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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.
Table of Contents
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.
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.
- 5 Seasoned Homesteaders to Inspire Your Journey
Are you imagining and longing for a life on a homestead with a garden, livestock, and homegrown food year-round? If you are, you’re definitely not alone. Though I’ve always been interested in the homesteading lifestyle, I didn’t always know where to start. For a long time, it felt unattainable, and it’s certainly not the ‘typical’ path in this modern western world. But with time and diligent searching, I have found inspiration through people who do the very things I’m working toward. This post aims to share the inspiration with you! These long-time homesteaders are the cream of the crop. Each of them specializes in different things, and they all take time to share their lives with others. And just to be clear, none of these people even know I exist. Not one of them has paid me to promote their content. I simply want to inspire you with what (who) inspired me. Lisa Bass- Farmhouse On Boone As I said, I’ve always loved the idea of country life. And while I still don’t live on a large parcel of land, Lisa was the first to show me that I don’t have to have it all to do it. Lisa’s blog name actually came from her old in-town home where she started her homesteading journey. Nowadays, her content consists of sourdough baking, ancient grains, delicious meals, handmade homemaking, and natural living. Lisa Makes the most beautiful videos, but they also showcase real life. If you’re looking for encouragement, check out one of her videos on YouTube. Homesteading Family Josh and Carolyn are the best there is. I don’t know them personally, but they make it easy to feel that way. With over 20 years of experience in homesteading, managing a home, running businesses, and raising a large family, they have such wisdom in all areas of life. I found them through tutorial videos on food preservation, and haven’t stopped listening since! They have a podcast called Everyday Homesteading, a YouTube Channel and Blog by the name of Homesteading Family, and of course, social media accounts as well. If you have a question about food preservation, gardening, composting, chickens… you name it, they’ve probably got an answer! Sage and Stone Homestead I found Heather on YouTube when researching about raising rabbits. I have found her videos to be both inspiring and helpful. You’ll occasionally see her husband appear in videos for Q&A’s and other demonstrations too! Heather does a wonderful job of showing what an average homestead looks like. She doesn’t aim to make perfect aesthetically pleasing videos, and it’s so very encouraging! If you want to really feel like you can do it, check them out! Sage and Stone does also has a website where you can purchase a few items from their homestead. Homesteading With the Zimmermans RuthAnn and her husband come from an Old Order Mennonite background, and even though they have left the order, they have kept a love and appreciation for the skills and lifestyle they grew up with. Their large family is always up to something, and we get the privilege of a glimpse into it. If you want to see some of the practical ways to homestead in daily life, make sure you take a peek! Kaylee Richardson- The Honeystead If you’re at all interested in herbalism or beekeeping, you have to check out Kaylee’s work. As a seasoned herbalist, she shares the beauty of herbal medicine, beekeeping, and how to use them together. Her style is calm, yet joyful. The Honeystead is a place to feel right at home. You can click the video link above to visit her YouTube channel, or visit thehoneystead.com to check out her other work. There are so many other creators out there, but these are the ones who have really spurred me on to many of the things I do. If you have a favorite creator in the homesteading space, I’d love to check them out for myself! Leave me a comment with the creator’s name, and tell me what you love about them. I hope you’re feeling inspired as we move into 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
(YouTube)
David Hoffmann, FNIMH, AHG
The Homesteader’s Herbal Companion
Amy K. Fewell
Rosemary Gladstar
Rosemary Gladstar
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.
If you like what you’ve found, make sure you follow me on social media for access to more content and resources. I’d love to get to know you and hear your thoughts.
I am very grateful for these homesteaders’ work! They have inspired and taught my wife a lot, and she’s passing…