Cinnamon bark

肉桂

dispels coldsupports the kidneys補火助陽溫經通脈散寒止痛引火歸元

The thick inner bark of the cassia tree, deep red-brown and sweetly pungent, sold as quills or broken slabs. In soup it is a pointed accent, about two grams per pot, lending a warming spice glow to winter tonic packs rather than a dominant cinnamon flavour.

TCM properties

Nature · hot　Flavour · pungent、sweet　Meridians · kidney、spleen、heart、liver

Traditional food therapy

In the tradition it is the great warmer: a sliver in the pot is used to support the fire of the kidneys, warm the channels and scatter cold in deep winter tonic soups.

Cautions — read first

Not for pregnant women (and for the full 十全大補湯 formula, pregnant women need a practitioner's guidance)
Not for yin deficiency with rising fire, or for people who run dry and hot
Not while you have a cold with fever
Take care if you bleed easily
Not to be used with 赤石脂 (halloysite)

Preparation

Keep the amount small, about 2 g a pot, broken into pieces in the soup bag.

Origin · Geo-authentic (道地) source

廣西防城、東興（另越南清化桂見稱）

Availability in Australia

Common at Asian grocers

Pairs well with

Codonopsis root Astragalus root Chinese angelica root Prepared rehmannia root Honey-fried licorice root

Soups that use this ingredient · 1

Ten-treasure tonic chicken soupNot yet surveyed (we say so honestly)

十全大補雞湯

replenishes qinourishes blooddispels coldWinter

百子櫃Codonopsis root· to taste百子櫃White atractylodes rhizome· 12 g百子櫃Poria· 12 g百子櫃Honey-fried licorice root· 6 g百子櫃Chinese angelica root· 9 g百子櫃Sichuan lovage rhizome· 6 g… +6

“The pot she makes when someone needs looking after.”