Cinnamomum (verum) zeylanicum
Part Used: Aromatic Bark
Cinnamon (Cinnamomum (verum) zeylanicum) is a bushy tropical evergreen tree native to Sri Lanka but also cultivated in South-East Asia, South America and the West Indies. It can reach a height of 10 metres, and has thick scabrous bark. The young shoots are speckled greenish-orange. The leaves are petiolate, entire, leathery when mature, upper side shiny green, underside lighter. The flowers occur in small white in panicles; the fruit is an oval berry rather like an acorn in its receptacle, and is bluish with white spots when ripe. It contains volatile oils (including cinnamaldehyde, eugenol and phellandrene); condensed tannins, mucilage, gum, sugars, and coumarins. It has carminative, astringent, aromatic, local stimulant, antiseptic, spasmolytic, orexigenic, antidiarrhoeal, antimicrobial, refrigerant, anthelmintic, and gentle warming digestive tonic properties. It has been used in dyspepsia, flatulence, nausea, diarrhea and many other conditions.
Cinnamon has anti-inflammatory qualities that can lessen joint and muscle pain, especially the joint pain associated with arthritis. It can also benefit the health of the heart by improving your circulation. It can also improve digestive health and relieve common stomach discomforts. Many women use a daily dose of Cinnamon to relieve discomforts associated with their menstrual cycle. If you have nasal or sinus congestion, Cinnamon may help relieve these conditions. It may also help kill and prevent the growth of harmful bacteria, which makes this spice useful for preventing urinary tract infections, tooth decay, gum disease, and other bacterial problems. A new study suggests that adding some Cinnamon to your dessert may temper the blood sugar surge that follows a sweet treat. Researchers at Malmo University Hospital in Sweden found that adding a little more than a teaspoon of Cinnamon to a bowl of rice pudding lowered the post-meal blood sugar rise in a group of healthy volunteers. Cinnamon is high in antioxidant activity. The essential oil of Cinnamon also has antimicrobial properties, which aid in the preservation of certain foods.
References:
MSNBC News. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19336638/
Purple Sage Botanicals. http://www.purplesage.org.uk/profiles/cinnamon.htm
Health Benefit of Cinnamon (E. Walling). http://health.learninginfo.org/benefits-cinnamon.htm
