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The dried tender twig of Cinnamomum cassia (Lauraceae). Enters the Heart, Lung, and Bladder channels. Pungent, sweet, and warm, it releases the muscle layer and harmonizes the constructive and defensive, warms and unblocks the channels, and assists yang transformation of qi. Its pairing with bai shao in Gui Zhi Tang to harmonize ying and wei established the archetype of the harmonizing method.
发汗解肌，温通经脉
缓和辛散之性，偏于温通
煎服3–9g；治表证宜生用；温通经脉、助阳化气可用至9–15g。
Reference range for non-pregnant adults. Not a personalized prescription. Pregnancy, lactation, and pediatric use require specialist supervision.
Protective guidance only — when to avoid or use with caution. This block deliberately omits pregnancy, lactation, and pediatric dosing: any such use must be managed by a qualified TCM practitioner or appropriate specialist.
温热病及阴虚阳盛、血热妄行诸证忌用。孕妇及月经过多者慎用。
辛温助热，温热病、阴虚阳盛、血热妄行诸证忌用。孕妇、月经过多者慎用。现代研究显示桂枝过敏者偶见。过量可致头晕、眼花、咳嗽等。
牡桂，味辛，温。主上气咳逆，结气喉痹，吐吸，利关节，补中益气。久服通神，轻身不老。
上品
@misc{bencaodian-gui-zhi,
author = {{Bencaodian Editorial}},
title = {Guì Zhī 桂枝 (Cinnamon Twig) — Cinnamomi Ramulus},
year = {2026},
howpublished = {Bencao Dian: A Bilingual Knowledge Graph of Traditional Chinese Medicine},
url = {https://bencaodian.org/en/herbs/gui-zhi},
urldate = {2026-04-17},
note = {CC BY-SA 4.0}
}© Bencaodian Editorial · Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
桂枝主含挥发油，以桂皮醛为主要活性成分，药理示其解热发汗、扩张外周血管、抗炎、抗病毒与抗血小板聚集作用。
Guizhi contains essential oil dominated by cinnamaldehyde; pharmacology shows antipyretic-diaphoretic, peripheral vasodilation, anti-inflammatory, antiviral and antiplatelet effects.
《中国药典》以桂皮醛含量作为含量测定指标。
Chinese Pharmacopoeia uses cinnamaldehyde as the assay marker.
桂枝汤被誉为《伤寒论》群方之首，桂枝为其君药。
Guizhi Tang is considered the chief formula of the Shanghan Lun with guizhi as sovereign herb.
温热病、阴虚阳盛、血热妄行及孕妇慎用。
Avoid in warm-heat disease, yin-vacuity with yang repletion, blood-heat bleeding and pregnancy.
This section is provided for academic reference only and does not constitute medical advice.