CINNAMON
| संस्कृत: | त्वाक, वरांग, दारुसीता | ગુજરાતી: | તજ | |
| हिन्दी: | दालचीनी | Binomial: | Cinnamomum Zeylanicum |
Introduction:
Cinnamon is small evergreen plant with aromatic bark of about 6-8 meter in height found growing wild in southern coastal regions of India. Cinnamon has oval-shaped leaves, thick bark, and berry fruits. The bark is used as spice and also in Ayurvedic medicines.
There are two kinds of cinnamon: Cinnamomum zeylanicum or “true cinnamon” and Cinnamomum cassia, called just “cassia”. True cinnamon is native to Ceylon and Southern India, and cassia is native to the Eastern Himalayan Mountains and Southeast Asia. Cassia cinnamon is much more common in the United States, it is inferior to “true cinnamon” and is less expensive. Cassia has stronger flavor than the more subtle true cinnamon. Once upon a time, cinnamon was more valuable than gold and was traded as currency. In Egypt it was used to embalm mummies.
Uses:
1) It helps in relieving nausea and vomiting and useful in fever due to intestinal problems.
2) Useful in headache, cough and cold. Apply warm paste of fine powder on forehead. It is also useful in asthma and chronic respiratory problems.
3) It is useful in digestion of food, in relieving flatulence, abdominal pain and improving liver function. It increases the metabolic fire and improves appetite.
4) It is useful in diarrhea, hemorrhoids and irritable bowel syndrome.
5) It helps in maintaining oral health and relieves bad breath. For toothache and cavities, place one to two drops of the oil on a piece of cotton and keep on the affected area.
6) It improves immunity, strength and vitality. Good Antioxidant.
7) Cinnamon oil is useful as pain killer and for inflammation. Apply thin paste in water on affected part.
8) It is helpful in painful micturition and cleanses the urinary bladder.
9) Cinnamon oil is applied over an insect bite and scorpion sting. Also is natural insect repellent.
10) Cinnamon is used in weakness of the nervous system and in paralysis.
11) Useful in infections and wounds.
12) Recent studies shows its effectiveness in diabetes, lowering cholesterol level and cardiac diseases.