You likely have cinnamon sitting in a jar on your kitchen shelf. It is a warming, stimulating herb with a pleasant taste that has been used for centuries. We think of it primarily as a flavoring agent for candy, toothpaste, and mouthwashes. It also appears in bath and body products. In herbal teas, cinnamon improves the flavor of less palatable herbs. And, of course, it is a staple for baking and cooking.
But cinnamon has strong herbal remedy uses as well. In addition to having a germicidal effect, cinnamon helps improve circulation and relieve discomfort or issues in the abdomen. Cinnamon is more than just an everyday spice!
Why Cinnamon Works for Digestion and Circulation
Perhaps you use cinnamon more in the winter. Spiced cider, prepared by steeping cinnamon sticks and other herbs in apple cider, is a traditional winter beverage. Cinnamon has an affinity for the uterus and digestive organs because it improves circulation and energy flow in the abdomen. In Chinese medical philosophy, pain, cramps, and congestion are considered blocked energy. Cinnamon is thought to move qi, or vital energy, when qi is “stuck” in the abdomen. Cinnamon circulates the energy to the rest of the body and is thought to have a warming effect.
Cinnamon has a germicidal effect. Almost all highly aromatic herbs display some ability to reduce fungal infections and bacteria levels, and cinnamon in mouthwashes and gargles can help treat just these types of infections in the mouth.
You may use small amounts of cinnamon tea to relieve gas in the stomach. Larger amounts of cinnamon will stimulate and warm the stomach, promoting acidity and a laxative effect. Use of cinnamon as a laxative may prevent flatulence and intestinal cramping that can accompany the use of some other laxatives.
“Cinnamon is thought to move qi, or vital energy, when qi is ‘stuck’ in the abdomen.”
How to Prepare Cinnamon for Herbal Remedies
In the next section, you will learn how to prepare cinnamon for herbal remedies and some of the potentially dangerous side effects.
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This information is solely for informational purposes. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. Neither the Editors of Consumer Guide (R), Publications International, Ltd., the author nor publisher take responsibility for any possible consequences from any treatment, procedure, exercise, dietary modification, action or application of medication which results from reading or following the information contained in this information. The publication of this information does not constitute the practice of medicine, and this information does not replace the advice of your physician or other health care provider. Before undertaking any course of treatment, the reader must seek the advice of their physician or other health care provider.Before engaging in any complementary medical technique, including the use of natural or herbal remedies, you should be aware that many of these techniques have not been evaluated in scientific studies. Use of these remedies in connection with over the counter or prescription medications can cause severe adverse reactions. Often, only limited information is available about their safety and effectiveness. Each state and each discipline has its own rules about whether practitioners are required to be professionally licensed. If you plan to visit a practitioner, it is recommended that you choose one who is licensed by a recognized national organization and who abides by the organization’s standards. It is always best to speak with your primary health care provider before starting any new therapeutic technique.
Cinnamon isn’t just for your morning oatmeal. When used medicinally, it requires a bit more care than sprinkling powder on toast. Like many herbal remedies, preparation matters. So do the warnings.
The most common form is the dried bark. It gets ground into a fine powder or cut into small chunks. You can use it to make a decoction. Basically, you boil it to make a tea.
If you want a stronger concentrate, look into tinctures.
Tincture and Essential Oil Dosage
For a cinnamon tincture, the standard dose is between one-quarter and one teaspoon at a time. It is often combined with other herbs. You might use a higher dose specifically if you are dealing with a menstrual period that is much heavier than usual.
Essential oil is different. It is distilled from the volatile oils in the bark. People use it as a flavoring or an aromatic agent. But it is potent.
To use it as a mouth rinse, take a single drop. Dilute it in a sip of water. Swish it around. It can help freshen breath and treat mouth or gum infections.
If you are making a homemade tincture for flavor or medicinal effects, use eight to ten drops in a two-ounce bottle. Be careful. Keep essential oils out of your eyes. They burn.
Making Spiced Cider
Sometimes the best preparation is simply something you can drink slowly while it warms you up. Spiced cider is a classic remedy. You need the right ingredients to make it effective.
- 5 cinnamon sticks
- 3 star anise pods
- 5 whole allspice kernels
- 5 whole cloves
- 1 teaspoon of nutmeg
- 1 gallon of apple cider
- 1 or 2 oranges
Start by blending the cinnamon, star anise, allspice, cloves, nutmeg, and apple cider in a large pot. Take a zester or grater. Remove the rind from the oranges. Add it to the mix.
You can also cut the rind. Be careful to remove any white pith. It can be bitter. Then grind the rind in a blender with a bit of the cider. Add that slurry to the pot. Squeeze the juice from the oranges into the mix too.
Heat the whole thing. Keep it just below a simmer. Let it sit for several hours. This extracts the flavors and compounds. Ladle it into mugs. Serve it with a cinnamon stick for garnish.
Cinnamon Herbal Tea for Menstrual Health
You don’t need a gallon pot to get benefits. Cinnamon herbal tea is simpler.
Boil one teaspoon of dried bark in a cup of hot water. Strain it. Drink a cup or two when you need it.
This is particularly noted for women who tend to have heavy periods. Drinking several cups of this tea a day before or during your period may be helpful. It can help regulate flow or reduce discomfort.
Why Context Matters
We talk about remedies. But we don’t talk enough about risks.
Before you start using cinnamon medicinally, understand the landscape. Many of these techniques have not been evaluated in rigorous scientific studies. That doesn’t mean they don’t work. It means we don’t have the full data on safety and effectiveness for every specific condition.
There is also the issue of interaction. Using these remedies in connection with over-the-counter or prescription medications can cause severe adverse reactions. You might not know how they interact until it is too late.
Each state and each discipline has its own rules about whether practitioners are required to be professionally licensed.
This applies to naturopaths, acupuncturists, and herbalists. If you plan to visit a practitioner, choose one who is licensed by a recognized national organization. Check their standards.
The Bottom Line
This information is for understanding, not diagnosis. It is not intended to provide medical advice. Neither the editors, the publishers, nor the author take responsibility for any possible consequences from any treatment, procedure, or dietary modification.
The publication of this information does not constitute the practice of medicine. It does not replace the advice of your physician or other health care provider.
Before undertaking any course of treatment, you must seek the advice of your physician. This is especially true before starting any new therapeutic technique. Often, only limited information is available. You need to weigh the benefits against the unknowns.
Make sure you are getting enough of the vital nutrients your body needs. Visit resources on vitamins and herbal remedies to get a broader overview. But always start with your doctor.
Jennifer Brett, N.D., is a director of the Acupuncture Institute for the University of Bridgeport. She serves on the faculty for the College of Naturopathic Medicine. She has a background in treating disorders using nutritional and botanical remedies. She has appeared on WABC TV and Good Morning America. Her expertise is real. But even experts know the limits of what we can prescribe remotely.
Be smart. Be cautious. Your body is complex. Treat it with that complexity in mind.
