Cinnamon Leaf Essential Oil

Cinnamonum verum (also called Laurus cinnamomum)

Cinnamon Leaf Essential Oil should NOT be ingested without the supervision of a health practitioner. This oil is not the same as the cinnamon on your spice rack.

Cinnamon Leaf Essential Oil blends well with Clove, Black Pepper, Cardamom, Coriander, and Ginger Essential Oils.

Known Uses

Diffusing Cinnamon Leaf Oil can boost energy when physically and mentally exhausted or stressed. This oil is an antispasmodic. It has a warming effect on the body that helps alleviate muscle aches and sprains, as well as arthritis and rheumatism. It can also act as a pick-me-up to reduce drowsiness.

You can use a burner or vaporizer to diffuse Cinnamon Leaf Oil and clear up chest congestion and bronchitis. Cinnamon Leaf Oil keeps colds and coughs from spreading by fighting them off as well as putting other viral infections at bay. It also kills germs found in the gallbladder. It destroys the bacteria that result in staph infections. Cinnamon Essential Oil can improve blood circulation, thus helping to remove blood impurities and increase the body’s oxygen supply, which, in turn, can improve metabolic function and reduce the risk of suffering a heart attack. It is also great for curing an upset stomach, calming nausea and diarrhea.

Cinnamon Leaf Essential Oil can be used as a natural disinfectant to clean and disinfect toilets, the refrigerator, kitchen countertops and other surfaces, such as doorknobs, the microwave oven, chopping boards and even to clean smelly sneakers.

Cinnamon Leaf Oil can be used for personal hygiene as well. It can kill bacteria when used as facial scrub mixed with olive or coconut oil. To use as a gargle, mix a drop or two in a glass of purified water. Dentures can be disinfected and cleansed by making a solution that is a mixture of water, Cinnamon Leaf Oil, and hydrogen peroxide. It can also get rid of fungal infections, such as athlete’s foot, by adding a drop of Cinnamon Leaf Oil to a footbath. Adding a drop of Cinnamon Leaf Oil to a natural shampoo will help keep your hair healthy and, in children, help kill stubborn head lice.

Cinnamon Leaf Oil can be used as an insect repellent. Its aroma discourages mosquitoes, black ants, flies, and cockroaches. Spray or diffuse the oil around the home. It can also be sprayed over mattresses and sheets to get rid of bed bugs.

History

Native to Sri Lanka, this evergreen tree from the Laurel plant family now grows in several countries such as China, India, Indonesia, Bangladesh, and Myanmar. There are actually over 100 varieties of Cinnamonum verum. Cinnamon is one of the oldest spices known to man. It was valued in ancient Egypt not only to add flavor to beverages and drinks and for its medicinal properties, but it was also used in the embalming process. Cinnamon was used in biblical times as it is found listed in the Bible with other common spices of the day. At times in its history, cinnamon was so prized that it was even treated as more valuable and treasured than gold.

Warning

Cinnamon Leaf Oil should NOT be ingested without the supervision of a qualified health practitioner. If ingested or taken internally, it can cause irritation to your stomach lining, intestines and urinary tract. It may also irritate the mucous membranes. When applying Cinnamon Leaf Oil topically, it should be blended with a carrier oil, such as coconut oil, olive oil, or almond oil to test for allergic reactions before using.

Pregnant women and nursing mothers should NOT use Cinnamon Leaf Oil, as it can cause bleeding and menstruation, which is dangerous for the baby in the womb. Do not use the Cinnamon Leaf Oil on very young children. Cinnamon Leaf Oil should be diluted and not used in high quantities or frequency. Moderation is the key with Cinnamon Leaf Oil as too much of it can cause convulsions in some people. Cinnamon Leaf Oil can also have other undesirable side effects like nausea and vomitting, dizziness, diarrhea, sores in the mouth, and irritated skin. If these symptoms occur, consult a qualified healthcare practitioner immediately.