Cinnamon is the dried bark and branches of the plants Cinnamomum cassia and Cinnamomum loureiroi from the Lauraceae family. The ancient TCM expert Zhu Zhenheng stated: “The heart of cinnamon, when added in two or three parts to yin-replenishing herbs, can move the stagnation of Rehmannia and tonify the kidneys; its spicy flavor belongs to the lungs, thus it can generate kidney water; its warm nature promotes blood circulation, alleviating stagnation; it can unblock blood vessel obstructions, hence it must tonify the kidneys.” Cinnamon, like cassia, can be used as a spice, but it is not as flavorful as cassia. Cinnamon has the effect of warming the fire and assisting yang, used for conditions such as impotence, cold uterus, cold pain in the lower back and knees, and cold-induced vomiting and diarrhea; it also disperses cold, alleviates pain, warms the meridians, and unblocks the vessels, applicable for kidney deficiency leading to lower back and knee soreness, nocturnal enuresis, frequent urination, as well as cold abdominal pain and infertility due to kidney yang deficiency. Cinnamon has calming, temperature-lowering, blood pressure-lowering, stomach-strengthening, antibacterial, phlegm-expelling, cough-suppressing, diuretic, and blood sugar-regulating effects. Let’s explore the efficacy and uses of cinnamon together!
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The Efficacy and Uses of Cinnamon
1. Strengthening the Spleen and Warming the Stomach
Due to the high pressure of modern life and fast-paced lifestyles, many people have irregular meal patterns, often eating one large meal a day and frequently opting for takeout or unclean food, leading to gastrointestinal issues. Many experience indigestion after meals, especially symptoms like stomach pain and bloating. In such cases, cinnamon can be used to regulate digestion, as it has a certain effect on strengthening the stomach and aiding digestion.
2. Dispelling Wind and Cold
During the cold autumn and winter seasons, people are prone to catching colds. To prevent this, cinnamon can be used to dispel wind and cold, especially after getting caught in the rain or wind, significantly reducing the likelihood of catching a cold.
3. Regulating Menstruation and Blood Flow
For women, maintaining a good state of qi and blood is crucial. Many women experience issues with qi and blood, leading to infertility and menstrual irregularities. Using cinnamon as a traditional Chinese medicine can help regulate menstrual issues, assisting women with infertility to improve their physical condition, thus making menstrual cycles more regular and preventing some gynecological diseases.
4. Warming the Kidneys and Strengthening Yang
Middle-aged men are often prone to impotence, which can be distressing. In such cases, men can consume cinnamon, as it can warm the kidneys and strengthen yang, improving impotence. If the issue of impotence is not addressed in a timely manner, it can severely affect marital relationships.
5. Dispelling Cold and Alleviating Pain
Many middle-aged and elderly individuals experience rheumatic pain, especially during rainy weather when joint swelling and pain can be severe. In such cases, cinnamon can be used, as it has certain effects in dispelling cold and alleviating pain, particularly beneficial during the autumn and winter seasons.
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How to Consume and Apply Cinnamon
Soup
One turtle, 5 grams of cinnamon, salt to taste. Clean and cut the turtle into pieces. Place the turtle pieces and cinnamon in a large bowl, steam until cooked, and season with salt. This soup has the effect of nourishing both yin and yang.
Cinnamon Peanut Lamb Soup
10 grams of cinnamon, 30 grams of peanuts, 300 grams of lamb, ginger, and salt to taste. Clean the cinnamon and peanuts; slice the ginger; clean the lamb and cut into large pieces, blanch in boiling water for 3 minutes to remove blood, then rinse. Place the cinnamon, lamb pieces, peanuts, and ginger slices in a clay pot, add appropriate water, bring to a boil, then simmer for 2 hours, seasoning with salt.
Cinnamon Glutinous Rice Porridge
100 grams of glutinous rice, appropriate amount of cinnamon. Boil the cinnamon in water to extract the juice; clean the glutinous rice. In a pot, add water and glutinous rice, simmer on low heat until it becomes porridge, then mix in the cinnamon juice and stir evenly, cooking for a short while. This porridge has the effects of tonifying qi and yang.
Tea
5 grams of cinnamon, appropriate amounts of ginger and brown sugar. Place all ingredients in a thermos, pour in boiling water, and steep for 10-20 minutes. Drinking this tea regularly in winter can improve cold hands and feet.
Decoction
For low blood pressure: 10 grams of cinnamon, 15 grams of Codonopsis pilosula, 12 grams of Polygonatum, 10 dates, 6 grams of licorice. Decoction for oral use, one dose daily, for 15 days to see results. For nocturnal enuresis: 9 grams of cinnamon, 15 grams each of Epimedium and Alpinia oxyphylla. Decoction and divide into two doses.
For diarrhea (kidney deficiency type): 5 grams each of cinnamon, Schisandra, and Evodia, 10 grams each of Psoralea and nutmeg. Decoction and drink as tea.
Usage Guidelines
Suitable for those with yang deficiency and insufficient qi and blood. Not suitable for those with yin deficiency and excess heat, or bleeding symptoms, and should be avoided by pregnant women. Not to be used with red stone powder.
Properties and Meridians
It is very warm, with a spicy and sweet flavor, entering the spleen, kidney, heart, and liver meridians.
How to Select
Choose cinnamon with a fine surface, thick and heavy, not broken, with high oil content, strong aroma, sweet with a slight spiciness, and minimal residue when chewed.
Yin Energy Deer Antler Paste
The Yin Energy Deer Antler Paste contains cinnamon produced in Guangxi.
The Yin Energy Deer Antler Paste is a kidney-tonifying food based on traditional Chinese medicine principles addressing qi deficiency, blood deficiency, and kidney deficiency.
Ginseng is the king of herbal medicine, known as the “top qi tonic”; deer antler is the king of animal medicine, known as the “top kidney tonic”; and jujube is the top blood tonic. When deer antler, ginseng, and jujube come together, they create the premier health product for tonifying both kidney qi and blood—Yin Energy Deer Antler Paste, which shifts away from the previous “treating symptoms only” approach; it addresses kidney qi, yin, and yang, simultaneously assisting with kidney deficiency, qi deficiency, and blood deficiency, starting from the root of kidney deficiency, as evidenced by its 22-ingredient formula.
Consuming more of the Yin Energy Deer Antler Paste improves health, while consuming less provides a warming supplement; its various effective components work synergistically, making it easier for the body to absorb, resulting in more pronounced effects.