Cinnamon
Botanical Description & Habitat
Cinnamomum zeylanicum
Family
Lauraceae
Habitat
Southern Asia and South America
Description
Cinnamon is an evergreen tree reaching 33 feet in height and is covered with a smooth, pale bark. Its leaves are oval, pointed, and 4-8 inches in length, dark green on top and pale underneath with prominent veins. The small, yellowish-white flowers grow in clusters from the upper leaf axils. The fruit is a reddish-brown berry.
Medicinal Parts
Dried inner bark
The German Commisssion E specifies Cinnamon bark from Ceylon and China.
Historical Properties & Uses
Much of cinnamon's bioactivity resides in its oil, which is about 90% cinnamaldehyde. Research indicates that cinnamon has effective anti-bacterial, antispasmodic, anti-ulcer, choleretic, sedative, hypothermic, antifungal, antiviral, antipyretic, lipolytic, antiseptic, anesthetic, anodyne, and cytotoxic properties.
This herb has approval status by the German Commission E for loss of appetite (see appetite disorders), dyspepsia, blotaing and flatulence (i.e. GI tract).
Cinnamon flower, however, has not achieved approval status by the German Commission E. Either there was insufficient evidence in favor, or a contraindication.
References:
Blumenthal, M (Ed.): The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. American Botanical Council. Austin, TX. 1998.
Method of Action
Cinnamon oil is about 90% cinnamaldehyde, a phenylpropanoid, which accounts for much of the activity of the plant.
Cinnamon has good antibacterial and excellent antitubercular properties in dilutions of 1:640 or more.
A combination of cinnamon and nine other popular Chinese herbs helped to increase the effectiveness and lower the side effects of mitomycin C against cancer. Just how much or what if any action was contributed by the cinnamon is unknown.
It has excellent antispasmodic or spasmolytic action, which is due to the presence of cinnamaldehyde. Cinnamaldehyde has also been shown to protect against stress-induced ulcers when administered to mice i.e. at a dose of 250mg/kg.
Cinnamaldehyde increases the excretion of total biliary solids, as well as bile flow in rats. Activity was evident one hour following administration and lasted for over three hours. This chloritic action may explain the herb's carminative and stomachic properties.
Chinese herbal research suggests cinnamaldehyde has sedative, hypothermic, antifungal, antiviral, bactericidal and antipyretic properties.
Cinnamon has been shown to have some lipolytic property.
Eugenol is also present in cinnamon and exhibits the usual effects: antiseptic, anesthetic, anodyne, cytotoxic, et. (e.g. MART).
Drug Interactions & Precautions
Known Interactions
A mixture containing astragalia radix, cinnamon, peony, cnidii rhioma, angelica root, ginseng root, and licorice root has shown to enhance antitumor activity and decrease toxicity of mitomycin C.
Possible Interactions
The antituberculosis activity of cinnamon may potentiate the adverse effects of other antituberculous drugs, especially ethionamide.
The topical application of the astringent cinnamon, in conjunction with the acne product tretinoin (retinoic acid, vitamin A acid), may adversely affect the skin.
The tannin in cinnamon may potentiate the antibiotic activity of echinacea. The tannin in tea made from cinnamon may be inactivated by the addition of milk or cream.
By sequestering cinnamon, mineral oil may reduce the herb's anthelmintic effect. The same may be true, to a lesser extent, of antacids.
Comments
Due to the presence of eugenol, cinnamon may inhibit certain liver microsomal hydroxylating systems, thereby producing toxic effects from the drugs normally metabolized by those systems.
Although the coumarin content of cinnamon is not high at normal usage levels, it is important to note coumarins can affect the action of almost any drug.
There is evidence to show combining bactericidal and bacteriostatic agents will lower the effectiveness of the bacteriostatic agent. However, how this finding applies to herbal anti-infectives is still unknown.
Safety Factors & Toxicity
The ingestion of large amounts of cinnamon oil can have dire consequences for the kidneys and liver. Ingestion of raw cinnamon bark or cinnamon "toothpicks" can irritate the mucous membranes.
Cinnamon is nontoxic in therapeutic doses, and is generally regard as safe by the FDA.
The German Commission E, however, notes the possibility for allergic reactions to skin and mucosa from cinnamon flowers.
An allergy may exist both to cinnamon bark and Peruvian balsam.
Cinnamon bark, as well as Chinese cinnamon bark, have approval status by the German Commission E.
References:
Blumenthal, M (Ed.): The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. American Botanical Council. Austin, TX. 1998.
