The genus Cinnamomum

Chinese Cassia 181
different parts of the cassia tree have different uses. Some of the uses of cassia cinnamon
preparations prevalent in Vietnam, China and the adjoining areas are given below
(Duc, 1997).
* Bark of cassia twig (bark taken from branch): Peppery-sweet, warm. Used to treat
colds and to relieve, perspiration, rheumatism and hand and foot aches Use 5–10 g
with other medicines.
* Quetam: to treat heart disease with 4–8 g combined with other medicines.
* Quethong: to treat cold internal organs, and to increase blood circulation.
* Quenhuc: sweet-peppery, burning. Improves circulation of the blood and improves
respiration. It also increases secretion, uterus contraction and increases bowels peristaltism.
Used to treat colds, apoplexy, swelling, bradycardia, cardiovascullar collapsus,
severe epidemics. Ground with water, 2–3 g each time, or keep 12 g in simmered
water for a drink, or combine with other medicines (Duc, 1997). In the ancient
medical literature, cinnamon and cassia are described as sweet, rather hot and toxic to
the liver and kidney. They have tonic effects on vital points and increase heat. They
are used for the treatment of cramped hand and foot, tired back and knee, spermatorrhoea,
sexual impotence, dysmenorrhoea, dysuria. They induce a hot sensation in the
upper part of the body and a cold sensation in the lower part of the body. They induce
the waning of the Yin and the thriving of the Yang. In oriental medicine, cinnamon
and cassia are used for the treatment of conjunctivitis, coughs, as a tonic for postpartum
women, and as an emollient after severe cholera. However, attention should
be paid to the use of the bark of cinnamon and cassia according to physicians instructions.
Overdoses can be dangerous for eyes and may cause epistaxis. It is contraindicated
for pregnant women (Loi, 1996).
* For the treatment of running nose: branchlets of cinnamon – 8 g; Abrus precatorius L.
(Fabaceae) – 6 g; Paeonia lactiflora Pall (Ranunculaceae) – 6 g; Zingiber officinale (Wild.)
Roscoe (Zingiberaceae) – 6 g; Zyzyphus jujuba Mill. (Rhamnaceae) – four fruits, cooked
down with 600 ml of water. The decoction is taken three times a day (Loi, 1996).
* For the treatment of cold, syncope: use cinnamon up to 12 g, keep it in simmering
water. The decoction is taken gradually afterwards.
* Cinnamon is used in ‘eight ingredients pills’ as a heat tonic in the following conditions:
• for the treatment of people with bad Yin and thriving Yang;
• for the treatment of people suffering from thrilling, neurasthenia, tired back
and knees, male spermatorrhoea and male sexual impotence;
• for the treatment of people with damaged Yin, who are usually suffering from
coldness, neurasthenia, tired knees, male spermatorrhea, impotence and sterility.
The ingredients for remedies are: Cassia cinnamon – 12 g; Aconitum sinense Paxt – 8 g;
Rehmannia glutinosa (Gaertn.) Libosch (Scrophulariaceae) – 24–32 g; Aconitum sinense
Paxt. (Ranunculaceae) – 8 g; Cornus officinalis Sieb et Zucc. (Cornaceae), Dioscorea persimilis
Pr. & Bur. (Dioscoreaceae), Poria cocos Wolf. (Polyporaceae) – 16 g each; Paeonia
suffriticosa Andr. (Ranunculaceae) – 8 g; Alisma plantago-aquatica L. (Alismataceae) – 8 g;
when ground down and made up into pills, the daily dose is from 30 to 40 g.
If there is a kidney failure with chronic edema Plantago asiatica L. (Plantaginaceae) –
16 g and Achiranthes bidentata Blume (Amaranthaceae) – 16 g are added to the above
ingredients. It is called “eight ingredients pill for the treatment of kidney”.