Food and Medicine from the Same Source
Cinnamon, known in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) as 肉桂 (Ròuguì), is the bark of a medium-sized tree from the Lauraceae family, appearing grayish-brown. It is native to China and also found in India, Laos, Vietnam, and Indonesia. Cinnamon is commonly used as a spice, cooking ingredient, and medicinal herb.
Cinnamon | Food and Medicine from the Same Source
Medicinal Part
Dry bark of the plant.
Taste and Properties
Pungent, sweet, and very warming.
Meridians Entered
Kidney, Spleen, Heart, and Liver meridians.
Functions
It has the effects of warming the Yang, returning fire to the source, dispersing cold, alleviating pain, and warming the meridians.
Main Indications
Used for impotence due to cold in the womb, cold pain in the lower back and knees, shortness of breath due to kidney deficiency, floating Yang, dizziness, red eyes, cold pain in the heart and abdomen, vomiting and diarrhea due to deficiency and cold, abdominal pain from cold hernia, and dysmenorrhea.
Cinnamon | Efficacy and Functions
1. Enhances Brain Function
The components in cinnamon can improve brain function. It helps enhance memory, focus, and attention, and may reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Adding a little cinnamon to your diet daily can help combat irritability and depression, and prevent headaches.
2. Beneficial for the Heart
Because cinnamon can reduce the greasiness of food, adding a bit of cinnamon during meals can alleviate heart disease caused by high-fat foods.
3. Aids in Weight Loss
Cinnamon helps increase metabolic rate and regulate blood sugar levels, so consuming a small amount of cinnamon along with regular exercise can assist in weight loss.
4. Improves Gut Health
Cinnamon is also good for gut health. Adding a small amount of cinnamon to soups can help prevent indigestion, acid reflux, and diarrhea.
5. Helps Prevent Cancer
The medicinal components in cinnamon can help prevent the growth and spread of cancer cells, reducing the likelihood of cancer.
6. Helps Control PMS Mood Swings
Cinnamon contains manganese, which helps control mood swings and can also alleviate muscle cramps.
7. Supports Gum Health
Due to some medicinal elements in cinnamon, it is often added to mouthwash and chewing gum, helping to protect gums and teeth and improve breath.
8. Beneficial for Skin
Cinnamon has antioxidant properties, which help alleviate signs of skin aging, making the skin smooth and radiant.
Cinnamon | Contraindications
1. As a medicinal herb, cinnamon is warming, so individuals with symptoms of heat such as dry mouth, sore throat, and nosebleeds, or those who are often thirsty should avoid it, as it may exacerbate these symptoms.
2. People with various dry diseases should not consume cinnamon.
3. Individuals with chronic liver disease, bleeding disorders, or constipation should limit cinnamon intake to avoid exacerbating their conditions.
4. Those with Yin deficiency and excess internal heat should not consume it, as it conflicts with cinnamon’s properties.
5. Pregnant women and children should avoid it.
6. Individuals with bleeding disorders and women during menstruation should not consume it.
7. In spring and summer, when the weather is dry and prone to heat, cinnamon should be consumed cautiously.
Related Discussions
Compendium of Materia Medica: Treats cold bi syndrome, wind obstruction, excessive Yin leading to blood loss, diarrhea, and convulsions due to Yang deficiency and blood loss, can promote blood circulation, induce sweating, and detoxify snake venom.
Shennong’s Herbal Classic: Primarily treats cough with qi counterflow, throat obstruction, benefits joints, and tonifies qi.
Supplementary Records: Treats heart pain, wind in the flank, flank pain, warms tendons, opens meridians, alleviates restlessness, induces sweating. Primarily warms the middle, benefits liver and lung qi, treats cold and heat in the heart and abdomen, cholera, cramps, headaches, lower back pain, stops salivation, cough, and nasal polyps; can induce abortion, strengthen bones and joints, promote blood circulation, and regulate insufficiency; enhances the efficacy of other herbs without fear.
Discussion on Medicinal Properties: Treats nine types of heart pain, kills three types of parasites, breaks blood stasis, regulates menstruation, treats soft feet, bi syndrome, numbness, retained placenta, alleviates cough, counterflow qi, bi syndrome, stops unbearable abdominal cold pain, treats diarrhea, and nasal polyps. Kills plant and animal toxins.
Rihua’s Materia Medica: Treats all types of wind conditions, tonifies the five fatigues and seven injuries, opens the nine orifices, benefits joints, nourishes essence, brightens vision, warms the lower back and knees, breaks phlegm and masses, resolves blood stasis, treats wind bi syndrome, and promotes muscle and flesh regeneration.
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