Cinnamon

Cinnamon is an incredible ingredient that we have in our kitchen and use regularly, often with no knowledge (or intention) that our use is medicinal - but the beautiful surprise is that it is. A warming spice with a sweet aroma, Cinnamon is one of the oldest spices in the world, with a long history of use for its healing properties in many forms of herbal and traditional medicine.

Cinnamon sticks are rolled layers of the dried bark of the tree they come from. This super-spice grows in a number of tropical regions around the world, and over 200 species have been identified, but only two main types are sold commercially: (1) Ceylon Cinnamon, also called ‘True Cinnamon’ (Cinnamon Verum or Cinnamon Zeylanicum) (although this doesn’t mean that other types of Cinnamon are any less real!), which is soft and brittle, more expensive and less commonly available in North America, and (2) Cassia Cinnamon (Cinnamomum aromaticum), the darker, harder variety which is what is available at your local grocery store.

Researchers have determined that health benefits can be obtained from this spice in a variety of forms: directly from its bark (for example, through an infusion), from the ground spice (which is the bark ground to a powder), as an essential oil or in extract form. In all cases, most of Cinnamon’s health benefits are derived from its phenolic compounds, including flavonoids, which are highly researched due to their antioxidant properties. In addition to its medicinal properties described below, Cinnamon is also nutrient-rich, high in dietary fibre and manganese, also provides smaller amounts of calcium and iron, and its essential oil offers antimicrobial and antifungal properties.