As one of the world’s most important spices, the aromatic bark of the cinnamon tree also has a long history as a herbal remedy for colds, flu and digestive ailments.
Cinnamon is one of the oldest known spices, a familiar flavouring of biscuits, puddings and cakes. The essential oil is potent, with a peppery, dry, spicy aroma. It is an excellent warming restorative oil for anyone feeling tired, cold and weak. It stimulates the mind and body and is effective in treating stress-related complaints.
Therapeutically, cinnamon is an effective abdominal massage oil for relieving digestive spasms, constipation and diarrhoea. It also stimulates the circulation, especially to the extremities.
It makes a wonderful invigorating room fragrance as it promotes a general sense of vitality and enthusiasm. The strong antiseptic properties of cinnamon make it a valuable room fumigant, protecting against infections and illnesses.
Up to 90 per cent of cinnamon oil is made up of eugenol. Eugenol gives cinnamon its potent antiseptic, antibacterial activity. It is also responsible for its immune-boosting properties and uplifting, reviving effects. It also contains proanthocyanidins. This specialized group of bioflavonoids has powerful antioxidant effects and is also a great ain for stimulating blood circulation to the extremities.
Bring warmth to tired or chilled feet at the end of a hard day with a relaxing, circulation-boosting foot bath containing:
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2 drops cinnamon
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5 drops rosemary
Soak your feet in the warm blend for about 10 minutes.
Soothe tired muscles with a relaxing massage, using 25ml of grape seed oil blended with:
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1 drop cinnamon
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3 drops ginger
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6 drops marjoram
Massage the area briskly to stimulate circulation and flush away toxins.
Combat mental fatigue and lethargy, boost concentration using an essential oil burner or vaporizer and adding:
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2 drops basil
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2 drops cinnamon
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5 drops lemon
Cinnamon and basil increase mental alertness and lemon give a zesty boost.
To bring a sense of vitality into your home try this uplifting room fragrance by diluting the following blend in 200ml of water:
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1 drop cinnamon
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3 drops mandarin
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6 drops pine
The pour the blend into a spray bottle and diffuse the aroma.
For indigestion relief, massage the stomach with 25ml of carrier oil and:
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2 drops cinnamon
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6 drops mandarin
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4 drops peppermint
To treat diarrhoea apply a warm compress across the abdomen containing:
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2 drops cinnamon
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6 drops ginger
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3 drops sweet orange
When feeling nauseous, inhale deeply from a handkerchief sprinkled with ginger, nutmeg and cinnamon oils.
Cinnamon is a great weapon in the fight against a variety of germs and bugs that cause infection. Chase away colds and chest infections by adding to a vaporizer two drops each of cinnamon, tea tree and lemon oil. All three oils have powerful antiviral and antibacterial properties.
Strengthen you immune system by massaging the soles of the feet with 20ml carrier oil and:
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1 drop cinnamon
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2 drops eucalyptus
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2 drops lemon
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2 drops tea tree
As folklore has it, from ancient Egypt to Rome and China, cinnamon has long been used to decorate and purify temples. In the Book of Exodus, Moses was instructed to include cinnamon in the holy anointing oil. Pliny wrote that cinnamon was found in the nest of the legendary phoenix. The search for cinnamon and other spices was said to have been one of the reasons for the discovery of America!
