Cinnamon Oil

Cinnamomum zeylanicum/Cinnamomum verum/Laurus cinnamomum

There are two types of Cinnamon Essential Oil, Cinnamon Bark Oil and Cinnamon Leaf Oil.

This spicy or hot oil blends well with the other spice essential oils like Ginger, Clove, and Cardamon as well as the citrus oils like Orange and Lemon or combine it with a soothing oil like Lavender or Chamomile.

Always use this oil in a diluted state.

Known Uses

Diffusing cinnamon oil, known for its distinctive spicy aroma, is an excellent way to fill your home with a sweet scent. It can be used to freshen up the air and as an energy booster and mood uplifter. It is known to help fight depression and irritability. Cinnamon oil also causes mental and physical alertness by curtailing drowsiness and augmenting brain activity. Many people especially love using cinnamon oil during the fall and winter months to get into the holiday spirit!

Cinnamon oil has many properties that make it useful. It's antibacterial properties and antiviral properties make it a great choice to help clear up coughs, colds, and chest congestion. It is effective in fighting illnesses caused by several strains of bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics, like E. coli and Staphylococcus. It also helps prevent viral illnesses like the flu. These same properties make it an effective household disinfectant. Just add a few drops of cinnamon oil to water and spray the wonder-working solution around the home for cleaning in areas like the bathroom, kitchen, and even on doorknobs to inhibit the spread of disease. It's so reassuring knowing that you can disinfect your home naturally with essential oils like cinnamon oil and lemon oil instead of using household cleaners with chemicals. Cinnamon oil's same antibacterial properties also make it an effective treatment for facial acne. Mix with a carrier oil to create your own facial wash.

Cinnamon oil has anti-fungal properties too. Fighting fungi like athlete's foot. It also gets rid of parasites like head lice. Create your own shampoo by adding cinnamon oil to a mixture of water and vinegar to treat this nasty condition. Make sure you are very careful to avoid contact with the eyes, though.

Cinnamon oil also has anti-inflammatory properties that aid in blood flow. It helps to open up blood vessels and improve circulation which results in decreased inflammation. It can be a beneficial oil for those who have had heart attacks or strokes, as well as used to prevent heart attacks. These same properties also makes it a remedy for headaches and other muscle aches. Inhale or diffuse cinnamon oil for wonderful headache relief or add a drop to a carrier oil like coconut oil and rub on sore muscles and joints, or even use it to soothe menstrual cramping.

Cinnamon oil helps to regulate blood sugar levels, helping with energy levels and mood stability. Studies and research show that it is helpful in regulating insulin levels for people with type 2 diabetes. It also helps curb unwanted cravings aiding in loosing weight and burning fat.

If you have an upset stomach, cinnamon oil may help solve your problem. It has a calming effect on the stomach and helps get rid of diarrhea and nausea. It also aids in digestion.

Its distinctive scent makes cinnamon oil an effective insect repellant as well. Roaches, black ants, flies, and mosquitoes do not like its scent and will stay far away wherever it is sprayed. Just add a dab to your clothing or mix with a carrier oil and put it directly on your skin to keep pesky insects at bay when you are outside. It makes having an outdoor gathering, like a picnic, so much more enjoyable.

Lastly, many studies have shown that cinnamon oil contains anti-tumoral and antioxidant properties. This research shows that cinnamon oil may be effective in fighting some types of cancer (especially those associated with the blood) by blocking the growth or multiplication of tumor cells.

History

Cinnamon has been used as a spice with helpful properties for many, many years. It may be the oldest spice in history. It's been used from flavoring foods to helping with depression to embalming bodies at death. At various times in history, cinnamon has been considered to be extremely valuable, even more valuable than gold.

Warning

As with many oils, it is good to test cinnamon oil before widespread use to see if you have a sensitivity to it in any way. It could be irritating to sensitive skin. It should be ingested with extreme caution and under a doctor's supervision as it can cause diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach pain. It is not the same as your household spice. It is much more potent and concentrated which can cause inflammation and irritation to the lining in the stomach and intestines. It is best used in diluted states. Because of its ability to increase blood flow, pregnant and nursing woman should avoid using cinnamon oil as well as people with certain heart conditions or who take certain medications that would counteract with this oil. Avoid using it on sensitive areas of the body like the eyes and mucus membranes.