Embracing Cinnamon: Spice of Life and Every Season

Abstract

Cinnamon is an aromatic spice enriched with loads of benefits and medicinal properties. The cinnamon trees are small, aromatic and evergreen with smooth grey branches and oval or lanceolate leaves. It has small yellow white flowers and a berry fruit. Cinnamon’s bark is mainly used as a spice and is collected after 6-7 years of tree plantation. This bark is loaded with numerous health benefits and useful in various health conditions. So let’s have a detailed overview about cinnamon!

Cinnamon

Introduction

In ayurveda, It is known as Twak, Svadvi, Tanutvak, Darusita etc. Dalchini has a pungent, bitter and sweet taste and its physical properties are light, dry and piercing with hot potency. This herb mainly works in balancing vata and pitta dosha. Dalchini helps in improving thirst and Mouth dryness or strengthening in nature. It should always be taken in less quantity as its adequate dosage is 1⁄2 teaspoon a day.

Classical Synonyms

  1. Twak – Its bark is mainly used
  2. Utkata – Piercing in nature

Scientific Classification

  • Kingdom – Plantae
  • Phylum – Magnoliophyta
  • Class – Magnoliopsida
  • Order – Laurales
  • Family – Lauraceae
  • Genus – Cinnamomum
  • Species – Zeylanicum

Habitat Of Cinnamon

Dalchini is abundantly found in China and mainly in three countries i.e China, Shrilanka, India. In India, it is found in Assam, Sikkim. As per its availability it is named as:-

  • Chini Dalchini — Found in China
  • Simhai Dalchini–Found in Sri lanka
  • Indian Dalchini–Found in India

Chemical Composition

  • Cinnamaldehyde
  • Eugenol
  • Cinnamate
  • Cinnamic acid
  • Numerous essential oils

Pharmacological Properties

  • Taste (Ras) – Pungent, Bitter, Sweet
  • Physical property (Guna) – Light, Dry and Piercing
  • Potency (Veerya) – Hot
  • Post digestion effect (Vipaka) – Pungent
  • Dosha action – Kapha vata shamak

Action on different Systems

  • Effect on Digestive System – It has digestive, carminative and vatanulomaka (Clears the obstructed airway) and is Liver stimulant (Yakrituttejaka).
  • Effect on circulatory System – It has Blood purifying, immune boosting and Cardiac stimulant properties.
  • Effect on Respiratory System – It has amazing effect in pacifying Kapha dosha and is useful in patient’s suffering from Tuberculosis because of the presence of active alkaloid Cinnamic acid.
  • Effect on Urinary System – It has a diuretic effect and is useful in stimulating kidneys.
  • Effect on Reproductive System – It is a uterine stimulant and aphrodisiac.

Indications

Part Used

Bark, Oil and Leaves

Dosage

Powder – 1-3 gms

Oil – 2-4 drops

How To Use Cinnamon Effectively In Different Health Concerns?

1. In Gout/Joint Pain/Sciatica/Backpain

  • 1 tsp Honey
  • 2 tsp warm water
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon powder

Mix all of them and massage it over the painful area. The pain will go away within a few minutes.

2. In UTI/Abdominal Pain/Weight Gain/Influenza Infection

  • 1 teaspoon warm water
  • ½ teaspoon cinnamon powder
  • 1 tsp Honey

Mix all of them and drink empty stomach for 15 days .

3. In Swine Flu/Flu/Viral Fever

  • 1 gm Cinnamon powder
  • 6 Elaichi
  • 3 tsp Mulethi
  • 10 Black pepper
  • Small slice of Ginger
  • 10-15 Tulsi leaves

Mix all and make a powder and then boil in 500 ml of water until it remains 250 ml. Add 20 gm of Mishri or 1 tsp of honey and take it daily by making it lukewarm.

4. In High Cholesterol/ Cardiac Disorders/ Weak Cardiac Muscles

Remedy 1

  • 2 tablespoon Honey
  • 1 tsp Cinnamon powder
  • Mix in 16 ounce tea water and take it.

Remedy 2

  • 1 tsp honey + ½ teaspoon cinnamon powder

It should be mixed and taken once a day to strengthen the cardiac muscles.

5. In Diabetes

1 cup of warm water and ½ tsp of Dalchini powder should be taken early in the morning to keep diabetes away.

6. In Migraine

1 cup of warm water and ½ tsp of Dalchini powder should be taken early in the morning to keep diabetes away.

7. In Pimples/ spots on Face

Remedy 1

  • 1 tsp of Honey+1 teaspoon of Cinnamon powder Should be applied for removing acne from the face

Remedy 2

  • 1/4th tsp Cinnamon powder + Some drops of Lemon juice Should be applied locally over the affected area to vanish acne and pimples.

Remedy 3

  • 1 tsp Milk + 1/4th tsp cinnamon powder mixed and applied for scars on face twice daily.

Remedy 4

  • Cinnamon oil +3-4 drops + 3-4 drops of Olive oil should be applied on the face for a Cotton swab for 15 days to get rid of Acne, pimples and blemishes.

8. For Aphrodisiac Action

Remedy 1

  • Dalchini powder (Cinnamon)
  • Tejpatra (Bay leaves)
  • Jaiphal (Nutmeg)
  • Choti elaichi (Small cardamom)

Take all of them in equal amounts and make a powder of it and Take sufficient quantities daily by mixing with urad dal.

Remedy 2

  • Cinnamon powder
  • Almonds
  • Ashwagandha

All the three should be taken in equal quantity and should be taken with milk daily for improving sexual performance.

Conclusion

In a Nutshell, we can conclude that Dalchini can be used in different ways. In ayurveda, it is mentioned that dalchini is loaded with various benefits. So use these above remedies and keep yourself away from diseases.For any health queries you can mail us on herbalremedies123@yahoo.com.