Gui Zhi (Cinnamon Twig) - Chinese Herbal Medicine

Chinese Name: Gui Zhi
English Name: Cinnamon Twig

Clinical Usage and Indications

  • Releases muscle layer and adjusts ying and wei qi levels
  • Useful in wind-cold-damp bi syndromes to warm channels and disperse cold
  • Resolves blood stagnation particularly from cold - dysmenorrhea
  • Unblocks yang qi in the chest - shortness of breath, chest pain, palpitations
  • Resolve edema and accumulation of cold phlegm

Functional Groups (Click for Summary/Study Notes)

Dosage and Preparation Notes

  • Dosage: 3-9g for exterior conditions
  • Dosage: 9-15g for bi syndromes

Channels/Meridians Influenced

Associated Temperature and Taste

Cautions and Contraindications

  • Avoid in wind-heat and/or empty heat conditions
  • Avoid in heat in the blood, particularly w/vomiting

Staff Clinician Notes

There are no additional notes for this herb.

Herbal Formulas Which Include This Herb

Below you will find Traditional Chinese Medicine herbal formulas which contain this particular herb (in alphabetical order). You may click on the name of the formula for more details or click on any of the products from our store to read usage information or purchase a particular formula.

  • Chai Hu Jia Long Gu Mu Li Wan

    Formula Functions...  

    Used for heat that is lodged in the chest affecting all yang stages, also for phlegm in the liver/gall bladder.  Generally used for a range of psychological conditions, aiding with drug withdrawal and related issues.  Symptoms include chest oppression, anxiety, irratiblity, palpitations, excessive/delirious speech, heavy sensation of body, constipation, urinary issues.

    The Pulse will be wiry and rapid and the Tongue will be red with a slippery tongue coating.


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  • Ge Gen Tang Wan

    Formula Functions...  

    Coming Soon...


  • Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan

    Formula Functions...  

    Coming Soon...


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  • Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan

    Formula Functions...  

    Kidney yang deficiency signs - low back pain, weakness in the legs, knees, low back, low energy, low libido.

    The Pulse will be empty or frail and the Tongue will be pale and swollen with a thin white moist coat.


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  • Wen Jing Tang Wan

    Formula Functions...  

    Coming Soon...


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  • Wu Mei Wan

    Formula Functions...  

    Generally used with roundworms - abdominal pain, irritability, stifled chest w/heat, vomiting after eating, cold hands and/or feet.  Roundworms may be observed in vomit.

    Also has a broader application in chronic diarrhea, IBS, or other digestive disorders characterized by both heat and cold.  Symptoms may be chronic diarrhea, abdominal pain (often that is better w/heat).

    With parasites the tongue and pulse are less critical, with chronic conditions the Tongue may be red with a white coating.


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    • We Mei Wan - Parasites, UC, and IBS herbal formula

  • Xiao Qing Long Wan

    Formula Functions...  

    Coming Soon...


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