CINNAMON ZEYLANICUM: A REVERED SPICE WITH PROFOUND HEALING PROWESS

Cinnamon zeylanicum, one of our favorite culinary spices, has gained immense popularity in recent years due to its versatile uses in both cuisine and wellness. Known for its warming and invigorating nature, Cinnamon zeylanicum stimulates circulation, warmth, and vitality. As a powerful stimulant and mood enhancer, cinnamon is often regarded as an essential ally in invigorating the mind and body. Its healing properties are well-documented, frequently used to restore balance, energy, and resilience. The scent of cinnamon promotes a sense of inner warmth, emotional security, and grounding.

Here, we reveal Cinnamon zeylanicum's constituents and attributes that contribute to its powerful effects.

Botanical Source: Cinnamomum zeylanicum Nees, a member of the Lauraceae family, is an evergreen tree native to Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon). The bark and leaves are highly aromatic and have been used for thousands of years in traditional medicine and culinary practices.

Pharmaceutical Name: Cortex Cinnamomi

Alternate Names: True Cinnamon, Ceylon Cinnamon, Mexican Cinnamon (Canela), Dalchini (Hindi), Dar sini (Arabic).

Constituents: High in cinnamaldehyde (60-75%), along with eugenol, linalool, and coumarin. The volatile oil derived from the bark is primarily responsible for its distinctive aroma and warming properties.

Tropism: Cinnamon zeylanicum has an affinity for the digestive and circulatory systems. It also resonates with the Spleen and Stomach meridians in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), as well as the Fire element in Ayurveda, supporting metabolic fire (Agni) and digestion.

Preparation: The essential oil is obtained through steam distillation of the inner bark. Cinnamon bark oil, more potent than leaf oil, is primarily used for its warming, stimulating, and antimicrobial properties. When consumed hot in decoctions, tinctures, or teas, cinnamon bark strongly stimulates circulation and induces sweating, which can help prevent or alleviate cold and flu symptoms associated with wind-cold.

Essential Function: Warms the body, stimulates digestion, and improves circulation. Cinnamon is highly effective in dispelling cold, promoting blood flow, and enhancing the function of the digestive organs. Its warming properties make it ideal for addressing cold terrain conditions, including poor circulation, cold extremities, sluggish digestion, and fatigue.

Traditional Use: Cinnamon has been revered as a stimulant and carminative in various ancient healing systems. It is widely used in Ayurvedic, TCM, and Western herbal traditions to treat coldness, indigestion, and low energy. It is also applied in liniments for warming cold joints, easing muscle tension, and alleviating pain.

Physiological: As a potent circulatory stimulant, cinnamon can warm cold hands and feet. The herb also soothes digestive issues and strengthens metabolic function. Its antibacterial and antifungal properties make it an excellent natural remedy for infections, respiratory ailments, and digestive disturbances. The essential oil is effective for alleviating symptoms of colds and flu when used sparingly as part of a blend in liniments.

Psychological: Cinnamon's warming essence offers comfort and emotional grounding, especially during times of stress and emotional coldness. It stimulates the nervous system, promoting clarity of thought, focus, and memory. Its ability to invigorate the mind and body also makes it a powerful remedy for overcoming mental and emotional stagnation.

Topical: Cinnamon's warming and antimicrobial properties make it ideal when used sparingly as part of a blend in balms, liniments, and tonics for cold and sluggish conditions. It is particularly effective in localized body treatments aimed at boosting circulation, relieving muscle tension, and promoting skin detoxification. Care should be taken with topical use, as cinnamon bark oil can be irritating to sensitive skin and should be properly diluted.

TCM: In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Cinnamon zeylanicum is known as "Rou Gui" and is used to warm the Kidneys, tonify the Yang, dispel cold, and unblock channels. It is a key herb for treating coldness in the body, especially in the lower abdomen, where it can help alleviate menstrual cramps, joint pain, and cold extremities. It also harmonizes the Stomach and supports digestion, making it effective for digestive complaints.

Ayurveda: In Ayurveda, cinnamon is considered a warming spice that can strongly kindle Agni (digestive fire). It is often used to balance Kapha and Vata doshas, especially when there is coldness, sluggish digestion, or congestion. Cinnamon is also believed to strengthen circulation and support the heart, making it an excellent remedy for cold-related conditions and low energy.

Chakra Affinity: Cinnamon resonates with the Root, Sacral, Solar Plexus, and Throat Chakras. Its grounding, warming energy connects with the Root Chakra, providing stability and strength. The stimulating effects of cinnamon empower the Solar Plexus Chakra, igniting personal power, confidence, and willpower. The Throat and Sacral Chakras are highly interconnected, with cinnamon supporting creativity, communication, and expression while also enhancing emotional and physical vitality.

Psychospiritual: The essence of cinnamon is believed to provide strength of purpose, enhance creativity, and promote higher ideals. Cinnamon is connected to our Foundation, supporting the structure of Creation. This Foundation is more accurately envisioned as a powerful magnet, an attractor field that draws the material world into alignment, building from the top down rather than from the ground up. Cinnamon acts as a vital link between heaven and earth, serving as a repository of Divine energies that flow through the higher channel into the earthly plane, guiding the process of material Creation.

Anthroposophical: In anthroposophical medicine, cinnamon is associated with the two primary constitutional types: neurasthenia and hysteria. Neurasthenia represents an imbalance where the nerve-sense system predominates, leading to mental exhaustion, nervousness, and diminished physical vitality. This state is characterized by overactivity in the upper pole (brain and nerves), resulting in poor circulation, tissue laxity, and a lack of regenerative processes in the lower body. Symptoms include insomnia, nervous depression, cold extremities, and gastrointestinal disturbances.

On the other hand, hysteria reflects an imbalance in the metabolic-limb system, where there is insufficient governance by the upper pole (spirit body). This results in poorly controlled emotions, impulsivity, and an overactive metabolic process, manifesting as inflammation, digestive issues, and vulnerability to external influences. Inflammatory conditions, including gastrointestinal disturbances and infections, are linked to this state.

Cinnamon helps to balance these two systems by supporting circulation, warming the body, and soothing both nervous and digestive symptoms. Its warming, grounding nature aids in harmonizing the rhythmic system, promoting equilibrium between thought, will, and physical vitality.