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Rou Gui肉桂

Cinnamomi Cortex · Cinnamon Bark · Cassia Bark

Herbs that Warm the Interior 温里药《神农本草经》

Overview

The thick bark of the cassia tree, and the hottest of the commonly used interior-warming herbs. Acrid, sweet and very hot, it supplements the fire at the gate of vitality and leads floating fire back down to its source; it scatters deep cold and frees blood held up by cold. Small amounts are added to qi and blood tonics to set the whole formula in motion. Note the contrast with Gui Zhi, the twig of the same tree, which reaches outward to the surface — Rou Gui works downward and inward at the Kidney.

Nature & Flavor

Acrid, sweet · Very hot

Channels

Kidney · Spleen · Heart · Liver

Typical Dosage

1–4.5 g in decoction
肉桂Photography for this entry is on its way.

Actions

4 core actions

  • Supplements fire, assists yangKidney-yang deficiency with cold limbs, a cold weak lower back and knees, impotence and frequent clear urination.
  • Leads fire back to its sourceDeficiency fire floating upward — a flushed face and sore throat above a cold lower body.
  • Dispels cold, relieves painCold epigastric and abdominal pain, cold painful obstruction of the joints and low back.
  • Warms the channels, frees the vesselsDysmenorrhea and amenorrhea from cold congealing the blood; chronic cold sores slow to close; small doses added to tonics such as Shi Quan Da Bu Tang to stir the qi and blood.

In Formulas

Formulas containing Rou Gui

Indications & Clinical Uses

  • Kidney-yang deficiency with cold limbs, weak lower back, clear frequent urination
    - Floating deficiency fire with a cold lower body
    - Cold abdominal pain and cold painful obstruction
    - Dysmenorrhea and amenorrhea from cold congealing the blood

Western Medical Keywords

Searchable condition terms

Poor circulationCold extremitiesDysmenorrheaLow libido

Contraindications

Cautions

Very hot and drying: not for yin deficiency with heat signs, for excess heat, or for bleeding from blood heat. Boiling drives off its aroma, so it is added near the end of the decoction or taken as powder. Classical incompatibility: not combined with Chi Shi Zhi 赤石脂. Because it warms and moves the blood, tell your prescriber if you take an anticoagulant such as warfarin.

Contraindicated in pregnancy: Avoid in pregnancy unless a practitioner specifically directs it — it is very hot and moves the blood.

For licensed practitioners’ reference only

References

  1. Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing《神农本草经》(classical source, public domain).
    2. Bensky, Clavey & Stöger. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica, 3rd ed.
    3. 《中华人民共和国药典》.

Professional reference notice. Entries are scholarly references for licensed TCM practitioners and students — not medical advice, and not a recommendation to self-prescribe. Chinese herbal formulas should be used under the guidance of a qualified practitioner. Content is an original editorial compilation by Cura x Cura, cross-checked against the cited references.