Also known as:
Darchini, Nagkesar (buds) (Hindi), Karuvapatta, Erikkoloam (Malayalam), Ilavangam, Lavanga pattai
, Karuva (Tamil).
Why write about Cinnamon?
I grew up using Cinnamon on my breakfast toast; we would sprinkle a little along with sugar on top of melted butter. I loved the smell of the cinnamon melting on the hot toast. The photo taken by my husband tempts me to use cinnamon more- the sticks from my sister in law's garden in South India, and the powder, or what's left in the bottle from my favorite retail brand, Simply Organic. (Click on the photo to go to a bigger size at flickr.com.) I must admit, though, I never liked the ready made American breakfast foods with Cinnamon like Cinnamon Toast Crunch and ‘cinnabon’ a great American breakfast pastry that is also a name of a restaurant serving the same.
Parts of the plant used:
Bark, though I learned from Gernot Katzer’s page that the leaves can also be used in place of Indian bay leaves.
Ayurvedic Use as quoted from The Ayurvedic Encyclopedia: Natural Secrets to Healing, Prevention and Longevity, by Swami Sada Shiva Tirtha 
(page 156)
-I am providing this information for your reference only. I am not a physician or ayurvedic doctor. Consult your doctor or ayurvedic practitioner for indications based on your particular health concerns and/or dosha imbalances.-
Balances Vata, Pitta, Kapha
Acts as a stimulant, diaphoretic, diuretic, expectorant, carminative, alterative, astringent, analgesic.
Used for: circulation, cold extremities, heart pain, arthritis in joints, lower backache, menstruation, fertility, post-partum, colds, sinus congestion, bronchitis, dyspepsia, indigestion.
Do not use: aggravates bleeding disorders, not used during pregnancy.
I have used cinnamon to benefit my health:
When I am cold, I love to drink cinnamon tea- either cinnamon herbal tea or chai with cinnamon boiled in. Especially when my hands and feet are feeling cold due to lack of circulation and I drink these teas, I am immediately positively affected. The aromatherapy of hot liquid cinnamon immediately warms my body, and drinking invigorates me.
I have used cinnamon in cooking:
I have made chai with cinnamon, eggless pancakes, and various rice biryanis.
References:
Eggless Pancakes | Gernot Katzer’s Spice Pages – Cinnamon
How have you benefited from using cinnamon? Share below.
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