Life is stressful! And I am a ruminator. Rumination is a process that involves deeply reflecting
on a situation. I am one of those deep thinkers who becomes lost in my thoughts
and the everyday world can disappear. This is a characteristic of highly
creative people. It is this characteristic that allowed Beethoven to write
great symphonies even after he was deaf.
When rumination becomes
difficult to control, it can lead to negative thought patterns and negative
physical effects. I over think my worries and think myself into an anxiety, or
panic attack. This habit pattern has created borderline high blood
pressure.
The trouble with rumination is at least twofold.
As you ruminate, you deepen the grooves in the brain, intensifying levels of
anxiety and depression. And your problems
remain unsolved, and are perhaps even exacerbated by the failure to move on
them. As Dr. Susan Nolen-Hoeksema has shown, the tendency to engage in
rumination exposes a huge gender
difference in the handling of emotional experience. Simply put, women are
predisposed to rumination, largely because they value relationships and thus
devote a great deal of time and mental energy to processing the often-ambiguous
content of them. And there they get lost, obsessing about issues without taking
action. Men, in general, take the opposite tack. They are given to launching
themselves into action without thinking their problems through well enough. As
a result, the solutions they attempt are not always directly or efficiently
focused on their problems. http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200304/the-rumination-rut
I am fortunate in that my mind seems to have a
self-preservation shut off valve. I will ruminate and worry—ruminate and worry. (Rumination is an interesting topic for another day.) Then suddenly my mind just shift gears—and I will go in search of an answer
right now. My thinking is still obsessed but in a positive way.
My efforts to
find a natural way to moderate high blood pressure led me to cinnamon. I now put a cinnamon stick in every pot of tea I make and let it steep for 6 minutes before drinking it----this works for me.
Scientific studies have shown that just a small
amount (about ½ a tea spoon) of cinnamon taken daily can significantly reduce
blood pressure. Other studies have shown that by taking as little as ½ a
teaspoon of cinnamon powder each day can significantly lower cholesterol.
Cinnamon has many healthy benefits. It is an
antifungal agent and an antibacterial agent. When mixed with honey a ½ teaspoon of cinnamon greatly reduces
the symptoms of Osteoarthritis. It is used to alleviate all sorts of joint
pains including Gout and arthritis.
Cinnamon has a long history of medicinal use in
Eastern and Western cultures, and modern science has begun to investigate the
herb’s healing benefits. Its medicinal effects are believed to derive from
terpenoids found in the bark’s volatile oil. Cinnamon is a natural
preservative. Because it delays the breakdown of the food in the digestive
process, it helps moderate blood glucose levels thereby benefiting those with
diabetes. A study released by Dr. P. Zoladz at the Assoc of Chemoreception
Sciences (Apr 2004) demonstrated that subjects given cinnamon chewing gum, or
who inhaled cinnamon, showed improved scores on tests involving recognition
memory. Students can simmer a few cinnamon sticks in water to release the
cinnamon aroma for improved retention and recall of information.
Kansas State University researchers added to apple
juice that contained high levels of E-Coli bacteria. The E-coli was almost
completely eradicated after three days. Cinnamon is effective against Yeast
Infection and is used in the treatment of stomach ulcers.
Research studies have demonstrated cinnamon’s
benefits for inhibiting Alzheimer Disease; helps curb the urge for tobacco,
some pharmacological effects in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus and
insulin resistance. It demonstrates antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral and
antiseptic properties, and is effective on external as well as internal
infections. Researchers at the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Maryland found
cinnamon reduced the growth of leukemia and lymphoma cancer cells.
Pharmacological experiments suggest that a cinnamon derived dietary factor is a
potent antioxidant and an experimental chemo preventive dietary factor that
targets colon cancer.
Benefits of
Cinnamon
•
Reducing Inflammation –
Cinnamon contains a compound known as cinnamaldehyde that helps prevent blood
clotting and helps reduce inflammation
•
Treating Indigestion –cinnamon
teas and tinctures are equally effective have the ability to
relieve indigestion. Intestinal gas and reduce flatulence.
•
Healing Peptic Ulcers –
the propanoic acid stops the formation of stomach ulcers without reducing the
production of gastric acid and peptic ulcers
•
Reducing Menstrual Bleeding – Cinnamon tincture has been used for centuries as a standard
treatment for heavy menstrual bleeding
•
Treating Yeast Infections – Cinnamon teas and tinctures are both used to successfully treat yeast
infections and are useful for treating thrush, an oral yeast infection.
Cinnamon bark oil is often used to treat fungal infections of the respiratory
tract, including Candida albicans.
•
Treating Diabetes – A
study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2007 found that patients taking 6 grams of
cinnamon daily experienced reduced blood glucose levels, which may be the
result of delayed gastric emptying. (Source: Am J Clin
Nutr. 2007 Jun; 85(6):1552-6)
•
Memory Booster--Cinnamon
can improve cognitive function as well as memory.
•
Blood Purification--Cinnamon
helps in removing impurities from the blood, and is often recommended for
pimples.
•
Promotes Healing--Cinnamon
helps to stop bleeding, and facilitates the healing process.
•
Relieves acidity and morning sickness--and aids in the secretion of breast milk.
•
Respiratory problems--
helps in cold, flu, influenza, sore throat.
•
Menstruation--is
effective in providing relief from menstrual cramp and discomfort.
•
Anti-Oxidant--believed
to be high in anti-oxidants. Regular drinking of Cinnamon tea could be
beneficial to oxidative stress related illness
•
Diuretic Effects--helps
in secretion and discharge of urine.
•
Aphrodisiac--believed
to arouse sexual desire.
Typically, we grate cinnamon directly onto food,
or the ground spice is used in cooking, and it can be used as a food preservative.
The herb can also be made into a tea, or its oil added to hot water. Cinnamon
supplements are also available. Cinnamon benefits your health the most when it
has a strong, potent aroma. If the scent is weak, the cinnamon is likely too
old to have much benefit. Store ground
cinnamon and cinnamon
sticks in tightly sealed glass containers in a cool, dry place out
of direct sunlight. Ground cinnamon typically lasts for about six months under
proper storage conditions, and cinnamon sticks will last about one year. Cinnamon
is considered safe for consumption as a spice.
A Simple Cinnamon Tea
Recipe
Use freshly ground ginger
and cinnamon if possible.
Ingredients:
•
1/4 tsp. ground ginger
•
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
•
1 tsp. lemon juice
•
1 cup hot water
CAUTIONS:
Cinnamon does contain moderate
amounts of oxalate and should be used in moderation by individuals with a
history of kidney stones and those with prostate problems. Those allergic to balsam of Tolu should
avoid cinnamon oil. Cinnamon has an anti-clotting effect on the blood and
should be avoided in combination with blood-thinning medications such as
aspirin. Large quantities of cinnamon should also be avoided during pregnancy. Interactions.
Those taking medication for controlling blood sugar levels should consult their
physician before using cinnamon as a regular supplement.
