Cinnamon Twig Formula is the most widely used classic formula. It is safe and flavorful, and is useful for the very initial stages of a cold or flu – wind cold invasion – with mild symptoms such as sneezing, aversion to cold and wind, mild sweating, feeling slightly feverish, lack of thirst or headache. I find it to be helpful for 75-80% of my patients to treat the earliest stages an exterior condition.
Cinnamon Twig formula is not just for colds with sneezing, it can be used as a base formula for many conditions, including emotional vulnerability, palpitations, abdominal pain, joint pain, cold hands and feet, hot flashes, when the pattern fits.
The cinnamon twig type often has an aversion to wind on the neck, is sensitive emotionally and may flush and perspire easily. Words can be winds too, so when our surface qi is not harmonized and able to defend us, words can invade as wind cold and the symptoms could be emotional or involve palpitations. Of course there are many formulas to treat emotional symptoms and palpitations, so pattern differentiation is required.
Most of the herbs in the formula help the digestion (fresh ginger, dates, licorice, and also cinnamon twig and white peony root), while a couple harmonize the surface (cinnamon twig and white peony root). It’s made up of mostly food type herbs, and is pretty yummy for a Chinese medicine formula. If you find it is easy to catch a cold after being exposed to cold, try this, it is pretty yummy with honey or mixed into your oatmeal. We get our Qi from our digestion – when we have plenty of Qi, we have enough to send to our surface. Therefore nourishing the middle (digestion) helps harmonize the surface.
Functions: Treats exterior wind cold, harmonizes the nutritive and defensive Qi & nourishes the middle.
To release the exterior: prepare the herbs with hot water and drink, followed by a warm bowl of porridge or soup. Wrap yourself up with some blankets until you have a slight sweat. At that time, change into warm dry clothes and discontinue the herbs.
Once the cold/flu goes deeper and there are symptoms such as sore throat, thirst, high fever, cough, different formulas are appropriate. Discontinue the use of cinnamon twig when symptoms progress beyond the sniffles and early symptoms avoid.
I have Cinnamon Twig Formula in my office in powders, concentrated granules or pills, and it is available as a box of single serving packets (plenty for the whole extended family to have some) from TCM brand from FullScript.