Preparation & Administration
Three times a day
Dried bark
0.5-1 gram as tea
Fluid extract
1:1 in 70% alcohol, 0.5-1 ml
Oil (distilled from bark)
0.05-0.2 ml
This herb has approval status by the German Commission E.
Recommended daily dosages in Germany are as follows:
2 - 4 g bark.
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.
Note: This Herbal Preparation information is a summary of data from books and articles by various authors. It is not intended to replace the advice or attention of health care professionals.
References
Aburada, et.al. Protective effects of juzentaihoto, dried decoction of 10 chinese herbs mixture, upon the adverse effects of mitomycin C in mice. Journal of Pharmacobiodynamics, 6(12). pp. 100-104. 1983.
Am Hospital Formulary Service. Am Soc of Hosp Pharm. Wash, D.C.
Blacow, N.W. Martindale: The Extra Pharmacopoeia. The Pharmaceutical
Press: London, England, 1973.
Blumenthal, M (Ed.): The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. American Botanical Council. Austin, TX. 1998.
Bressler, R., M.D. Bogdonoff & G.J. Subak-Sharpe. 1981. The Physicians Drug Manual. Doubleday & Co, Inc. Garden City, NY. 1213 pp.
Culbreath, David M. R. A manual of Materia Medica and Pharmocology. Eclectic Medical Publications, Portland, OR, l983.
De Martinis, M., et.al. Milk thistle (silybum marianum) derivatives in the therapy of chronic hepatopathies. Clin. Ter., 94(3). p. 283. 1980.
Drug package insert (FDA approved official brochure) and other labeling based on sponsored clinical investigations and New Drug Application data.
Facts and Comparisons. The Lawrence Review of Natural Products. Dec, 1995.
Fitzpatrick, F.K. Plant substances active against mycobacterium tuberculosis. Antibiotics and Chemotherapy, 4(5), 528-536, 1954.
Goodman, L.S. & A. Gilman. 1975. Pharm Basis of Thera. Macmillan, NY.
Halbert, E. & D.G. Weeden. Nature (London), 212, 1603-1604, 1966.
Hansten, P.D. 1979. Drug Interactions, 4th ed. Lea & Febiger, Phila.
Harada & Yano. Pharmacological studies on chinese cinnamon. Effects of cinnamaldehyde on cardiovascular & digestive systems. Chem & Pharm Bulletin, 23, 941, 1975.
Hyde, F. British Herbal Pharmacopoeia. Brit Herb Med Assoc: England, 1983
Jaffe, H., et.al. 1968. In vivo inhibition of mouse liver microsomal hydroxylating systems by methylenedioxyphenyl insecticide synergists and related compounds. Life Sciences, 7. pp. 1051-1052.
Kastrup, E.K., ed. 1981. Drug Facts and Comparisons, 1982 edition. Facts and Comparisions Division, J.P. Lippincott Co, Phila(St. Louis).
Kiangsu Institute of Medicine. Encyclopedia of Chinese Drugs (2 volumes). Shanghai, PRC.
List, P. & L. Hoerhammer. 1969-1976. Hagers Hanbuch der Pharmazeutischen Praxis, vols. 2-5. Springer-Verlag, Berlin.
Martin, E. Drug Interactions Index, 1978/79. J.B. Lippincott Co., Phila.
Maruzzela, J.C. & M.B. Lichtenstein. The in vitro antibacterial activity of oils. J of Am Pharmaceutical Assoc, 45(6), 378-381, 1956.
Mihail, RC: Oral leukoplakia caused by cinnamon food allergy. J. Otolaryngol. 1992, 21(5):366.
Mowrey, Daniel B., Ph.D. Exper. Psych., Brigham Young University. Director of Nebo Institute of Herbal Sciences. Director of Behavior Change Agent Training Institute. Director of Research, Nova Corp.
Shibata, S., M. Harada & W. Budidarmo. Studies on the constituents of Japanese and Chinese crude drugs. III. Antispasmodic action of flavonoids and anthraquinones. 80(5), 620-623, 1960.
Stuart, D.M. 1968. Drug metabolism Part 2. Drug interactions. PharmIndex, 10(10). pp. 4-16.
Vincent, D. & G. Segonzac. 1953. Comptes Rendus des Seances de la Societe de Biologie et de ses Filiales, 147. pp. 1776-1779.
Essential Oil
See Cinnamon Essence under Aromatherapy
Multimedia
Cinnamomum zeylanicum
© Southwest School of Botanical Medicine
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