Cortex Cinnamomi
Cassia Bark

Source:
The trunk bark of Cinnamomum cassia Presl (Fam. Lauraceae).

Distribution:
Mainly in Chinese provinces such as Guangxi, Guangdong, Hainan and Fujian; also in Yunnan province.

Harvest & Processing:
Peel off trunk bark, mostly in autumn; dry in shaded areas.

Description:
Shallow and sulciform (groove-like), or tubular; 30-50 cm long, 3-10 cm in width or diameter, 2-8 mm thick. Outer surface greyishbrown, slightly rough, marked with irregular fine wrinkles and protuberant transverse lenticels, sometimes with greyish-white
maculae; inner surface reddish-brown, fairly even, marked with fine longitudinal striae, and with oil marks when scratched. Hard and brittle, breaks easily. Broken surface uneven; outer layer brown and relatively rough; inner layer reddish-brown, oily and soft, with 1 yellowish-brown stria in between the layers. Odour: heavily aromatic; taste: sweet and hot.

Indications:
1. Stomachache, diarrhoea
2. Cough and wheezing
3. Shock, cold and clammy extremities, frostbite.
4. Pain and cold feeling in the lower part of the body
5. Menstrual disorders

Chemical Composition:
Mainly contains 1.0%-3.5% essential oils with cinnamic aldehyde as the main component; also contains diterpenes such as cinnzeylanine and cinzeylanol.