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The dried bark of Cinnamomum cassia (Lauraceae), from the same tree as gui zhi (the twig) but with different part and function: gui zhi acts on the exterior to warm channels and release the muscle layer, while rou gui enters the interior to supplement fire and assist yang. Enters the Kidney, Spleen, Heart, and Liver channels. Pungent, sweet, and hot, it is the essential herb for warming the gate of vitality and leading fire back to its source, as in Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan.
补火助阳、散寒止痛、温通经脉，为温里要药
煎服1–5g，宜后下或焗服；研末冲服每次1–2g。因含挥发油，不宜久煎。
Reference range for non-pregnant adults. Not a personalized prescription. Pregnancy, lactation, and pediatric use require specialist supervision.
Documented interactions exist with the following Western drug classes. Click to view mechanism, severity, and clinical recommendations.
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.
阴虚火旺、里有实热、血热妄行者忌用。孕妇慎用。畏赤石脂。
本品大辛大热，纯阳燥烈，阴虚火旺、里有实热者忌用。孕妇慎用。不宜与赤石脂同用（十九畏）。含挥发油，煎煮宜后下以保药效。
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-rou-gui,
author = {{Bencaodian Editorial}},
title = {Ròu Guì 肉桂 (Cinnamon Bark) — Cinnamomi Cortex},
year = {2026},
howpublished = {Bencao Dian: A Bilingual Knowledge Graph of Traditional Chinese Medicine},
url = {https://bencaodian.org/en/herbs/rou-gui},
urldate = {2026-04-17},
note = {CC BY-SA 4.0}
}© Bencaodian Editorial · Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
肉桂（官桂）富含桂皮醛、桂皮酸、香豆素及原花青素，现代研究显示其具抗菌、抗炎、扩张血管、改善胰岛素敏感性作用；中国药典所用为 Cinnamomum cassia，其香豆素含量较锡兰肉桂高，长期大剂量应关注肝毒风险。
Cinnamomum cassia bark contains cinnamaldehyde, cinnamic acid, coumarin, and procyanidins, with reported antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, vasodilatory, and insulin-sensitizing effects. Cassia (the Pharmacopoeia species) contains meaningfully higher coumarin than Ceylon cinnamon; chronic high-dose use warrants attention to hepatotoxicity.
中国药典 2020 版收载肉桂为樟科植物肉桂 Cinnamomum cassia 的干燥树皮，规定挥发油含量下限及桂皮醛含量。
Chinese Pharmacopoeia 2020 defines Rou Gui as the dried bark of Cinnamomum cassia, specifying minimum volatile oil and cinnamaldehyde content.
Brinker 警示 Cassia 肉桂每克含香豆素数毫克，长期大剂量（尤其糖尿病辅助用法）可能引起肝损伤；建议与华法林合用时监测 INR。
Brinker warns that Cassia cinnamon contains several mg/g of coumarin; chronic high-dose use (especially as a diabetes adjunct) can cause hepatotoxicity, and INR should be monitored if combined with warfarin.
Chen & Chen 综述桂皮醛具扩血管、抗凝及抗菌活性，阴虚火旺者与孕妇禁用。
Chen & Chen summarize cinnamaldehyde's vasodilatory, antiplatelet, and antimicrobial activities; contraindicated in yin-vacuity heat and pregnancy.
This section is provided for academic reference only and does not constitute medical advice.