Cultivated mainly in Ceylon and South India, the dried inner bark of the cinnamom plant is used in medicine.
There are two varieties available, thin and thick. The thin one is more effective. It is light, sweet and pungent.
From very ancient times it has been a well – known home remedy and it is used by many people. It is hot in action, decreases kapha and vayu, cures anorexia, reduces mucus and is very useful in chronic cough and cold. It leaves a typical taste in the mouth.
It increases pitta slightly. It is used externally as well as internally. It contains a volatile oil which is applied externally for headache. It is a effective carminative and it is believed that it destroys bacteria.
A small piece of cotton – wool dipped in cinnamon oil and kept in dental cavities alleviates pain on the spot.
Cinnamon is used in various cough remedies and the most well known cough remedy known in ayurveda is Sitopaladi Churna which contains cinnamon 1 part, cardamom 2 parts, pepper 3 parts, vansalochan 4 parts and sugar 8 parts. All these are powdered together and the dose is 6-12 rattis (12-24 grains).
This powder taken with honey removes the burning sensation in feet and hands. It stops coughing and is given to consumptive patients with advantage when there is a lot of coughing and burning sensation in the chest.
Another well – known home remedy is : Take ginger, cardamom and cinnamon, make a powder of the same. This powder taken in the dose of 5 – 10 grains with honey is very effective in digestive disorders, griping, diarrhea and amoebic dysentery.
Other home remedies which are well – known are : Take cinnamon powder 1 gram, harde 4 grams and water 4 ozs. Boil for 10 minutes, filter and then give to drink. It is a good, mild, aromatic purge.
Take cinnamom 1 gram, cloves 10 grains, ginger 30 grains; powder them all together and boil in one seer of water for 15 minutes. Give a dose of 1 oz. every three hours. It is effective in influenza.
Cinnamon is used in many tooth powders for a dual purpose – it makes the mouth fragrant, removing bad odour, and at the same time kills bacteria. It thus preserves the gums and makes the teeth white.
Being a very good carminative and blood purifier, cinnamon is used in medicinal preparations for treating painful menses.
Cinnamon is often adulterated with a rougher, thicker and less aromatic bark from Cinnamomum tamala, etc. and care should be taken to obtain pure cinnamon.
