Fragrant Delights

Nature’s bounty has been extended to this little piece of bark and it adds spice to food and lives across cultures and continents. In most countries of the East it is used as a part of the spices for curry gravy.

A native of South East Asia, specifically, India and Sri Lanka, cinnamon is actually the bark of a tree. It has been cultivated for almost 5000 years now, and finds mention in ancient Chinese herbal medicines. It also happened to be on the list of spices used for embalming mummies in ancient Egypt. In the Bible, Moses used it in holy anointing oil. Presumable this also points towards the trade relations that the Middle Eastern and South European civilizations had with India, China and Sri Lanka even in biblical times. This spice has always found favor with the west, though it grows only in the East.

Chinese medicine recommends cinnamon to help in fever, diarrhea, and even menstrual problems. Indian traditional medicine also prized its properties. Ancient Lankans also knew about its uses as an antiseptic for everyday remedies, including flatulence, urinary and vaginal infections and even for soothing the nerves. In fact, cinnamon powder taken with honey every night improves the complexion too.

Cinnamon is antiviral food and can be made into a drunk for antiviral administrations. It eases cold infections too.

As a digestive, it can be taken as a decoction, one teaspoon of cinnamon oil in about a large cupful of hot water. A teaspoon of this decoction can be taken half an hour after meals to ease digestion and reduce toxicity in he intestinal track…hence cure flatulence.

A very interesting use of cinnamon is its contraceptive properties. It has been proved that a piece of cinnamon taken every night after a month of childbirth can delay menstruation for more than 20 months, increase lactation and act as a natural contraceptive. Its decoction also helps in reducing the pain of labour during childbirth.

Another very useful property is that a paste made of cinnamon powder and lemon juice can cure acne and blackheads completely. To cure bad breath, try using ground Cinnamon in warm water as mouth freshener/gargle.

Among the more serious disorders that it can cure, arthritis seems to be the most depilating disease. To get instant relief from painful joints, mix 1:2 part honey and lukewarm water, and add a small teaspoon of cinnamon. Rub on the painful joint and the pain will subside in a few minutes. The same decoction can be taken as a drink every night, to greatly reduce the discomfort of arthritis. In fact such is the miracle of the bark that a teaspoon of honey mixed with one teaspoon of cinnamon taken daily for 3 months can even cure cancer in its initial stages.

A very common problem most of us face in our high stress lifestyle that makes life just speed past us, is fatigue and lack of vitality. To fight fatigue, cinnamon mixed with honey in equal quantities is very effective. Honey dissolved in warm water and sprinkled with cinnamon, taken in the morning and afternoon, is extremely good for restoring the body’s energy levels.

And the final touch. To keep ageing at bay, make a tea of 4 tsp honey, one spoon of cinnamon powder and make a tea in three cups of water. Drink a quarter of a cup of this tea, three or four times daily. It will ensure anti-ageing properties to the body, mind and skin.

Cinnamon is an antiseptic and hence can be used to dress wounds, in application for cases of ringworm or eczema, acne and other skin infections. A paste made with lemon juice ensures no scars are left and the wound is completely healed as well.

Cinnamon acts as a memory aid, if taken every night with a teaspoon of honey. Made into a paste with a teaspoon of cinnamon powder and 5 teaspoons of honey, and applied to an aching tooth at least 3 times a day, cinnamon again works wonders.

Apart from all it magical properties, we all know, Cinnamon is used as a flavoring in most cakes and bakery products and its bark oil is used for flavoring confectionary and liqueurs too. Cinnamon is what lends the heavenly aroma to the apple pie and tart, even Strudel. Inn particular, the cinnamon flavor matches very well with apple flavor, hence the great aromas from German kitchens.