Cinnamon is a very familiar spice/herb to most people. Often, I find that people are surprised to see it in cut bark form for use in a tea, however, as it is most familiar in powder form. It has a long history of medicinal use and was shipped from the Spice Islands to Europe, the Middle East, Africa, India, and China in earlier times as part of the spice trade. The inner bark of the Cinnamomum spp. is used and is transported in rolls.
A sweet, spicy, warming herb, I often use the bark in tea blends for its flavor and also because of its beneficial effect on inflammation and blood sugar. It increases insulin sensitivity of cells and can help decrease blood sugar spikes after a meal.
It is also a drying herb, so it can help decrease diarrhea and the associated fluid loss, as well as helping to slow or stop bleeding, and to help lessen mucus congestion of the lungs and sinuses. A tincture (liquid extract) can be used to slow or stop postpartum hemorrhage, dosed frequently. It can also help with sluggish or weak digestion, especially when the gastrointestinal tract tends to be more “cold and damp”. One way to tell if someone has more of a “cold” digestive system is if they have a harder time digesting cold foods, such as raw vegetables versus cooked and warmed vegetables.
For these effects, Cinnamon can be taken in tea, tincture, capsule, or powder form, with dosing information ranging from 1 tsp in tea, to a 1/2-1 tsp powder, and 15-30 drops tincture.
The tincture and essential oil of Cinnamon are both very antimicrobial and antiparasitic. Cinnamon essential oil is only for external use in an essential oil diffuser or diluted a lot in an oil carrier for topical use, as it can cause damage to the skin and mucus membranes when used straight (neet), in a bath, or ingested. The tincture is safer for internal use, and is often best as a small part of a blend.
Cinnamon bark is in quite a few of our herbal preparations, including our Blood Sugar Balance Tea, Herbal Chai Immuni-Tea, Holiday Joy Tea, Tummy Tea, Sinus Support Drops, Blood Sugar Balance Drops, and our Stress Drops.
