Cinnamon (Rou Gui)
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) considers cinnamon to have a spicy and sweet flavor, with a warming nature. It is associated with the Kidney (Shen), Spleen (Pi), Heart (Xin), and Liver (Gan) meridians. Its benefits include warming the body, assisting Yang, dispelling cold, alleviating pain, and promoting the flow of Qi in the meridians. It can be used for conditions such as impotence due to cold in the uterus, cold pain in the lower back and knees, shortness of breath due to Kidney deficiency, rising Yang, dizziness, red eyes, cold pain in the abdomen, cold-induced vomiting and diarrhea, cold hernia pain, and dysmenorrhea.
Effects and Functions
1. Enhances Brain Function
The components in cinnamon can improve brain function. It helps enhance memory, focus, and attention, and may reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Adding a little cinnamon to your diet daily can help combat irritability and depression, and prevent headaches.
2. Beneficial for the Heart
Cinnamon can reduce the greasiness of food; adding a bit of cinnamon during meals can alleviate heart disease caused by high-fat foods.
3. Aids in Weight Loss
Because cinnamon helps increase metabolic rate and regulate blood sugar levels, consuming a small amount of cinnamon along with regular exercise can assist in weight loss.
4. Improves Gut Health
Cinnamon is also beneficial for the gut. Adding a small amount of cinnamon to soups can help prevent indigestion, acid reflux, and diarrhea.
5. Cancer Prevention
The medicinal components in cinnamon can help prevent the growth and spread of cancer cells, reducing the risk of cancer.
6. Supports Gum Health
Cinnamon contains medicinal elements that are good for the oral cavity, helping to protect gums and teeth, and improve breath. It is often used in mouthwash and chewing gum.
7. Beneficial for Skin
Due to its antioxidant properties, cinnamon helps alleviate signs of skin aging, making the skin smooth and radiant.
Precautions for Use
1. Individuals with Yin deficiency and excessive internal heat should avoid consumption, as it may conflict with the warming nature of cinnamon.
2. Pregnant women and children should not consume it lightly.
3. Individuals with bleeding disorders and women during menstruation should avoid it.
4. In spring and summer, when the weather is dry and prone to heat, it should not be consumed lightly.
Cinnamon Medicinal Dishes
Clove and Cinnamon Duck
Ingredients: 500g of duck, 5g of cloves, 5g of cinnamon, 5g of cardamom, 3g of dried tangerine peel, 3g of sand ginger, and appropriate amounts of ginger and scallions.
Method: Clean the cloves, cinnamon, cardamom, dried tangerine peel, and sand ginger, then boil them in water to extract the medicinal broth. Clean the duck, remove the internal organs, chop it into pieces, and sauté with ginger and scallions until fragrant. Add the medicinal broth and seasonings, and simmer until the duck is cooked.
Effect: This recipe provides rich protein while being low in calories, beneficial for strengthening the spleen and stomach, and helpful in preventing ulcer diseases, especially suitable for those with nausea, vomiting, or loss of appetite.
Cinnamon Milk Tea
Ingredients: 300ml of fresh milk, 1 tea bag of black tea, 10g of sugar, and 1g of cinnamon powder.
Method: Heat the fresh milk, steep the tea bag for about 2 minutes, then remove the tea bag. Add sugar and cinnamon powder, mix well, and drink while hot. Alternatively, you can skip the tea bag; just heat the fresh milk and mix in the cinnamon powder and sugar before drinking.
Effect: This tea can enhance the body’s immunity and stamina, promote blood circulation, and is particularly suitable for those with cold body conditions or dysmenorrhea. It also has a good regulating effect on menstruation, making it suitable for women to consume.