Health Benefits of Cinnamon

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.

http://themodernherbal.com/2010/09/cinnamon-health-benefits/

http://www.medicalhealthguide.com/herb/cinnamon.htm#e

http://www.symptomfind.com/nutrition-supplements/health-benefits-of-cinnamon/

http://www.online-herbal-remedies.com/benefits-of-cinnamon.html