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Introduction: “The Yang Qi of the lower jiao says to the true Yang of the upper jiao: ‘Come back, the lower jiao is already our Yang Qi’s territory.’ The true Yang of the upper jiao wants to return, but when it looks down, the path in between is still shrouded in dark clouds and a vast ocean. It knows that if it goes down directly, it will be extinguished by the cold Yin before it can reach home, so the true Yang does not dare to return to its origin.” Do you want to know how the author explains how cinnamon helps the true Yang return to its origin? After reading it, I was enlightened and highly recommend this article!
Cinnamon’s Role in Guiding Fire Back to Its Origin
One of the functions of cinnamon is said to be “guiding fire back to its origin.” It is unclear from which text this saying originated, but it has caused many misunderstandings, leading people to believe that cinnamon has a “concealing” effect, capable of sealing the fire of the upper jiao in the lower jiao. However, this is not the case. In our prescriptions, we may have experienced that using a bit of Fu Zi (Aconite) does not easily lead to excessive heat, while using a bit more cinnamon can cause patients to report symptoms of “excess heat” such as sore throat and mouth ulcers. Cinnamon not only does not “guide fire back to its origin” but rather “promotes fire to rise.” Zhang Xichun once discussed: “Fu Zi has a thick flavor, while cinnamon has both thick flavor and aroma, with the ability to both nourish and disperse. It is not a great medicine for rescuing the critically ill. Observing Zhang Zhongjing’s ‘Shang Han Lun,’ we can see that in the Shaoyin formulas, Fu Zi is used while cinnamon is not.” Looking at the modern Fire God School’s use of medicine, Fu Zi can be used in doses of one to two hundred grams, while cinnamon is rarely used in such large doses. It seems that cinnamon is indeed more “active” than Fu Zi, and improper use or excessive dosage can lead to excessive heat rising. This is clearly contradictory to the saying of “guiding fire back to its origin.” So how should we understand the ancient saying of guiding fire back to its origin? Cinnamon can indeed guide fire back to its origin, but it is only applicable in a special situation: when there is excessive cold Yin in the lower jiao, and true fire has nowhere to reside, being forced to flee to the upper jiao, resulting in symptoms of excess heat in the mouth, throat, or a flushed complexion. This is a critical situation where Yang Qi is about to be lost, and the treatment is undoubtedly to support Yang and suppress Yin, warming and tonifying the Yang Qi of the lower jiao. After replenishing the Yang Qi of the lower jiao, although the cold Yin has disappeared, the true Yang is still floating in the upper jiao and has not returned to its origin. At this time, the Yang Qi of the lower jiao says to the true Yang of the upper jiao: “Come back, the lower jiao is already our Yang Qi’s territory.” The true Yang of the upper jiao wants to return, but when it looks down, the path in between is still shrouded in dark clouds and a vast ocean. It knows that if it goes down directly, it will be extinguished by the cold Yin before it can reach home, so the true Yang does not dare to return to its origin. At this time, the Yang Qi of the lower jiao thinks of a way: it sends someone to bring the true Yang back. To break through the encirclement and bring its companion home, it must choose a medicine with an active nature; a still and inactive medicine cannot fulfill this task. We often say that Gan Jiang (Dried Ginger) is stable and does not move, while Fu Zi moves but does not stabilize. As previously quoted from Zhang Xichun, cinnamon is even more active than Fu Zi. Thus, the task of bringing the true Yang back falls solely on cinnamon. With cinnamon’s assistance, the true Yang can safely return to its fiery abode. Therefore, it can be said that cinnamon can guide fire back to its origin by helping Yang Qi find its way home, rather than forcibly pushing Yang Qi down to the lower jiao. It can be said that this function of cinnamon is similar to the role of scallions in the Tong Mai Si Ni Decoction, where the addition of scallions is indicated for a flushed complexion. The flushed face indicates that the cold Yin of the lower jiao is forcing the Yang to rise. The Tong Mai Si Ni Decoction can dispel the cold Yin of the lower jiao, but the path between the upper and lower jiao is obstructed. Scallions, being pungent, can disperse and connect the Yang Qi of both jiao, so even though there is heat in the face, the use of pungent and warming scallions is still appropriate, as it also serves the function of “guiding fire back to its origin.” It can be said that in classical formulas, the ingredient that serves the function of guiding fire back to its origin is scallions, not cinnamon. So, is the use of cinnamon in Shen Qi Wan (Kidney Qi Pill) not guiding fire back to its origin? In the original text of ‘Jin Gui Yao Lue’ regarding Shen Qi Wan, there is no clue about using cinnamon to guide fire back to its origin. Later