Herb of the Month - Natural Living

How to Use Cinnamon to Spice Up the Apothecary

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The following statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are for educational purposes only.

Cinnamon as Medicine

Known for its warm, seasonal flavor, Cinnamon is an herb that is in most of our cabinets. While we typically use it in baking, few know the practical medicinal uses of this common culinary spice.

In this post, I’ll dive into the nutritional profile of cinnamon, its practical uses, and where to source it. Make sure to check the final section that includes possible interactions and who might not do well with it.

If you haven’t yet, be sure to check out my posts on why I reach for herbs, how I’m building my apothecary, and my previous Herb of the Month posts.

Nutritional Information

Cinnamon is high in calcium, which is important for the health of bones and teeth, muscle function, blood clotting, and heart health.

Potassium is also present, which is essential for proper hydration and muscle contraction, including the heart.

Cinnamon also includes other micronutrients like phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, folate, and small amounts of choline.

Actions of the Herb

Due to its stout nutritional profile, cinnamon works as an excellent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. These effects plus its warming sensation make it a great addition to fire cider and other seasonal remedies.

  1. This is exciting!! The trellises will be really cool once everything is growing on them. My humble, unbiased suggestion is…

Another acute use for cinnamon takes advantage of its hypoglycemic effect. It may be used to lower blood sugar levels after a meal. Due to this effect, it has the ability to lower A1c and improve insulin sensitivity when used consistently over time.

  • Garden Plans for 2026
    The growing season is upon us, and I’m looking forward to it more than ever. Each year, I learn so much about plant varieties, soil conditions, and well… myself. And while I did have some duds last year, I did have some great successes as well, and those have encouraged me to try new things this year. In today’s post, I’ll share with you my plans for a garden this year, and some inspiration sources. Changes for the New Season To start, I’m majorly expanding the garden this year! Last year, I built a single garden bed on the ground with concrete blocks and three 2×6 boards. It was simple to put together, only required one cut, and was cost-effective too. This year, I initially planned to add another bed with a cattle panel trellis in between. Well… that eventually turned into two more beds and two trellises! Below is a picture of my mock-up. You can see that I still have some decisions to make regarding what I’m planting, but I do have some things planted already. What I’m Planting in the Garden Back in the fall, I planted some garlic in the existing bed. I just took some garlic from the store that had sprouted and planted the largest cloves about an inch deep. They’ve done their thing, survived the short winter, and continue to grow in the beautiful early spring. I also planted some seed onions along the fence line, a few herbs in pots, and RHUBARB!!! If you’ve been here very long at all, you know how much I love rhubarb and want everyone else to love it too. You can expect plenty of sweet and tart recipes to come! I’ve started seeds for loofah and cantaloupe, and hope to have them trellis together. In one bed, I plan to grow jalapeños and serranoes again. We loved the fermented jalapeños and cowboy candy last year, so those are an absolute must. I haven’t purchased these yet, but I hope to grow blueberries and raspberries, and maybe even an apple tree. I still haven’t decided what to plant in my middle bed. If I plant produce, it’ll have to be a single harvest since accessing the bed will mean walking in it. I’m considering a wild flower mix for pollinators. What about your Garden? So, what are your plans for this growing season? Are you expanding, dialing back, doing the same ‘ole thing? What do you love to grow in your zone? I hope this post inspired you and made you excited for your own garden this year!

Cinnamon is excellent for heart health. When used consistently, it may lower blood pressure, triglycerides, LDL Cholesterol, and total cholesterol.

How I’m Using It

After making my tincture, I’m taking cinnamon daily to improve my insulin sensitivity. But you don’t have to have a tincture to reap the benefits. It can also be taken in tea form, and makes for a wonderful morning or night time cup.

What to Look For

There are a few different types of cinnamon, but the two most common are Cassia, which is the type you can get at the grocery store, and Ceylon, known as “true cinnamon”.

Ceylon does have a property that allows it to be better absorbed and used by the body, so it is certainly the best of the two if being used medicinally. However, Cassia is more accessible, and has the same effects, so it will work just fine. Just be sure to get organic to avoid common pesticides.

If Cassia is what you have, give it a shot. If you want to try to up its effects, try some Ceylon.

Where to Get the Best Ceylon Cinnamon

You can purchase high quality Ceylon Cinnamon from Starwest Botanicals on Amazon

There are other sources to buy from, but be sure to vet them well, checking for quality and sourcing.

Precautions

If you have hypoglycemia, low blood pressure, are pregnant, nursing, or have any other chronic health condition or are taking medications, consult a physician before supplementing with cinnamon.

Herbs are medicine, and they should be treated as such. They can cause adverse effects, and may interact with other medications.

My favorite Resources

The Honeystead

(YouTube)

Medical Herbalism

David Hoffmann, FNIMH, AHG

Herbal Healing for Women

Rosemary Gladstar

Herbal Healing for Men

Rosemary Gladstar

Herbs for Common Ailments

Rosemary Gladstar

Thank you for visiting Headed for a Homestead Blog. I’m Rebekah, your creator and author since 2023. As a new blogger in this big space, I’m still learning the ropes, and just as excited as when I began. I hope you’ll take some time to look around and maybe find a recipe or project you’d like to try.

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