Cinnamon Benefits
Cinnamon Benefits & Remedies page - link navigation:
(These links take you farther down the page to these specific categories.)
|
Benefits of Cinnamon and the Conditions it Treats
|
 
|
Buying Guide & Tips
If you want real Cinnamon benefits, you should know that what most Americans are actually using to spice their dishes is Cassia, not true Cinnamon.
True Cinnamon is also known as “Ceylon Cinnamon” and is a product of Sri Lanka. It comes from the species of Cinnamon tree known as Cinnamomum Zeylanicum. (Zeylanicum is the Latin word for Ceylon, and Sri Lanka used to be known as Ceylon.) Please read the General Properties section for more information.
In the picture above, you can see the difference between True Cinnamon from Ceylon and Cassia Cinnamon.
The 5 sticks on the left are True Ceylon Cinnamon - they are lighter in color and have a much thinner bark with many curls. The 2 sticks on the right are Cassia. They are darker in color and the bark is much thicker than the Ceylon Cinnamon.
My Own Experience...
Although I've used cinnamon a lot in my life, I've never used it to treat any conditions or ailments I've had.
I can tell you that I've tasted the difference between Cassia and Cinnamon and although True Cinnamon is better for us, I prefer the flavor of Cassia. Cassia has a spicier taste, whereas True Cinnamon has a very mild flavor.
If you've used Cinnamon Benefits as a remedy, we'd love to hear from you. Share with us using this simple form and we'll post your experience on this site.
Dosage:
The dosage used to take advantage of True Cinnamon benefits is between 1/5 and ½ teaspoon per day.
You can always check with your Natural Health Practitioner for alternate dosages based on your particular needs. If an alternate dosage is indicated, it will be listed below with the corresponding condition.
For Cassia Cinnamon benefits, as long as you’re not taking more than 6 grams (about 1 1/4 teaspoons) per day, you should be fine. See important notes in the Drug Interactions section about combining Cassia with liver damaging drugs.
Listen to your body – if you start feeling sick, take your dosage down or switch to Ceylon Cinnamon.
You can also find a high quality Cinnamon supplement at your local health food store or online. In that case, you would simply follow the directions on the label.
Each of the conditions below will also say whether Cassia or True Cinnamon are commonly used for treating it.
Do not take Cinnamon supplements if you are pregnant or nursing without first consulting your Health Practitioner.
Conditions This Remedy Treats:
(Clicking on the name of underlined conditions below will take you to the page that discusses the causes and other remedies for that particular condition.)
Blood Clots
One of the Cassia Cinnamon benefits is its ability to thin out the blood and helps prevent blood clots from forming in your body.
If you are already on anti-coagulation medication, however, beware - you can cause too much of a blood thinning effect. This property of Cassia is due to the compound Coumarin which is a well known anti-coagulant.
Coumarin is not an active ingredient in True Cinnamon however, so if your purpose is to use it as an anti-coagulant, make sure you are using Cassia Cinnamon.
Blood Pressure (High)
One of the Cinnamon benefits is that it lowers the high blood pressure caused by diabetes.
This was found in a follow up to the 2003 blood glucose study that showed that cinnamon can lower the blood glucose levels of those with diabetes. It was also found that Cinnamon can lower the systolic pressure (the higher of the two numbers in a blood pressure reading) that is not caused by diabetes.
Cancer
Studies have shown that Cinnamon and Cassia (as a water soluble supplement, meaning the fat soluble Coumarin had been removed) reduces the growth of cancer cells (by halting their ability to divide) by 50%.
It does this by interrupting the cancer cell’s normal cycle. This may be due to the antioxidant component of Cinnamon and Cassia as well as other compounds.
Candida
Daily consumption of True Cinnamon or Cassia in addition to other Candida remedies can help kill off bad “critters” (Candida fungus/yeast) in your digestive tract. The compounds in both herbs have anti-microbial and anti-parasitic qualities.
