CINNAMOMUM TWIGS & WHITE PEONY

CINNAMOMUM TWIGS & WHITE PEONY
Gui Zhi/Bai Shao

Cinnamomum cassia & Paeonia alba

Gui Zhi	pungent, sweet, warm	disperses Cold, resolves the Exterior, warms and removes obstructions from meridians, activates yang, promotes activities of qi.
Bai Shao	bitter, sour, mild cold	supplements and harmonises Blood, astringes yin, soothes the Liver, relieves convulsion, lowers Liver yang.

Major therapeutic action
Harmonises ying and wei, warms meridians, relieves convulsion, and regulates menstruation.

Biomedical action
* Takes on antipyretic and sedative action.

Indications
* Symptoms due to disharmony of ying and wei, menstrual problems, oedema, bi syndromes.
* Cold, dysmenorrhoea, amenorrhoea, oedema.

Dosage
The typical proportion when added to a constitutional formula is 6:1 formula to addition (15 grams in 75- 90 grams of formula). If a stronger effect is desired more can be added. When used alone the dose is three grams twice daily.

Combinations
* For spontaneous sweating, combine with Mu Li/Fu Xiao Mai/Ma Huang Gen.
* With pain, add Gan Cao/Bai Shao.
* For bi syndromes, combine with San Bi Tang or Juan Bi Tang.
* For menstrual problems, add Si Wu Tang, Yi Mu Cao, or Tao Ren/Hong Hua.

Cautions and contraindications
None noted.
None noted.