Ramulus Cinnamomi
Source
The tender branch of Cinnamomum cassw PresI, family Lauraceae.
Charactcristics
Tender branches cylindrical, outer surface brown-red, with leaf and branch
scars and lenticels. Section showing brown-red bark, bearing 
slightly
square pith. Aromatic in odour. Acrid and sweet in taste, warm in nature,
and attributive to heart, lung and urinary bladder channels.
Indication
1. Induce sweating to expel the exogenous evils from the body surface:
For common cold of wind-cold type.
2. Activate yang by warming meridian: For palpitation, precordial pain
and irregular, slow and intermittent pulse due to deficiency of heart-
energy, usually used together with Radix Glycyrrhizae; for cough due to
the retention of phlegm, dizziness and palpitation caused by deficiency
of heart-yang and spleen-yang, usually used with Rhizoma A tractylodis
Macrocephakie, Poria, Radix Glycyrrhizae; for arthralgia due to wind-cold-dampness;
for amenorrhea and menorrhalgia due to stagnation of cold; for dysuria
and edema due to hypofunction of urinary bladder.
Pharmacological
Action
1.
Sedative, analgesic and anticonvulsive: Intraperitoneal injection of cinnamic
aldehyde relieves pain elicited by acetic acid in mice and antagonizes
strychnine-induced tonic convulsion (500 mg/kg).
2. Antipyretic: Lowering vaccine-induced fever in rabbits.
3. Its volatile oil brings a congestive effect on uterus.
4. Antitussive and diuretic.
Administration Decoction: 3-10g.