Cinnamon Bark
Cinamonum zeylanicum/cassia-Cortex
AKA Twak, Rou Gui
Lauraceae
Sweet, Pungent, Astringent
Cinnamon has been used in Ayurvedic medicine as a major digestive herb for thousands of years.
Key Medicinal Benefits of Cinnamon
Lungs
Digestion
Circulation
Gynaecology
Urinary
Cinnamon Biomedical Actions
Carminatie, antispasmodic, aromatic, stimulant, astringent, expectorant, diaphoretic
Cinnamon Constituents
Tannins
Essential Oils: Cinnamic aldehyde, cinnamaldehyde, cinnamyl acetate, eugenol, phellandrene
Coumarins
Cassia vs Ceylon Cinnamon
Cinnamomum zeylanicum grows natively in Sri Lanka, and is more commonly known as ‘Sinhali twak’. Cinnamomum cassia mainly is grown in China and will come in smaller, more broken pieces of bark. Cassia cinnamon will have slightly more warming and astringent properties, however the two herbs may be used interchangeably. (Pole, S.)
Cinnamon Dose
A medicinal dose of cinnamon would be 1 to 9 grams per day of powdered herb. (Pole, S.)
Cinnamon Contraindications
Avoid with high pitta conditions (inflammations, infections) as it is a warming herb and may exacerbate those conditions. (Pole, S.)
Avoid with bleeding signs, especially in the gastrointestinal tract. (Pole, S.)
Caution during pregnancy, it can stimulate the uterus. (Pole, S.)
