Cinnamon Bark

LATIN AND BOTANTICAL NAMES

Cinnamomum cassia, Cinnamomum verum, Cinnamomum zeylanicum

COMMON AND OTHER NAMES

Cassia, Cinnamon , Cinnamon Twig, Cassia Bark, Cassia Aromaticum

GENERAL DESCRITPION AND INFORMATION

Cinnamon is a bushy tropical evergreen tree that grows from 15 to 30 feet high. It has reddish-brown papery bark that is very aromatic, shiny tough leathery green leaves, and smallgreenish-white, rather unpleasantly scented flowers. It is these flowers that produce a purplish-blue berry.

The Cinnamon tree needs sandy soil, a tropical climate with plenty of rain, hot sunshine, and a minimum temperature of 59*F/15*C to grow. It is native to the humid tropical forestsin southwestern India and Sri Lanka, but is cultivated in Indonesia, the West Indies, theSeychelles, and parts of Africa, and South America.

Cinnamon has been an important spice since biblical times, in incense, medicine, and cooking. In culinary use, the sticks or ground spice are very sweet and pungent. The flavorcomplements cooked apples, fresh fruit, fruit punches or mulled wine and is also very tasty in spice cakes and cookies.

Cinnamon is less known as an herbal medicine, but it is a time-honored remedy, especially for gastro-intestinal upsets of various kinds. It is a strong stimulant for the glandular systemand is very warming, so it is good for relieving the symptoms of colds, flu and sore throats.

TARGET AILMENTS AND CONDITIONS

Take internally for:

* fibroids

* menstrual problems

* flatulence

* loss of appetite

* gastric upset

* nausea

* vomiting

* intestinal cramping

* diarrhea

* inflammation

* rheumatism

* colds and flu

* oral infections caused by candida

PREPARATIONS AND DOSAGE

Cinnamon bark is available in grocery store and natural health food stores. It is normally takenin powder form, pill or tincture.

Part Used: The outer bark is the common spice; the inner bark contains more oil and hasstronger medicinal effects.

Collection: Trees are cut back to produce a young crop of shoots that grow up from thestump. The shoots are then cut and rubbed to loosen the bark, which is peeled off. The outer bark is scraped off, leaving thin sheets of aromatic inner bark that are rolled together to form quills. After the cinnamon bark is dried it can be sold as quills (cinnamon sticks) or can be pulverizedinto powder.

Constituents: Volatile oils, tannins, mucilages Actions: Antispasmodic, antifungal, antibacterial, carminative, aromatic, stimulant,antioxidant

Combinations: Cinnamon can be combined with Asian ginseng root and Chinese Foxglovecooked in a wine to treat heart palpitations and shortness of breath.

SAFETY AND INTERACTION INFORMATION

* People with prostate problems should avoid cinnamon.

* Use this herb cautiously if you are pregnant.

* Large doses of cinnamon bark can cause changes in breathing and dilation of blood vessels.

* People allergic to balsam of Tolu should avoid the use of cinnamon oil.

Back To Herb Index From Cinnamon Bark