A spice that’s not just for sticky buns
Cinnamon, one of the oldest known spices, was used as an embalming agent in ancient Egypt and Rome and as an ingredient in medicinal tonics in ancient China. The spice that we now often add to baked goods and mulled wine is taken from the inner bark of a genus of tree (Cinnamomum) native to Southeast Asia. Medicinally speaking, many of the same purported powers are shared by several cinnamon varieties.
Elena Conis
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Uses: In traditional Chinese and homeopathic medicine, cinnamon is used to treat diarrhea, urinary tract infections, heart problems, colds, coughs, sore throats, premenstrual syndrome and cancer. Commercial supplements are often touted as a nonprescription alternative for managing diabetes, high cholesterol and ulcers.
Dose: Half a teaspoon of crushed cinnamon or up to three milliliters of liquid extract daily. You can make a cinnamon tea by using up to a gram of bark per cup of hot water. Cinnamon comes in stick, pill and powder form -- though the powdered cinnamon sold in supermarket spice aisles is often “false” cinnamon, taken from the cassia tree, a close botanical relative. For “true” cinnamon, look for labels that say Ceylon cinnamon (or C. zeylanicum).
Precautions: Large doses can inflame mucous membranes and cause gas, bloating, nausea, vomiting, concentration problems and depression. Prolonged skin contact can lead to irritation. People allergic to the spice should avoid cinnamon supplements.
Research: Some animal studies have shown that cinnamon enhances insulin activity, suggesting that it may be useful in controlling blood sugar. In other animal experiments, healthy lab rats fed daily doses of cinnamon were less likely to develop diabetes-like symptoms than animals lacking the spice in their diets. So far, there’s limited evidence to show cinnamon can do the same for humans. Studies investigating cinnamon’s effect on Helicobacter pylori -- the bacterium that causes ulcers -- have yet to produce consistent results.
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Dietary supplement makers are not required by the U.S. government to demonstrate that their products are safe or effective. Ask your healthcare provider for advice on selecting a brand.