generations, such as Zhao Xianke, have further elaborated on the effects of Shen Qi Wan, which should be discussed separately. It is evident that cinnamon can guide fire back to its origin not because it can conceal, nor does it guide fire downward like Niu Xi (Achyranthes), but rather, it is due to its “dispersing” and “ascending” nature. We do not often utilize this function in our daily practice, as it is an extremely critical situation (in the current medical environment, generally, patients in such a condition do not seek our TCM treatment, so we may have seen such cases in the hospital but not used them). If one does not have a clear understanding of “guiding fire back to its origin,” using cinnamon for external heat-related sore throat or excessive fire conditions will only exacerbate the situation. When treating heat syndromes, it is permissible to use a small amount of cinnamon alongside heat-clearing herbs to prevent cold from restraining heat. In this case, it is used as a counteracting agent, and it cannot be said to be guiding fire back to its origin. This leads us to consider that some practitioners use Huang Lian (Coptis) and cinnamon to treat mouth ulcers, and some believe this is proof of cinnamon guiding fire back to its origin. If the efficacy is achieved solely with cinnamon, we would acknowledge this as guiding fire back to its origin; however, since Huang Lian is also used, the argument for guiding fire back to its origin loses its persuasiveness. I believe the mechanism of Huang Lian and cinnamon treating mouth ulcers can be explained from two aspects. From a holistic perspective, the name of the formula itself expresses the mechanism of action: “Jiao Tai” (Harmony of Heart and Kidney). Huang Lian clears heart fire, while cinnamon ascends kidney water, harmonizing the heart and kidney, restoring the body’s balance, thus allowing the local mouth ulcers to heal. The second mechanism can be explained locally: mouth ulcers belong to “fire,” Huang Lian can clear fire, and using a bit of cinnamon serves as a counteracting agent to prevent cold from restraining heat. Both explanations are more understandable and convincing than the idea of guiding fire back to its origin. Some may ask if cinnamon can descend Qi, as in Gui Zhi Jia Gui Tang (Cinnamon Twig Decoction with Cinnamon) and Ling Gui Zhu Gan Tang (Poria, Cinnamon, Jujube, and Licorice Decoction). If it can descend, can it not conceal? We must consider what kind of Qi cinnamon can descend. If it is descending Yang Qi, then we acknowledge it has a concealing effect; conversely, if it is descending the cold Yin Qi, then descending Yin Qi is precisely a manifestation of its ascending Yang Qi. As Yang Qi rises, cold Yin descends. Another question may arise: if cinnamon can pacify the liver, since it can “pacify,” can it not conceal? I believe this is similar to the issue of cinnamon descending Qi. The ability of cinnamon to soothe the liver is the cause, while pacifying the liver is the result. Pacifying the liver still utilizes its dispersing power. When liver Qi is stagnant, it can manifest as exuberant liver Qi, and by dispersing the stagnation, the liver Qi naturally becomes pacified. It is like a firecracker; when the gunpowder is tightly wrapped, it can be deafening; when the wrapping is removed, it can only make a small pop. Cinnamon’s ability to pacify the liver is also about unblocking the liver’s stagnation, leading to a less exuberant liver Qi, similar to the effects of Chai Hu (Bupleurum) and Yu Jin (Curcuma), rather than the ability to pacify the liver and subdue Yang like Long Gu (Dragon Bone), Mu Li (Oyster Shell), or Ci Shi (Magnetite). In summary, cinnamon can “guide fire back to its origin” because it can disperse, not because it can conceal. Therefore, it should only be used in critical conditions where cold Yin is forcing Yang to escape, and not in general cases of excessive fire or external heat. This article does not conclude here; there is still a question that remains unresolved: “The wood withers without cinnamon.” The metal that can restrain wood is gold. “In August, the osmanthus blooms everywhere,” indicating that the osmanthus blooms in the golden autumn season, which also suggests a certain connection between cinnamon and metal. Since it has a metallic nature, it should have a restraining and descending quality, which cannot be unified with the previous discussion of cinnamon’s dispersing nature. Perhaps the “resistance theory” can provide an explanation (refer to my article “On the Bright and Dark Natures of Medicinal Substances”): “Cinnamon can bloom in the season when the weather is harsh, indicating its ability to resist the harshness, which further proves that cinnamon’s action is upward and outward.” How to view this issue, I hope friends can participate in the discussion and provide guidance. Regardless of how the theory is explained, the practical situation is that cinnamon is more likely than Fu Zi to cause “excess heat.”
Excerpted from ‘Yao Xing Suo Tan,’ People’s Military Medical Publishing House
Source: Chinese Classical Formula Masters
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