Cinnamon , Quills, organic

Latin name: Cinnamomum zeylanicum

Cinnamon: (Cinnamomum Zeylanicum)

part generally used: dried inner bark of its shoots.

Carminative, astringent, stimulant, more powerful as a local stimulant then a general one, antiseptic, stops vomiting and generally given with chalk and astringents is useful for diarrhea and haemorrage of the womb (Grieve, 1973, pg. 202). It may act as an uterine astringents and hemostatic botanical and are of use for heavy menstruation reduce bleeding in some circumstances. Cinnamon tincture or strong tea may be taken hourly in emergency circumstances or used preventively in the latter half of the menstrual cycle for those prone to heavy periods (Stansbury, J., 1997).

Circulatory stimulant, warming digestive, clears wind and settles nausea and astringent for clearing the nose and lungs. Excellent remedy for colds and poor circulation. (Hedley, Shaw, 1998, pg. 3). Used for feeble appetite, hyperacidity, IBS, worms and for chest complaints make a rub and massage into the chest (Bartram, 1998, pg. 116).

In Ayurvedic medicine, cinnamon is used to create freashness and to strenghen and energize the tissues. A pinch is often added to warm and stimulate the absorbtion of other remedies. (Hedley, Shaw, 1998, pg3).

Hedley and Shaw have some great recipes such as ‘parfait amour’, a French aphrodisiac liqueur, cinnamon toast and cinnamon and ginger decoction.

It is used in Chinese medicine to boost insulin activity (Bartram, 1998, pg. 116).

Anti fungal (White and Foster, 2000, pg. 262)

The consumption of cinnamon is associated with a statistically significant decrease in levels of fasting plasma glucose, total cholesterol, LDL-C, and triglyceride levels, and an increase in HDL-C levels (Allen, Schwartzman, Baker, Coleman and Phung 2013).

Caution: Watch out for Cassia cinnamon, the most common variety of the spice sold in Europe and the U.S. Cassia can contain high levels of coumarin, in high-enough doses, coumarin can cause liver damage in a small group of sensitive individuals (Overgaard, 2013).

References:

Allen RW, Schwartzman E, Baker WL, Coleman CI, Phung OJ. Cinnamon use in type 2 diabetes: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis. Ann Fam Med. 2013;11(5):452-459. doi:10.1370/afm.1517, online, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24019277/, accessed on 19 of August 2020.

Bartram, T., 1998, Bartram’s encyclopedia of herbal medicine, Robinson, pg. 116.

Grieve, M., 1973, A Modern Herbal, Merchant book company ltd, pg 202.

Hedley, C. and Shaw, N., 1998, Herbal Remedies, a practical beginners guide to making effective remedies in the kitchen, Regent publishing services.

Overgaard, S., 2013, When Is Cinnamon Spice Not So Nice? The Great Danish Debate, online, https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2013/12/25/256602581/when-is-cinnamon-spice-not-so-nice-the-great-danish-debate, accessed on the 18 August 2020.

Stansbury, J., 1997, The use of botanicals for mentrual irregularties, Medical Herbalism: 10-31-97 9(3): 1, 3-5, (e-journal) http://www.medherb.com/Therapeutics/Female_-_The_use_of_botanicals_for_menstrual_irregularities.htm (accessed 2 August 2020)

White, L. B. and Foster, S., 2000, The Herbal drugstore, Rodale, pg. 22