Guì Zhī (桂枝), known in English as Cinnamon twig (Cinnamomum cassia), is a warm, acrid and sweet Chinese herb from the Release exterior (Cold) category. It enters the Heart, Lung and Bladder channels. Its main action: releases exterior, warms channels.
| Pinyin | Guì Zhī (Gui Zhi) |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 桂枝 |
| English | Cinnamon twig |
| Botanical name | Cinnamomum cassia |
| Category | Release exterior (Cold) |
| Nature | Warm |
| Flavour | Acrid, Sweet |
| Channels | Heart, Lung, Bladder |
| Dosage | 3–9g |
| Cautions | Heat patterns; pregnancy; Yin deficiency with Heat |
Actions
- Releases exterior, warms channels
- Warms and unblocks Yang qi
- Warms middle jiao, relieves cold pain
Indications
- Wind-Cold exterior excess or deficiency
- Chest Bi
- Cold limbs
- Palpitations from Heart Yang deficiency
How to remember Guì Zhī
Release exterior (Cold) herbs are mostly warm or hot and acrid, and most enter the Lung channel.
- You can work these out
- Warm, Acrid: like most Release exterior (Cold) herbs
- Heart channel: from its use for “palpitations from Heart Yang deficiency”
- Lung channel: from its action “Releases exterior”
- Learn by heart
- Sweet: unusual for Release exterior (Cold) herbs (most are acrid)
- Bladder channel: nothing in its group or its actions points to it
Formulas containing Guì Zhī
- Má Huáng Tāng
- Guì Zhī Tāng
- Jīn Guì Shèn Qì Wán
- Xiǎo Jiàn Zhōng Tāng
- Xiǎo Qīng Lóng Tāng
- Wēn Jīng Tāng
- Táo Hé Chéng Qì Tāng
- Wǔ Líng Sǎn
- Dāng Guī Sì Nì Tāng
- Huáng Qí Jiàn Zhōng Tāng
- Guì Zhī Gān Cǎo Lóng Gǔ Mǔ Lì Tāng
- Wū Méi Wán
- Juān Bì Tāng
- Zhì Gān Cǎo Tāng
Other Release exterior (Cold) herbs
- Má Huáng
- Zǐ Sū Yè
- Jīng Jiè
- Fáng Fēng
- Xì Xīn
- Bái Zhǐ
- Cōng Bái
- Shēng Jiāng
- Xīn Yí Huā
- Cāng Ěr Zǐ
- Gǎo Běn
- Xiāng Rú
Test yourself
What is the nature and flavour of Guì Zhī?
Guì Zhī is warm and acrid and sweet.
Which channels does Guì Zhī enter?
Guì Zhī enters the Heart, Lung and Bladder channels.
What are the actions of Guì Zhī?
Releases exterior, warms channels; Warms and unblocks Yang qi; Warms middle jiao, relieves cold pain.
What is Guì Zhī used for?
Wind-Cold exterior excess or deficiency; chest Bi; cold limbs; palpitations from Heart Yang deficiency.
Which formulas contain Guì Zhī?
Má Huáng Tāng, Guì Zhī Tāng, Jīn Guì Shèn Qì Wán, Xiǎo Jiàn Zhōng Tāng, Xiǎo Qīng Lóng Tāng, Wēn Jīng Tāng, Táo Hé Chéng Qì Tāng, Wǔ Líng Sǎn, Dāng Guī Sì Nì Tāng, Huáng Qí Jiàn Zhōng Tāng, Guì Zhī Gān Cǎo Lóng Gǔ Mǔ Lì Tāng, Wū Méi Wán, Juān Bì Tāng and Zhì Gān Cǎo Tāng.
Practise Guì Zhī and the other 290 herbs
Recognise each herb from its picture, recall its nature, flavour, channels and actions, and review it again just before you would forget it.
Try the 5-question herb quizShen Study is a study tool. Doses and cautions are as taught in standard Chinese materia medica texts; they are not prescribing advice.