Cinnamon
Cinnamon bark is widely used as a spice. It is principally employed in
cookery as a condiment and flavoring material. In medicine it acts like
other volatile oils and once had a reputation as a cure for colds. It has
also been used to treat diarrhea and other problems of the digestive system.
Cinnamon is high in antioxidant activity. The essential oil of cinnamon can
also aid in the preservation of certain foods.
Cinnamon has traditionally been used to treat toothache and fight bad breath
and its regular use is believed to stave off common cold and aid digestion.
Cinnamon is also used as an insect repellent. Cinnamon leaf oil has been
found to be very effective in killing mosquito larvae.
It is reported that regularly drinking of Cinnamomum zeylanicum tea made
from the bark could be beneficial to oxidative stress related illness in
humans, as the plant part contains significant antioxidant potential.
Excessive use of cinnamon bark may cause inflamed taste buds, tender gums,
and mouth ulcers. Large quantities can change breathing, dilate blood
vessels, and cause sleepiness, depression, or even convulsions.
On 2008, a study reported no statistically significant difference on type 2
diabetes patients treated with cinnamon cassia powder when studying the
anti-diabetic effects of cinnamon. A systematic review of research
indicates that cinnamon may reduce fasting blood sugar, but does not have
an effect on hemoglobin A1C, a biological marker of long-term diabetes.
Chemist Richard Anderson says that his research has shown that most, if not
all, of cinnamon's antidiabetic effect is in its water-soluble fraction,
not the oil (the ground cinnamon spice itself should be ingested for
benefit, not the oil or a water extraction). In fact, some cinnamon oil-
entrained compounds could prove toxic in high concentrations. Cassia's
effects on enhancing insulin sensitivity appear to be mediated by
polyphenols. Despite these findings, cassia should not be used in place of
anti-diabetic drugs, unless blood glucose levels are closely monitored,
and its use is combined with a strictly controlled diet and exercise
program.
Due to a toxic component called coumarin, European health agencies have
warned against consuming high amounts of cassia.
Cinnamon Bar Soap
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