Cassia Bark — Safety & Interactions
Rou Gui · Cortex Cinnamomi
Use with caution. Practitioner review recommended before use.
Contraindications
- Pregnancy
- Yin deficiency with Fire signs
- Excess internal Heat
- Bleeding tendency or blood-heat hemorrhage
Cautions
- Some cinnamon products contain enough coumarin to raise hepatotoxicity concerns, especially with prolonged or heavy intake
- Medicinal Rou Gui doses are stronger than ordinary culinary cinnamon use and can aggravate heat signs, dry mouth, restlessness, or bleeding when misapplied
- Gastrointestinal upset and allergic reactions have been reported with cinnamon products
Drug Interactions
| Drug Class / Substrate | Mechanism | Severity | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| CYP450 substrate drugs | Preclinical studies suggest cinnamon inhibits CYP2A6, CYP2C9, CYP2D, and CYP3A4 and may increase the risk of side effects from drugs metabolized by these enzymes | Moderate | Memorial Sloan Kettering Integrative Medicine - Cinnamon |
| Statins | Concurrent use has been associated with hepatitis in a case report | Moderate | Memorial Sloan Kettering Integrative Medicine - Cinnamon |
| Pioglitazone | Animal studies suggest cinnamon can increase pioglitazone bioavailability | Moderate | Memorial Sloan Kettering Integrative Medicine - Cinnamon |
Pregnancy
Not recommended during pregnancy. Consult a qualified practitioner before any use.
This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using herbal medicines, especially if you take prescription medications.