Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum)

Ceylon cinnamon laurel tree plantsThe home of the Ceylon cinnamon tree or real cinnamon tree is today’s Sri Lanka, formerly Ceylon. Small, evergreen tree with black-brown bark. The inside of the bark smells aromatic.

The branches have a grey, white spotted bark. The leaves are large, oval, short-stemmed and smell like cloves. The inconspicuous whitish-green flowers form rispy inflorescences.

The trees are planted in cultures, they need a lot of water. The peeled bark and the essential oil extracted from it. After several years of undisturbed development, the bark is removed and dried in the sun outside. The essential oil is obtained by steam distillation from the bark or from the leaves (cinnamon leaf oil). Essential oil with cinnamic aldehyde and eugenol, cinnamic alcohol, cinnamic acid, tanning agents.

Curative effects and application

The bark of the “real cinnamon tree” is known primarily as spice. The aroma is due to the cinnamon oil contained in it. As a substitute for the real cinnamon, the food industry also uses the so-called, cheaper cassia cinnamon, which comes from the cinnamon cassie (Chinese cinnamon tree).

This contains more coumarin than the real cinnamon. Therefore it is recommended to give preference to the real cinnamon, also called Ceylon cinnamon. The drug stimulates the appetite and digestion but is used medically mainly as a flavor corrector in stomach teas. Folk medicine knows the cinnamon oil to stop excessive menstruation or also in the mixture with clove oil as means against tooth pain. Complaints such as a feeling of fullness, flatulence and slight cramp-like pain in the gastrointestinal tract are still the standard approvals for cinnamon bark today.

Preparation

Cinnamon bark tea: pour a large cup of boiling water over 1 teaspoon of dried, crushed cinnamon bark, leave to infuse for 10 minutes, strain. Drink two to three cups daily with meals.

Side effects

Side effects are not to be feared. However, one should not overdose the pure essential oil as it can irritate the skin and mucous membranes and cause palpitations, sweating and diarrhea.