Have you ever noticed? Every time you visit an experienced Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioner, there are always a few familiar herbs in the prescription? In fact, many classic formulas are variations derived from a universal base prescription! This universally acknowledged "ancestor of all prescriptions" in the TCM field is—Cinnamon Twig Decoction (Guizhi Tang)!

The composition of this formula is quite simple, consisting of only five common herbs: cinnamon twig (Guizhi), peony root (Shaoyao), ginger (Shengjiang), licorice root (Gancao), and jujube (Dazao). Don't let its simplicity fool you—it functions like a family doctor's treasure chest. With just a few adjustments, it can address about 90% of a family's common minor ailments!

Let's understand that cinnamon twig (Gui Zhi) can help invigorate yang and transform qi, dispel cold and relieve the exterior—it helps us build up the yang energy in our body and drive out the cold hidden beneath the skin in one go. Peony root (Shao Yao) can control a body prone to sweating and prevent excessive sweating from damaging the vital energy.

Ginger and jujube can strengthen the spleen and stomach, and greatly aid digestion and absorption. Honey-fried licorice (Zhi Gan Cao) is responsible for coordinating all the herbs, allowing their effects to be maximized. Combined in this way, this formula can balance yin and yang in the body while also reinforcing the protective network of the skin and blood vessels. It's particularly suitable for conditions such as headache, fear of wind, and palpitations in weak individuals after catching a cold.

Actually, this formula is incredibly versatile! For example, if a child comes home from school shivering and not sweating, add a bit more ginger when preparing the medicine. After drinking the decoction, cover up with a blanket and sleep, and the cold will be expelled along with the sweat. If an elderly family member sweats excessively even with slight movement, adding dragon bone (Long Gu) and oyster shell (Mu Li) can quickly stop the sweating. Many office workers are often troubled by stiff necks and shoulder pain, and a hospital examination might diagnose cervical spondylosis or periarthritis of the shoulder. In such cases, adding ephedra (Ma Huang) and kudzu root (Ge Gen) to Cinnamon Twig Decoction transforms it into Kudzu Decoction, with immediate effects!

If the elderly or children in the family have weak digestion and experience stomach pain or diarrhea when eating cold food, try Minor Center-Fortifying Decoction! Double the amount of cinnamon twig and white peony root (Bai Shao), and add some maltose. This decoction becomes a warming treasure for the stomach. Consistently drinking it for a while can eliminate cold from the spleen and stomach, gradually replenish qi and blood, improve appetite, and boost energy.

Traditional Chinese medicine often says that there are a thousand prescriptions for a thousand people, and Cinnamon Twig Decoction is the best example. Even for the same cold, each person's symptoms and constitution are different, so the prescription naturally needs to be adjusted accordingly. The content of this article is for science popularization only. Caution is advised when it comes to medication. If you experience physical discomfort, please seek medical attention promptly!