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| Cinnamon (Cinnamonum zeylanicum) |
Last updated: Jul 22, 2008 |
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Cinnamon (Cinnamonum zeylanicum) |
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Research shows that cinnamon does more than just ward off diabetes and heart disease, it also makes you smarter. That's what a recent study determined after administering cinnamon, both orally and nasally, to adults. Both "real" cinnamon and cinnamon flavored items, such as gum, were effective in enhancing the participants' cognitive function.
Cinnamon also reportedly:
- Supports digestive function
- Constricts and tones tissues
- Relieves congestion
- Alleviates pain, inflammation, and stiffness of muscles and joints
- Eases menstrual discomfort
- Stimulates circulation
- Kills bacteria, including E.coli. In fact, it was used as a preservative of meats and other foods before refrigeration.
Alan Hirsch, M.D., at the Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation in Chicago reports that cinnamon has scored high as an aphrodisiac for males.
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 Cinnamon (Cinnamonum zeylanicum) can help with the following: | | | | | | Circulation |  Hypercoagulation (Thickened Blood) |
Digestion |
Dyspepsia / Poor Digestion |
Hormones |
Elevated Insulin Levels | Cinnamon with each meal helps keep insulin and blood sugar levels under control. The typical 1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon dose contains a phytochemical called methyl hydroxy chalcone polymer (MHCP) which improves cellular glucose utilization and increases the sensitivity of insulin receptors in laboratory studies. Personal testimonies indicate that this effect is seen in humans, but further study is required to confirm this. |
Low Sex Drive |
Mental |
Poor Memory |
Musculo-Skeletal |
Muscle Pains (Myalgia)
Joint Pain, General |
Organ Health |
Diabetes Type II / Risk| | Dr. Richard A. Anderson, lead scientist at the Beltsville, Maryland-based Human Nutrition Research Center, explained that his mostly unpublished research shows that a compound in cinnamon called methylhydroxy chalcone polymer (MHCP) makes fat cells more responsive to insulin by activating an enzyme that causes insulin to bind to cells and inhibiting the enzyme that blocks this process.
While it is too soon to recommend the spice as a regular treatment for type 2 diabetes, Dr. Anderson said patients could try adding 1/4 - 1 teaspoon of cinnamon to their food. "The worst that will happen is it won't do any good and the best is that it will help dramatically" he stated. [Preliminary findings announced by the USDA August, 2000]
A US Department of Agriculture study of 60 type 2 diabetics revealed that one gram of cinnamon taken daily, over a
course of 40 days, improved management of blood sugar levels, as well as triglyceride and cholesterol levels. Some
of the subjects took three grams of cinnamon per day, and others took six grams per day, but none of the subjects in
these two groups showed an increased benefit over the group that took one gram per day. One gram of cinnamon is less than half a teaspoon.
Researchers continued to monitor the study participants after the 40-day trial, and found that the subjects' overall
blood sugar levels began rising when the cinnamon intake was discontinued. |
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Skin-Hair-Nails |
Cold Hands and Feet| | Cinnamon is warming and improves circulation, so is good to take if you suffer cold hands and feet. |
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Uro-Genital |
Dysmenorrhea, Painful Menstruation |
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KEY | | May do some good |
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