Cinnamon Bark
Also called: Cinnamon
Profile
| Latin Name | Cinnamomum zeylanicum |
| Chinese Name | Rou Gui |
| Family | Lauraceae |
| Note | Base |
| Aroma | <Strong> Spicy, sharp |
| Color | Amber |
| Parts Distilled | Bark & Leaves |
| Regions | Ceylon, China, India, Madagascar, Sri Lanka |
| Taste | Spicy, Sweet |
| Nature | Hot |
| Affinity | LR/SP/KI/BL |
| Major Chemical Constituents | Bark - Aldehydes (~65-75%), Eugenol (~5-10%); Leaf-Eugenol (~70-75%), Aldehydes (~3%) |
| Skin Type | Can irritate skin (in some cases, can cause burns) |
| Dosage | 2% dilution |
TCM Categories
Functions
- Leaf will promote exogenous body fluids (e.g., sweat for Wind-Cold)
- Warms the Middle and Lower Heater to expel Cold and tonify yang
- Invigorate blood to promote menstruation and relieve cramps
- Strengthens the Ming-Men Fire
Indications
- Wind-Cold with chills and fever, body aches, and no sweat (LI-4, ST- 36, BL-12, BL-13)
- Deficient Kidney Yang with impotence, lumbar pain, frequent clear urination (GV-4, BL-23, KI-3
- Deficient Stomach with Cold with poor digestion, epigastric pain and tightness, and undigested protein (CV-12, BL-21, ST-36, CV-10); important oil for vegetarians who eat too many raw and cold foods (will transform damp-cold diarrhea)
Topical Applications
- Apply a 4% dilution of Cinnamon Leaf (30%), Sweet Marjoram (40%), and Rosemary (30%) as a warming liniment for muscular tightness and neck tension around GV-14.
Other Applications
- Diffuse with Ylang Ylang to arouse sexual vibrancy.
Specific Protocols
- 5% dilution on BL-67 to increase uterine contractions during childbirth, opens the lower back (Du 4)
- 2% dilution to GB-8 and GV-17 to open the Mid-Brain.
Actions
- Stimulant
- Antifungal
- Stomachic (promoting the appetite or assisting digestion)
Contraindications & Cautions
- Heat & empty heat
- Will irritate mucous membranes
- Not used during pregnancy
- Not for pre-pubescent children
Notes
- Rou Gui essential oil - available from Alchemical Botanical
- Only a few essential oils have an affinity for the Bladder
- Use on SI 3 to induce separation from the Du Mai
- Good for someone who will not engage or interact with others (autism-like presentation)
- Promotes digestive enzymes for fire or engagement
- For damp cold Lin syndrome, frequent copious cloudy pale urine
Additional Comments
- The bark is more powerful and can be more hazardous than the leaf. The bark stimulates Kidney yang, while the leaf activates wei-defensive qi.
- High dosage or frequent use will cause convulsions