Cinnamon (Rou Gui) is a widely used herb in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).
In TCM, cinnamon is considered to have a spicy and sweet flavor, a warming nature, and it is associated with the Kidney (Shen), Spleen (Pi), and Bladder (Pang Guang) meridians. It is known for its ability to warm the Yang, return fire to its source, dispel cold and alleviate pain, invigorate blood, and promote circulation.
Clinically, it can be used for conditions such as impotence (yang wei), cold in the uterus (gong leng), cold pain in the lower back and knees, shortness of breath due to Kidney deficiency, dizziness from Yang deficiency, red eyes and sore throat, cold pain in the heart and abdomen, vomiting and diarrhea due to deficiency and cold, cold hernia, running piglet syndrome (ben tun), amenorrhea, and dysmenorrhea.
The “Compendium of Materia Medica” records cinnamon: It has a sweet and spicy taste, is very hot, and has toxic properties. It is primarily used to warm the middle, benefit the Qi of the Liver and Lungs, address cold and heat in the heart and abdomen, treat cold diseases, cholera, cramps, headaches, lower back pain, induce sweating, alleviate restlessness, stop salivation, cough, and nasal congestion. It can induce abortion, strengthen bones and joints, open blood vessels, rectify insufficiencies, and enhance the efficacy of other herbs.
Modern research has found that cinnamon can improve insulin sensitivity. Some studies used Chinese cinnamon, while others used Ceylon cinnamon, and some did not specify which type was used. However, all these studies indicate that cinnamon has an auxiliary therapeutic effect for patients with type 2 diabetes.
Cinnamon has a strong aroma and is a common food spice and cooking ingredient. It frequently appears in both Chinese and Western cuisine and is an important raw material for making five-spice powder and thirteen-spice mix.
In terms of diet, some people enjoy using cinnamon to bake apples or make cinnamon coffee, which can warm the Yang and dispel cold, alleviating pain. Therefore, individuals with a cold constitution, especially those with cold hands and feet in winter, are very suitable for using it in cooking.
The following groups are especially suitable for consuming cinnamon: 1. Individuals with Kidney Yang deficiency who are sensitive to cold and have cold hands and feet;2. Those who frequently experience cold pain in the lower back and knees;3. Women with amenorrhea or dysmenorrhea due to cold stagnation and blood stasis.Additionally, individuals with chronic illness and deficiency of Qi and blood can add a small amount of cinnamon to Qi and blood tonifying formulas to warm and promote the growth of Qi and blood, such as in the “Ten Complete Great Tonifying Decoction” (Shi Quan Da Bu Tang).
Here are a few cinnamon dietary remedies:
We recommend several cinnamon dietary remedies that you can choose from as needed.
01Cinnamon Salt-Baked Yam
Ingredients: 300g of Chinese yam (Tie Gun Shan Yao), coarse salt, and cinnamon to taste, several sheets of aluminum foil.
Method:
(1) Wash the yam with skin, cut into sections, sprinkle a little cinnamon powder and salt, and wrap each section separately in aluminum foil.
(2) Place in coarse salt, heat over high heat for 20 minutes, then turn off the heat and let the yam stay in the salt for another 20 minutes.
Effects: Chinese yam can tonify the Spleen and Lungs, astringe essence and Qi, treat deficiency and fatigue, and is nourishing without being greasy, fragrant without being dry. Cinnamon, known as a key herb for treating deficiency, when prepared by salt-baking, can further enhance its nourishing effects, helping to combat fatigue, stimulate appetite, alleviate abdominal pain, and stop diarrhea. It is suitable for those with Spleen and Stomach deficiency, Qi deficiency, and Yang deficiency, as well as for general health maintenance.
02Cinnamon and Dried Tangerine Peel Tea
Ingredients: 5g of cinnamon, 5g of dried tangerine peel (Chen Pi), and 500mL of water.
Method: Grind the cinnamon into powder and place it in a cup. Boil the dried tangerine peel in water, then pour it hot into the cup, cover, and steep for 5 minutes before drinking. This is a daily dosage.
Effects: This tea has the effects of returning fire to its source and strengthening the Spleen while resolving phlegm, suitable for chronic pharyngitis with cold phlegm accumulation.
03Cinnamon and Lamb Stew
Ingredients: 10g each of cinnamon and grass fruit (Cao Guo), 5g of dried tangerine peel, 5 slices of ginger, and 500g of lamb.
Method: Clean the lamb and cut it into small pieces, blanch in water and set aside. Heat oil in a pot, add ginger and lamb, stir-fry until fragrant, then add cinnamon and grass fruit, pour in 1000mL of water, and simmer for about 30 minutes. Season before serving.
Effects: This medicinal dish has the effects of warming the Kidney, nourishing blood, strengthening the Spleen, and drying dampness. It is effective for symptoms such as blood deficiency with lower back pain, scanty menstruation, cold intolerance during menstruation, and diarrhea due to Spleen and Kidney Yang deficiency.
04Cinnamon and Rose Brown Sugar Tea
Ingredients: 3g of cinnamon, 5g of rose petals, and 10g of brown sugar.
Method: Boil brown sugar in 500mL of water for 10 minutes, then add rose petals and cinnamon, boil for another 5 minutes, and let cool slightly before drinking.
Effects: This tea has the effects of warming and unblocking the blood vessels, and promoting liver Qi circulation. It is particularly suitable for women experiencing abdominal bloating and cold pain during menstruation, cold intolerance, and breast tenderness due to liver cold Qi stagnation.
Precautions for Using Cinnamon
Cinnamon is a spicy and warming herb, and it is recorded in herbal texts as having “slight toxicity”; therefore, it should not be used in excessive amounts. There have been reports of dizziness, blurred vision, eye pressure, cough, reduced urination, thirst, and rapid pulse as toxic reactions after taking 1-2 liang (50-100g) of cinnamon powder at once, which gradually subsided after switching to cooling herbs for 1-2 weeks.
It is not suitable for those with Yin deficiency and excess heat, or those with blood heat and a tendency to bleed, or excessive menstrual flow. Cinnamon is very hot and can lead to miscarriage, so it is not recommended for pregnant women. It should not be used in conjunction with red stone fat (Chi Shi Zhi). It should not be consumed in large quantities. The strong flavor of cinnamon means that a small amount is sufficient; the average dosage is 2-5g. If using cinnamon powder, the amount can be reduced to about 1-2g.
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