Distinguishing the Effects and Benefits of Cinnamon and Radix Aconiti Lateralis Preparata

Fuzi and cinnamon are relatively mild medicinal herbs in traditional Chinese medicine, both of which can nourish the kidney, dispel coldness, and relieve pain. However, due to differences in their pharmacologic effects, Fuzi is better at nourishing kidney yang, while cinnamon is more effective in promoting blood circulation and relieving pain. The combination of the two can achieve better results. Both Fuzi and cinnamon are pungent, hot, and drying, and should not be taken for a long time. Pregnant women should use them with caution.

Both cinnamon and Fuzi are warm and hot medicinal herbs in traditional Chinese medicine, and both enter the kidney meridian. Fuzi is very effective in nourishing kidney yang, dispelling coldness, and relieving pain. It is commonly used in Fuzi Lizhong Pills and Jingui Shenqi Pills, with good effects in nourishing kidney yang. Cinnamon also has the effect of nourishing kidney yang, but its effect is not as strong as Fuzi. However, cinnamon can enter the blood, promote the flow of qi and meridians, and relieve pain, which is very effective for women's menstrual pain and low back pain.

Both Fuzi and cinnamon have pungent, sweet, and hot flavors, and they belong to the heart, spleen, liver, and kidney meridians. They are good at replenishing fire and supporting yang, able to assist heart yang, warm spleen yang, and nourish kidney yang. They are often used together to treat various yang deficiency syndromes. They are also good at dispelling cold and relieving pain, and can be used to treat cold-dampness arthralgia, wind-cold arthralgia, cold-coagulation abdominal pain, chest congestion, and other syndromes. Both Fuzi and cinnamon are pungent, hot, and drying, and are easy to consume qi and injure yin and generate heat. Therefore, they should not be used in excess or for a long time. They should be avoided in cases of heat syndrome or yin deficiency with yang hyperactivity. Pregnant women should avoid using Fuzi and use cinnamon with caution.