulating menstruation and alleviating pain, to treat
women's illness of cold, irregular menstruation, dysmenorrhea and amenia; and with  Zhi Shi (un-ripened bitter orange)
and Xie Bai (macrostem onion), such as Zhishi Xiebai Guizhi Tang for activating Yang, resolving lumps, and alleviating
arthralgia and pain, to treat insufficiency of chest-Yang and chest pain due to Qi blockage.

3. It is used in combination with Yi Tan ( malt extract) , such as Xiao Jianzhong Tang , for warming the middle-jiao,
restoring Qi, dispersing cold and alleviating pain, to treat cold of deficiency type in the middle Jiao, cold pain in the
stomach and abdomen, anorexia and loose bowel; Bai Zhu (with white atractylodes rhizome)  and Fu Ling (poria) for
warming Yang, promoting Qi flow, strengthening the spleen, and removing fluid retention, to treat deficiency of the
spleen Yang, phlegm retention, dizziness and palpitation; and with Zhu Ling ( umbellate pore fungus ),Fu Ling( poria ),
whitebait Zhu (atractylodes rhizome) for reinforcing Yang, promoting qi flow, inducing diuresis and removing edema,
such as Wuling San, to treat deficiency of Yang, disturbance on qi transformation, water retention, edema and difficulty
in urination.

Dosage and Administration: 3~10g
Precautions: Patients with Yin deficiency and excessive fire should be prohibited to use this herb, and women in
pregnancy or with profuse menstruation should be careful to use it.
Modern Researches: Cinnamon twig has the effects of anti-bacterial, clearing heat, relieving pain, tranquilizing and
anti-convulsive. It can relax gastrointestinal spasm to relieve pain and has the effect of strengthening the digestive
function. In addition, it also has the effects of inhibiting influenza virus, arresting cough and inducing diuresis, etc.(Aidus &
E-fong Herbal Solution)


桂枝《本经》
桂枝尖、嫩桂枝

为樟科常绿乔木肉桂 Cinnamamum cassia Presl. 的嫩枝。主产于广东、广西及云南省。通常于春季割取嫩枝 , 晒干
或阴干 , 切成薄片或切段。本品又名桂枝尖、嫩桂枝。
【药性说明】味辛、甘 , 性温。归心、肺、膀胱经。本品辛温发散 , 味甘力缓 , 无过汗伤阳之弊 , 故风寒表证不
论虚实均为常用之品。此外 , 又能温通血脉 , 助阳化气 , 是治疗寒凝诸痛、阳虚水停的要药。

【药物功效】发汗解表 , 温经通脉 , 助阳化气。

【临床应用】

1. 用治风寒感冒 , 汗出恶风 , 脉浮而缓的表虚证 , 与白芍同用 , 能调和营卫 , 发汗解肌 , 如桂枝汤 ; 治风寒
感冒 , 恶寒无汗 , 脉浮而紧的表实证 , 能助麻黄发汗解表 , 如麻黄汤。

2. 治风寒痹证 , 肢节疼痛 , 常配伍羌活、防风等祛风除湿、散寒止痛药 ; 治妇女感寒 , 月经不调、痛经、闭经
, 常与吴茱萸、川芎、当归等温经散寒、调经止痛药同用 , 如温经汤 ; 治胸阳不振 , 胸痹绞痛 , 配枳实、薤白以
通阳散结 , 宣痹止痛 , 如枳实薤白桂枝汤。

3. 治中焦虚寒 , 脘腹冷痛 , 食少便溏 , 配怡糖以温中补虚 , 散寒止痛 , 如小建中汤 ; 治脾阳不振 , 痰饮眩悸
, 配白术、茯苓 , 可温阳化气、健脾化饮 ; 治阳虚气化不利 , 水湿内停 , 水肿 , 小便不利者 , 配猪苓、茯苓、
白术能助阳化气 , 利水消肿 , 如五苓散。

【用量用法】 3~10 克。

【使用注意】阴虚火旺者忌用 , 孕妇及月经过多者慎用。

【现代研究】 有抑菌、解热、镇痛、镇静、抗惊厥作用。能缓解胃肠平滑肌的痊挛而止痛 ,有增强消化功能的作用。
此外 , 还有抑制流感病毒、止咳、利尿等作用。