Botanical name: Cinnamomum zeylanicum
© Steven Foster
Parts used and where grown
Most people are familiar with the sweet but pungent taste of the oil, powder, or sticks of
bark from the cinnamon tree. Cinnamon trees grow in a number of tropical areas, including
parts of India, China, Madagascar, Brazil, and the Caribbean.
Cinnamon has been used in
connection with the following conditions (refer to the individual
health concern for complete information):
Historical or traditional use (may
or may not be supported by scientific studies)
Cinnamon is an ancient herbal medicine mentioned in Chinese texts as long ago as 4,000
years. It has a broad range of historical uses in different cultures, including the treatment
of diarrhea, rheumatism, and certain menstrual
disorders.1
Active constituents
Various terpenoids found in the volatile oil are believed to account for cinnamon’s
medicinal effects. Important among these compounds are eugenol and cinnamaldehyde. Both
cinnamaldehyde and cinnamon oil vapors are potent anti-fungal compounds.2
Preliminary human evidence confirms this effect in a clinical trial with AIDS patients suffering from oral candida (thrush)
infections that improved with topical application of cinnamon oil.3 Antibacterial
actions have also been demonstrated for cinnamon.4 The diterpenes in the volatile
oil have shown anti-allergic activity5 as well. In addition, water extracts may
help reduce ulcers.6 Test tube studies also show that cinnamon can augment the
action of insulin.7 However, use of
cinnamon to improve the action of insulin in people with diabetes has yet to be proven in clinical trials.
How much is usually taken?
The German Commission E monograph suggests 1/2–3/4 teaspoon (2–4 grams) of the
powder per day.8 A tea can be prepared from the powdered herb by boiling 1/2
teaspoon (2–3 grams) of the powder for ten to fifteen minutes, cooling, and then
drinking. No more than a few drops of volatile oil should be used and only for a few days at a
time. A tincture (1/2 teaspoon or 2–3 ml) may also be taken three times per day.
Are there any side effects or interactions?
Some people develop bronchial constriction or skin rash after exposure to
cinnamon.9 Therefore, only small amounts should be used initially in people who
have not previously had contact with cinnamon, and anyone with a known allergy should avoid
it. Chronic use of the concentrated oil may cause inflammation in the mouth. According to the
German Commission E monograph, cinnamon is not recommended for use by pregnant women.10
At the time of writing, there were no well-known drug interactions
with cinnamon.
References:1. Leung AY, Foster S. Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients
Used in Foods, Drugs, and Cosmetics, 2d ed. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1996,
168–70.
2. Singh HB, Srivastava M, Singh AB, Srivastava AK. Cinnamon bark oil, a
potent fungitoxicant against fungi causing respiratory tract mycoses. Allergy
1995;50:995–9.
3. Quale JM, Landman D, Zaman MM, et al. In vitro activity of
Cinnamomum zeylanicum against azole resistant and sensitive Candida species and
a pilot study of cinnamon for oral candidiasis. Am J Chin Med
1996;24:103–9.
4. Azumi S, Tanimura A, Tanamoto K. A novel inhibitor of bacterial
endotoxin derived from cinnamon bark. Biochem Biophys Res Commun
1997;234:506–10.
5. Nagai H, Shimazawa T, Matsuura N, Koda A. Immunopharmacological
studies of the aqueous extract of Cinnamomum cassia (CCAq). I. Anti-allergic action.
Jpn J Pharmacol 1982;32:813–22.
6. Akira T, Tanaka S, Tabata M. Pharmacological studies on the
antiulcerogenic activity of Chinese cinnamon. Planta Med 1986;(6):440–3.
7. Berrio LF, Polansky MM, Anderson RA. Insulin activity: stimulatory
effects of cinnamon and brewer’s yeast as influenced by albumin. Horm Res
1992;37:225–9.
8. Blumenthal M, Busse WR, Goldberg A, et al. (eds). The Complete
Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. Boston, MA: Integrative
Medicine Communications, 1998, 110–1.
9. Blumenthal M, Busse WR, Goldberg A, et al. (eds). The Complete
Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. Boston, MA: Integrative
Medicine Communications, 1998, 110–1.
10. Blumenthal M, Busse WR, Goldberg A, et al. (eds). The Complete
Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. Boston, MA: Integrative
Medicine Communications, 1998, 110–1.