Rou Gui - Dried Cinammon Bark
TCM Materia Medica
Rou Gui TCM Herb Classifications and Usages
The TCM herb "rou gui" which in english is "dried cinammon bark", is categorized within the "herbs that warm the interior and expel cold" functional grouping. It is thought to enter the heart, kidney, liver and spleen channels and exhibits acrid, hot (re) and sweet (gan) taste/temperature properties.
Dosages and preparations will vary according to each individual and the overall approach of a formula, but generally this herb has the following dosage and/or preparation guidelines:
- Dosage: 1.5-4.5g
Of many possible clinical applications, it may be considered to influence the following issues/symptoms:
- Warms the kidneys and fortifies yang - aversion to cold, cold limbs, weak back, impotence, frequent urination; also for waning of spleen and kidney yang with abdominal pain and cold, reduced appetite, diarrhea; wheezing due to failure of the kidneys to grasp the Qi.
- Leads floating yang back to its source - upward floating of deficient yang; flushed face, wheezing, severe sweating (like oil), weak and cold lower extremities, deficient and rootless pulse (false heat-true cold, or heat above-cold below).
- Disperses deep cold, warms the channels, alleviates pain due to cold causing qi or blood stasis; amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea.
- Encourages generation of Qi and blood.
Rou Gui has some precautions to be considered (see our precautions list).
- Antagonist with Chi Shi Zhi
While it may not always be included depending on the manufacturer or herbalist making the formula, rou gui is generally included in the following 10 formulas:
ViewDu Huo Ji Sheng Wan (Solitary Hermit Teapills)
For chronic pain due to obstruction (bi zheng) with liver and kidney deficiency. For lower back pain often with weakness and/or pain in the knees. For arthritis, especially the type affected by col…
ViewNuan Gong Yun Zi Wan (Warm Uterus & Conception Pills)
Infertility, history of miscarriage due to blood deficiency and/or cold in the lower jiao from kidney yang deficiency. Irregular menstruation. Lower abdominal pain, lower back pain, uterine and/or …
ViewQing Bi Wan (Clear The Nose Decoction)
Sinus issues arising from damp-heat pattern in Chinese Medicine - yellow and sticky discharge, sinusitis, rhinitis acute or chronic. Sinus headache, decreased olfactory sense.
ViewShao Fu Zhu Yu Wan (Abdominal Stasis Relief Pills)
Qi and blood stagnation in the lower jiao - lower abdominal masses, fibroids, ovarian cysts, endometriosis. Fertility issues in both men and women with the right underlying signs - amenorrhea, dysme…
ViewShi Quan Da Bu Wan (Ten Tonics Nourishment Pills)
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ViewSu Zi Jiang Qi Wan (Perilla Fruit Pill to Direct Qi Downward)
Cough with watery, copious sputum, breathing issues such as wheezing, asthma, shortness of breath (particularly difficulty inhaling), chest oppression. Possibly signs of kidney qi/yang deficiency …
ViewWen Jing Wan (Warm the Menses Formula)
Irregular menstruation, amenorrhea, excessive uterine bleeding or spotting between cycles. Infertility, history of miscarriage.
ViewXi Guan Jie Bi Tong Wan (Knee Joint Pain Relief)
Arthritis from damp heat in Chinese Medicine terms. Knee issues with kidney and liver systems involvement. Lower body pain and/or inflammation - hips, knees, ankles, toes especially when the pain m…
ViewYou Gui Wan (Restore the Right Kidney Pill)
Cold extremities, fatigue, weak/aching low back, knees, waist, aversion to cold, loose stools - due to kindney yang deficiency. Impotence, infertility, low libedo, low sperm count, abnormal sperm mo…
ViewZhuang Yang Wan (Strengthen Kidney Yang And Preserve Power Pill)
Tonifies the kidney yang and astringe the jing (essence), primarily for sexual dysfunction in older males - symptoms may include impotence, erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, and other sign…
As noted above, rou gui is within the herbs that warm the interior and expel cold functional group. All the herbs in this category are listed below.
(truncated intro "... used to treat internal cold - either internally generated or from an opportunistic infection (opi). cold from deficiency patterns - cold limbs, fear of cold, pallid complexion, lack of thirst but desire for hot drinks, loose stools, white…)".
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