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Cinnamon Twig & Poria

桂枝茯苓丸 · guì zhī fú líng wán

A classical TCM formula for period pain and blood stagnation in the lower abdomen.

What it's for

When period cramps don't respond to warmth and the blood comes out dark or clotted, TCM practitioners point to blood stasis as the root cause. This formula gently unblocks stagnant blood in the lower abdomen using a small set of targeted herbs. Cinnamon twig warms and moves circulation, peach seed breaks up stasis, and tree peony bark clears the resulting heat. It's one of the oldest formulas from the Essentials from the Golden Cabinet for gynecological blood stasis.

This formula is for you if…

  1. Period cramps with dark, clotted blood

    blood is noticeably dark or purple, sometimes with visible clots

  2. Fixed lower abdominal pain or tightness between periods

    a dull ache or palpable tension in the lower belly that doesn't fully clear

  3. Absent or very delayed periods with abdominal distention

    the delay is accompanied by a feeling of fullness or pressure in the lower abdomen

Best fit if you have dark or clotted period blood plus at least one other sign. Talk to a TCM practitioner if you're uncertain about the pattern.

You might also notice

  • Postpartum blood or lochia that doesn't fully resolve
  • Lower abdominal spasms or cramping outside of your period
  • Dark or purplish tongue, sometimes with stasis spots
  • Submerged, choppy pulse

Not your match if…

  • You are pregnant (do not use without practitioner guidance)
  • Your cramps respond well to warmth and improve with heat pads
  • Your period blood is pale or scanty without clots
  • You have no signs of blood stasis

What's in it

How to take it

Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan

Plum Flower200 ct

Standard dose: .

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Talk to a qualified TCM practitioner before taking this regularly, especially if you're pregnant, breastfeeding, or take medication.

Safety

  • Use with extreme caution during pregnancy or postpartum. The original Bensky text states this formula should only be used postpartum when there is a confirmed diagnosis of blood stasis producing this specific pattern. Do not use in pregnancy without qualified practitioner supervision.
  • Not appropriate when period pain is from cold and deficiency rather than from blood stasis. Signs of stasis include dark or clotted blood, fixed pain that doesn't improve with warmth, and a dark or purplish tongue.
  • Peach seed is traditionally avoided during pregnancy due to its blood-moving properties.
  • Talk to a qualified TCM practitioner before using this, especially if you're pregnant, postpartum, breastfeeding, or take medication.