As the saying goes, “Nothing smells better than cinnamon, nothing tastes richer than osmanthus.”
In the movie “Seagull Diner,” the protagonist, Huizi, opens a diner in Finland, which initially struggles until a large plate of cinnamon rolls turns the tide.
The aroma of cinnamon fills the room, attracting three Finnish ladies who had never entered before, and they indulge in the delightful taste.
The compound cinnamaldehyde in cinnamon emits a unique fragrance, and when heated, its sweet flavor becomes more layered, greatly enhancing the food.
Cinnamon, this treasure spice, is not just fragrant; its benefits for the human body are essential to know~
The warming effect of cinnamon, which does not cause internal heat, mainly comes from its ability to “return fire to the source.”
Most foods that tonify kidney yang, such as fennel and lamb, directly add fire to kidney yang.
If one does not have a purely cold constitution, consuming too much can easily lead to internal heat.
However, cinnamon draws down the internal heat, similar to how ancient people would perform a final movement to gather the dispersed yang energy back to the kidneys after exercising.
Therefore, whether you have a pure yang deficiency constitution or a hot upper and cold lower body prone to internal heat, you can incorporate more cinnamon into your daily life to warm your body thoroughly from the inside out~
For any issues related to the middle and lower jiao:Whether it is autumn or winter diarrhea, abdominal pain, frequent nighttime urination, cold uterus pain during menstruation, or coldness in the lower body, cinnamon can help regulate.
Many friends cannot distinguish between cinnamon and cassia.
Cinnamon has a rich sweet aroma with a hint of bitterness. Generally, it is added to desserts and coffee to enhance the sweet and rich flavor.
Cassia has a slightly orange fragrance and is used in Chinese cooking for stews and braised dishes.
Cinnamon comes from the Cinnamomum verum tree of the Lauraceae family. It can be used medicinally, possessing warming, blood-activating, and menstrual-regulating properties.
In contrast, cassia is generally used in cooking to enhance flavor and remove fishy odors. The bark of plants such as “Cinnamomum cassia, Cinnamomum burmannii, Cinnamomum loureiroi, and Cinnamomum verum” can all be referred to as “cassia.”
True cinnamon must have a cinnamaldehyde content of at least 1.5% for effective kidney tonification and blood sugar reduction.
How to select medicinal cinnamon:
1. Cinnamon is thicker, while cassia is thinner.
2. If you scratch the inner side with your nail and it releases a lot of oil, it is cinnamon. The more oil, the higher the cinnamaldehyde content, and the stronger the medicinal effect.
3. Cinnamon has a sweet, warm aroma, while cassia has a cool, pungent scent.
When it comes to cooking with cinnamon, many friends immediately think of using it for stews.
The “cinnamon” used in stews is actually cassia, which has a strong aroma and a spicy flavor, very effective at removing the gamey taste of meat.
While it does have some kidney yang tonifying effects, its ability to draw fire down is relatively weaker.
When consuming cinnamon, there are two principles to keep in mind:
①Do not simmer for long periods
This will weaken the effects of cinnamon. This is specifically noted in the “Medical Records of the West and East”:
Cinnamon has a strong aroma and should not be boiled for long. If ground into fine powder, its medicinal power diminishes after several boils, let alone boiling for dozens of times.
It states that the aroma of cinnamon is very strong, and if boiled for too long, its aroma will dissipate, and its effects will weaken.
It is recommended to brew cinnamon in tea or sprinkle cinnamon powder at the end to enjoy its full aroma and benefits.
②Pair with some yin-nourishing ingredients
In TCM, there is an important principle regarding tonifying yang:One must seek yang within yin, so that yang can be supported by yin and generate endless transformations.
Think of the body as a precision machine that requires steam (yang energy) to produce kinetic energy.
Steam comes from sunlight shining on the water surface,and if there is insufficient water, relying solely on sunlight will quickly dry up the water, eliminating the source of steam.
The same applies to the body: if one only tonifies yang without pairing it with yin-nourishing ingredients, it can easily lead to a situation where the more one eats, the hotter the body becomes.
Thus, when TCM practitioners help those with yang deficiency to regulate their constitution, they will also consider the need to replenish fluids.
Considering these two principles, I recommend making: apple cinnamon tea.
This is made by boiling cinnamon with apples and black tea, resulting in a fragrant and sweet flavor, with a hint of cinnamon’s unique taste~
The apples paired with cinnamon, as stated in the “Dietary Records of Suixi Ju,” are “sweet, cool, and soft, with a unique color and fragrance, nourishing the lungs and delighting the heart,” effectively nourishing fluids.
Additionally, their acidity can temper the warming nature of cinnamon, making the entire tea blend milder.
Black tea is warm in nature, which not only warms the stomach but also has some “draining” effects, allowing the body to achieve a balance of tonification and drainage while drinking apple cinnamon tea.
After each cup, you will feel a warm sensation rising slowly from deep within, spreading to your limbs, making your hands and feet feel warm and cozy.
Note:Cinnamon is warm in nature; if there is insufficient body fluid, it belongs to a yin deficiency with internal heat constitution (characterized by warm palms and soles, dry mouth, and poor sleep), or if there is excess heat, it is not recommended to drink this tea.
During menstruation, if the flow is heavy, it is advisable to pause consumption; if it is light or normal, small amounts can be consumed; pregnant and breastfeeding mothers are also advised against drinking it.
Who is suitable for consuming cinnamon?
Those with kidney yang deficiency, who feel cold and have cold hands and feet;those who frequently experience cold pain in the lower back and knees;women with cold uterus and dysmenorrhea;diabetics:Cinnamon can promote insulin levels and has auxiliary therapeutic effects for diabetes patients.
Written by: Mai Ya
Photography: Ge Da
Proofread by: Qing Dai
