Cassia Twig
Cassia Twig
桂枝 · Guì Zhī
Cinnamomum cassia (L.) J.Presl
The warm, aromatic twig of the cinnamon tree — Cassia Twig releases the exterior, warms and unblocks the channels, and supports the heart and circulation with its gentle, penetrating warmth.
Taste & Nature
Pungent, Sweet & Warm
Part Used
Twig
Channels Entered
Heart, Lung & Bladder
TCM Category
Exterior-Releasing & Warming
Family
Lauraceae
What Is Cassia Twig?
Cassia Twig (Gui Zhi, 桂枝) is the young, dried twig of the Chinese cinnamon tree (Cinnamomum cassia), distinct from Rou Gui (Cassia Bark), which comes from the mature trunk. While both share cinnamon's characteristic warmth and fragrance, Gui Zhi is lighter and more outwardly directed — working on the surface of the body to release exterior conditions, warm the channels, and unblock obstructions.
Pungent, sweet, and warm in nature, Cassia Twig enters the Heart, Lung, and Bladder channels. It warms and promotes the flow of Yang Qi through the body's surface and channels, making it invaluable for Wind-Cold conditions, channel obstruction from cold, and Yang deficiency with cold limbs and poor circulation. It is one of Zhang Zhongjing's most frequently used herbs, appearing in the foundational formula Gui Zhi Tang.
History & Origin
Gui Zhi, the young twig of the cassia cinnamon tree, is one of the most important warming, exterior-releasing herbs in Chinese medicine, central to the classical formulas of the Han dynasty.
Han Dynasty (206 BCE to 220 CE)
A pillar of Zhang Zhongjing's Shanghan Lun; Gui Zhi Tang opens the Han-era canon as the formula to harmonise Ying and Wei and release the exterior.
Tang Dynasty (618 to 907 CE)
Sun Simiao and his contemporaries broadened its use for warming the channels, unblocking Yang, and easing cold-type pain.
Song Dynasty (960 to 1279 CE)
Codified in imperial formularies for warming the meridians, promoting circulation, and treating Cold patterns.
Ming Dynasty (1368 to 1644 CE)
Li Shizhen's Bencao Gangmu distinguished the twig (Gui Zhi) from the bark (Rou Gui) and detailed their differing actions.
Modern Era
Cinnamaldehyde and related compounds are studied for anti-inflammatory, circulatory, and antimicrobial effects.
Traditional Uses
Releases Exterior Wind-Cold
Warms the exterior, opens the pores, and helps the body expel Wind-Cold invasion — used for chills, mild fever, stiff neck, and body aches without sweating.
Warms & Unblocks the Channels
Promotes the flow of Yang Qi through obstructed channels and collaterals, used for cold-type joint pain, numbness, and poor circulation in the limbs.
Warms the Heart Yang
Supports Heart Yang — used for palpitations, shortness of breath, and chest discomfort from Heart Yang deficiency with cold.
Resolves Water Retention
Warms the Yang to transform and move accumulated fluids, used for oedema, phlegm-fluid retention, and urinary difficulty from Yang deficiency.
Warms Uterus & Regulates Menstruation
Warms the Chong and Ren channels to relieve cold-type menstrual pain, irregular periods, and cold abdomen.
Harmonises Ying & Wei Qi
In Gui Zhi Tang, Cassia Twig harmonises the body's nutritive and defensive energies — the basis of its use in weakness with spontaneous sweating and recurrent colds.
Health Benefits
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Warming CirculationPromotes Yang Qi flow through channels and extremities, relieving cold hands and feet, numbness, and poor peripheral circulation.
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Heart Yang SupportWarms and supports Heart Yang to ease palpitations and chest discomfort from cold-type deficiency.
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Cold & Flu SupportReleases Wind-Cold from the exterior — a go-to herb for the early stages of cold and flu with chills and body aches.
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Menstrual ComfortWarms the uterus to relieve cold-type menstrual cramps, irregular periods, and lower abdominal cold.
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Fluid MetabolismWarms Yang to transform and move accumulated fluids, reducing oedema and phlegm-fluid stagnation.
Soups Featuring Cassia Twig
Cassia Twig is a key ingredient in these Food Art no-cook herbal soups, thoughtfully formulated to deliver its nourishing benefits in a convenient, ready-to-brew format.
This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before using any herbal supplement, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medication.
