Cinnamon bark oil is highly concentrated with antioxidants, which makes it effective as a natural digestive aid, blood sugar stabilizer, and circulation booster. It’s also commonly used to combat cardiovascular diseases and fight infections. Cinnamon essential oil can help boost brain activity. Sniffing this essential oil can improve blood circulation as well.
1. Great for your heart: Cinnamon oil keeps arteries free from dangerous plaque buildup because of its circulation-boosting abilities. The interior surface of arteries is where nitric oxide is normally produced, but when plaque builds up, the disease called atherosclerosis forms, which means you have a decreased ability to produce nitric oxide. Because cinnamon helps foster nitric oxide production, it’s beneficial for people with heart disease or who have suffered from a heart attack or stroke. It also contains antiplatelet compounds that further benefit arterial health.
2. Cancer Prevention: Scientists at Korea's Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology tested cinnamon, both in vitro and with animal test subjects, for its ability to inhibit the growth of various kinds of cancer cells. The results, published in the July 2010 issue of “BMC Cancer,” concluded that cinnamon oil is quite promising as an alternative treatment for cervical cancer, colorectal cancer, melanoma, and lymphoma. The study cites cinnamon’s antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammation and anti-tumor properties as the reason for its effects.
3. Boosts Brain Function: Cinnamon boosts the activity of the brain and makes it a great tonic. It helps to remove nervous tension and memory loss. Research at the Wheeling Jesuit University in the United States proved that the scent of the spice has the ability to boost brain activity. The team of researchers, led by Dr. P. Zoladz, found that people who were given cinnamon improved their scores on cognitive activities such as attention span, virtual recognition memory, working memory, and visual-motor response speed.
4. Controls Type 2 Diabetes: Cinnamon has the ability to control blood sugar, so diabetics find it very useful because it aids them in using less insulin. The United States Department of Agriculture's Agriculture Research Service studied cinnamon’s ability to treat type 2 diabetes, and published its findings in he May 2010 issue of the “Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology.” Researchers saw that cinnamon was able to normalize the effects of type 2 diabetes in vitro animal and human tests. The study concluded that cinnamon may play an important future role in treating a metabolic disorder, type 2 diabetes, and some cardiovascular-related diseases.
5. Natural Aphrodisiac: Poor circulation also has negative effects when it comes to low libido and erectile dysfunction. A major cause of low libido is aged, clogged arteries since this makes it difficult for the reproductive organs to receive enough blood, oxygen, and nutrients. Compounds in cinnamon oil act like natural prescription drugs for erectile dysfunction; for example, Viagra works by influencing enzymes in the nitric oxide pathway to increase blood flow. This makes cinnamon oil a natural remedy for impotence.
6. Good in Herpes: Cinnamon oil fights serious viral diseases like herpes and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
7. Great in indigestion/stomach upset: German health authorities approve the use of cinnamon bark oil for treating mild gastrointestinal spasms, stimulating appetite and relieving indigestion based on the positive results seen in animal studies. To relieve stomach upset, a few drops of cinnamon bark oil in a hot cup of water or tea will do the trick. Nevertheless, we strongly suggest consulting your doctor or a natural health practitioner before taking cinnamon bark oil or any essential oil internally.
