Cinnamon (Tvakpatra)
Evergreen tree, 10-15 meters tall. Bark is yellowish-brown with longitudinal lines. Leaves are ovate-oblong, 7-18 cm long, leathery, shiny green on th...
Botanical name: Cinnamomum verum. Also known as: Ceylon cinnamon, Cinnamon bark.
Properties
Antioxidant, Anti-inflammatory, Antidiabetic, Antimicrobial, Anticancer
Dosage
Powder: 1-3 grams per day in divided doses. Oil: 2-5 drops once or twice a day.
Classical attributes
- Rasa: Madhura (Sweet), Katu (Pungent), Tikta (Bitter)
- Virya: Ushna (Hot)
- Vipaka: Katu (Pungent), Madhura (Sweet)
Benefits
- Clinical trials and reviews suggest that cinnamon may have various health benefits
- A meta-analysis of RCTs (PMID: 31794623) found that cinnamon supplementation significantly reduces body weight, BMI, and WHR
- Deepana (appetizer)
- Pachana (digestive)
- Rochana (improves taste)
Traditional uses
- Indigestion
- Bloating
- Gas
- Diabetes
- High cholesterol
Dosha effects
- vata: balancing
- kapha: balancing
- pitta: aggravating
Preparation methods
- Churna (powder): Standard preparation as per API.
- Tea: Standard preparation as per API.
- Oil (external application): Standard preparation as per API.
- Decoction: Standard preparation as per API.
- Paste (with honey): Standard preparation as per API.
- Gargles: Standard preparation as per API.
- Mouthwash: Standard preparation as per API.
- Trikatu Churna: Standard preparation as per API.
- Sitopaladi Churna: Standard preparation as per API.
- Talisadi Churna: Standard preparation as per API.
- Karpooradi Choornam: Standard preparation as per API.
Contraindications
- People with liver disorders
- Pregnant women
- People on anticoagulants
- Diabetics
- People allergic to cinnamon
Side effects
- Excessive consumption of Cassia cinnamon may cause liver damage due to coumarin content. May cause mouth sores or allergic reactions. May lower blood sugar levels excessively, especially in individuals taking diabetes medications. Some cinnamon products have been found to contain elevated lead levels.
Interactions
- Diabetes medications (e.g., insulin, metformin)
- Blood thinners (e.g., warfarin, heparin, aspirin)
- Blood pressure medications
- Hepatotoxic drugs (e.g., acetaminophen, statins)
- Antibiotics
Clinical evidence
Clinical trials and reviews suggest that cinnamon may have various health benefits. A meta-analysis of RCTs (PMID: 31794623) found that cinnamon supplementation significantly reduces body weight, BMI, and WHR. Another RCT (PMID: 29605574) showed that cinnamon supplementation improved anthropometric parameters, glycemic indices, and lipid profile in patients with type II diabetes. A phase I clinical trial (PMID: 29285074) in healthy adults demonstrated that Ceylon cinnamon had no significant side effects and showed beneficial anti-hyperlipidaemic and blood pressure lowering effects. A review (PMID: 20924865) suggests cinnamon has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, antitumor, cardiovascular, cholesterol-lowering, and immunomodulatory effects.
Ayurvedic karmas
- Deepana (appetizer)
- Pachana (digestive)
- Rochana (improves taste)
- Vatanulomaka (carminative)
- Kapha-Vata Shamak (reduces Kapha and Vata)
- Vishapaha (detoxifies)
- Hrut Bastigata Jantujit (relieves microbes in bladder, lungs, heart)
- Amahara (relieves ama)
- Kantashuddhikara (clears throat)
- Basti Shodhana (cleanses urinary bladder)
- Diuretic
- Uterine stimulant
- Aphrodisiac
- Blood purifier
- Cardiac stimulant
Classical clinical indications
- Indigestion
- Bloating
- Gas
- Diabetes
- High cholesterol
- Cough
- Cold
- Congestion
- Amenorrhea
- Dysuria
- Urinary retention
- Throat pain
- Inflammation
- Joint pain
- Skin infections
- Acne
- Diarrhea
- Loss of appetite
- Weak cardiac muscles
- Migraine