Cinnamon Essence
Description
© Southwest School of Botanical Medicine
CINNAMON / CASSIA (Cinnamomum zeylanicum/Cinnamomum cassia)
Family: Lauraceae (laurel)
Sources:
Essential oil of cinnamon is distilled from bark and leaves;
Cassia from leaves, barks and young twigs.
Fragrance: Hot, spicy
Volatility: Base note
General description and habitat:
Evergreen trees or shrubs; height of trees up to 18 meters, usually 6-9 meters; shiny, ovoid leaves; tiny yellow flowers in clusters; cultivated in tropical countries.
Principal constituents:
Cinnamic aldehyde, caryophyllene, cymene, eugenol, linalool, methylamine ketone, phellandrene, pinene.
History
History and folk use:
Cinnamon is native to Ceylon. An ancient spice, it was recorded by the Emperor Shen Nung (2700BC). Most prescriptions in China include the spice.
It is mentioned in the Bible and was one of the spices that God told Moses to take with him out of Egypt. The ancient Egyptians used it to ward off epidemics and for embalming. The Greeks and Romans obtained their supplies from the Arabs. The Portugese (in the sixteenth century) and Dutch (seventeenth century) pursued it resulting in colonization of Ceylon (Sri Lanka). The Dutch developed cultivation so that cinnamon became more available in the West.
Properties & Uses
General properties: Antirheumatic, antiseptic, antiviral warming, detoxifying,.stomachic, tonic.
Primary Uses:
| Circulatory Disorders | Colds |
| Digestive Disorders | Exhaustion |
| Flu. |
Secondary Uses:
| Acid Stomach, | Appetite disorders, | |
| Astringent, | Bruises, | |
| Circulatory Disorders,Colds, | ||
| Coughs, | Depression, | |
| Diarrhea, | Fainting, | |
| Fatigue, | Hemorrhage, | |
| Hypotension, | Impotence, | |
| Parasites (Lice), | Pneumonia, | |
| Poor Memory, | Rheumatism, | |
| Sinusitis, | Sore Throats, | |
| Sterility, | Stings, | |
| Worms. |
This herb has approval status by the German Commission E.
Recommended daily dosages in Germany are as follows:
0.05 - 0.2 g essential oil.
References:
Blumenthal, M (Ed.): The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. American Botanical Council. Austin, TX. 1998.
Contraindications
Possible toxicity, therefore not to be used in pregnancy or with chemotherapy treatment for cancer.
There may be an allergy to both cinnamon and Peruvian balsam.
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