Cholesterol
Studies have shown that one of the many Cinnamon benefits is that it lowers overall cholesterol levels, increases HDL (good) cholesterol and decreases LDL (bad) cholesterol and triglycerides. This was discovered mainly in the 2003 study on Cinnamon and diabetes control.
Colds & Flu
I haven’t found any studies that test Cinnamon’s ability to treat or prevent colds, but there are literally thousands of years of anecdotal evidence. Cinnamon has been used as far back as 2800 B.C. in China for numerous cures including the common cold and cough.
It is well known that Cinnamon has anti-microbial benefits. This means that Cinnamon will kill bacteria, virus, fungus and parasites. Since the flu is caused by a virus, Cinnamon will speed up the recovery from the flu. Asia has been using Cinnamon for this purpose for centuries as well.
Diabetes
There was a study done in 2003 that tested Cinnamon’s effectiveness in treating blood glucose levels in people with Type 2 Diabetes. It was found that 1 gram per day (about ½ teaspoon) lowered blood glucose levels by 12-29% in those taking the Cinnamon. The control group showed no change.
It’s been discovered that an active ingredient found in both Cinnamon and Cassia (methylhydroxychalcone polymer or MHCP) acts in such a way as to make cells more sensitive to Insulin. (Type 2 Diabetes occurs when cells are no longer responding to insulin and are therefore not releasing sugar – this is called “Insulin resistance”)
Diarrhea
Cinnamon benefits for diarrhea have been reported for centuries. We do know that Cinnamon can balance imbalances in the digestive tract by killing parasites and fungus that may cause diarrhea. Using Cinnamon or Cassia as a regular supplement can keep diarrhea at bay.
Fatigue
The Chinese have been using Cinnamon for centuries to combat fatigue. There is a chemical compound (methylhydroxychalcone polymer) in Cinnamon that helps the insulin in your body to use sugar as energy instead of storing it as fat. Cinnamon also has a warming effect on the body, speeding metabolism and blood flow.
Gas & Bloating
Another Cinnamon benefit is its help in relieving gas and digestive issues in general. It does this by breaking up the gas in your stomach.
Heart Disease
Cinnamon and Cassia both help prevent Heart Disease but not in the way most people think. If you look at the real cause of heart disease, you’ll find that it’s from the oxidation of the small dense LDL molecules, not from the simple fact that you have high cholesterol.
Cinnamon and Cassia are both very high in antioxidants and therefore will definitely help prevent Coronary Artery Disease (Heart Disease) by providing the antioxidants necessary to reduce the free radicals that cause the oxidation of these LDLs. Although Cinnamon has also been shown to lower blood lipid levels, that’s not the reason it help prevent CAD and heart disease.
Nausea
Adding Cinnamon or Cassia to your coffee or tea can help stave off nausea whether it's due to food poisoning, a stomach bug or even morning sickness. You can also add it to your regular supplementation to keep nausea from showing up in the first place.
Parasites
Due to Cinnamon's (and Cassia's) anti-microbial properties, adding it to your regular supplementation will kill off parasites in your digestive tract. You can use it in your food or add it to your protein shakes, tea, and coffee. There are supplements available as well.
Ulcers
Because ulcers have been found to be caused by a nasty little bacteria call H. Pylori, Cinnamon's (and Cassia's) anti-microbial properties will help kill off these bacteria and remedy your ulcers. You can use it in your food or add it to your protein shakes, tea, and coffee. There are supplements available as well.
Weight Loss
Cinnamon benefits Weight Loss by lowering your blood sugar and by lowering your cravings for sugar. Use Cinnamon or Cassia regularly in addition to your weight loss protocol to create a balance in the digestive system that can make it less of a struggle to loose weight.
General Properties:
As mentioned at the top of this page, most people are using a type of Cinnamon called Cassia. “Cinnamon Cassia” is different than Ceylon Cinnamon (also called "True Cinnamon") because of a compound that is found in much higher amounts in Cassia called Coumarin.
Coumarin is found in other plants as well (mostly grasses and a few herbs), but is slightly toxic to the human liver and kidneys in high doses, and very toxic to rodents. In fact, it’s commonly used in rodent control.
So, if you are using Cinnamon for a health benefit, which usually requires high doses, make sure you know whether or not you are taking Cassia or True Cinnamon. Each has different dosage amounts and they share some, but not all of the health benefits. Cassia in low dosages will not hurt you.
One way to tell the difference is to check the label and see if the “Cinnamon” is a product of Sri Lanka. If not, then it’s most likely Cassia.
Sometimes the company will also list the species of tree their product is from, so for True Cinnamon benefits, you want Cinnamomum Zeylanicum and for benefits related to Cassia, you want any other species of Cinnamomum.
Another way to tell if you are buying True Cinnamon is that Ceylon Cinnamon is lighter in color – more of a light brown than the reddish brown of Cassia – and Ceylon Cinnamon has a sweet mild taste rather than the spicy bite that Cassia has. (That “spicy bite” is actually the Coumarin you’re tasting.
It’s used in nature as a deterrent to animals that forage so that the plant is protected from overgrazing.)
Of course, buy organic Ceylon Cinnamon or Cassia whenever possible. This reduces your exposure to pesticides and chemical fertilizers and enhances all Cinnamon benefits.
The active compounds in Cinnamon are:
- Cinnamaldehyde
- methylhydroxychalcone polymer or MHCP
- Aldehydes
- Eugenol
- Pinene
- Tannins
- Mannitol
- Coumarins
Possible Side Effects:
True Cinnamon (or "Ceylon Cinnamon") has very few side effects. Some people have reported heartburn after taking too much, but if you stick to the dosage instructions above you can avoid any possible side effects.
Cassia, because of its high Coumarin content can have side effects at high dosages (more than 6 grams - about 1 ¼ teaspoons per day). These would mostly include issues pertaining to blood clotting as Coumarin is an anti-coagulant (blood-thinner).
Drug Interactions:
- Blood Sugar controlling drugs: If you are taking any medication to reduce or control your blood sugar, check with you health practitioner before starting any Cassia or Ceylon Cinnamon regimen.
- Blood Thinners: Any type of blood thinner can be enhanced by using too much Cassia. Check with your health practitioner before starting any high dose (over 6 grams per day) program of Cassia supplementation. Using True Cinnamon (Ceylon Cinnamon) will not have this effect.
- Liver Damaging drugs: If any of your medication states that possible liver damage is one of its side effects, please talk to your health practitioner first before starting a Cassia regimen. One of the active compounds in Cassia is Coumarin which is hard on our livers at high dosages.
Did You Know…?
- Cinnamon benefits are mentioned in ancient writings in China as far back as 2800 B.C.E.
- Cinnamon was used in ancient Egypt in the embalming process. It helped keep the bodies from deterioration because of its anti-microbial properties.
- The Egyptians also knew that many Cinnamon benefits were due its medicinal properties and they flavored their food and drink with it as well.
- It is said that Hippocrates invented a spiced wine that contained a lot of Cinnamon in it in the 5th century B.C.E. called Hippocras. Other reports however claim that it is named after Hippocrates only because a "Hippocratic sleeve" is used to filter out the spices after they've soaked in the wine for a time.
- Cinnamon was used in funeral pyres in ancient Rome as a gesture of grief. This was because Cinnamon was more valuable than gold during that era due to its scarcity. Nero was reported to have burned an entire year's worth of the spice on his wife's pyre to show the depth of his grief.
- True Cinnamon originated in Ceylon, which is now called Sri Lanka in India. It is the bark of an evergreen tree indigenous to that region and only came to Egypt in 2000 B.C.E.
Return from the Cinnamon Benefits Page to the Remedies A to Z page.
Return to the Home page.
If you've found our site useful, please donate to show your support. Thanks!
Looking for something specific? Search this site!
Subscribe!
What's Your Favorite Natural Remedy?
Do you have a natural remedy that you'd like to share with us? Click here (or on the image above) to get started!