http://www.herbsarespecial.com.au/isabells_blog/cinnamon-most-wonderful.html
Cinnamon ~ Most Wonderful ~ 09/09/07
(Cinnamomum zeylandicum)
Cinnamon is one of the most wonderful aromatic spices we can enjoy. Powdered cinnamon is made from the quills, the inner bark of the tree, although the whole tree has a cinnamon flavour - from the smallest twig and even the 8cm long leaves. It belongs to the Lauraceae family. Other members of this family include bay tree and avocado.
It is an attractive tree with glossy green leaves. All new young leaves are red, which make the new foliage a real eye catcher. Cinnamon is valued not only for its delightful aroma and flavouring benefits, but also for valuable therapeutic properties. It is anti- bacterial and has many applications against germs and bacteria. It is a natural antibiotic. Use cinnamon at the first signs of a cold, or to help clear the flu. When we use it to flavour food, or as a tea, it aids the digestion, and also works as a tonic, and some say as an aphrodisiac! Other uses include: to promote circulation for cold limbs, to relieve abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, peptic ulcers, candida, aches and pains, cramps, skin conditions, and lower blood pressure. USDA research has found cinnamon can stimulate glucose uptake and glycogen synthesis to a similar level as insulin.
The aromatic principles of cinnamon stimulate the appetite and get the digestive juices flowing in the mouth, which is a vital preliminary for the proper digestion of food. It is no accident that delightful aromas make our mouths water.
I enjoy sucking on a twig of the tree... you see cinnamon is one of my favourite spices. I have wonderful memories of my mother baking cinnamon buns, and the tantalising aroma wafting through the whole house. The buns tasted delicious.
Cinnamon leaves make a refreshing tea together with alfalfa leaves, fresh ginger and fresh orange peel... steep and enjoy
Isabell Shipard
Cinnamon’s Scent Boosts Brain Function
Not only does consuming cinnamon improve the body’s ability to utilize blood sugar, but just smelling the wonderful odor of this sweet spice boosts brain activity!
Research led by Dr. P. Zoladz and presented April 24, 2004, at the annual meeting of the Association for Chemoreception Sciences, in Sarasota, FL, found that chewing cinnamon flavored gum or just smelling cinnamon enhanced study participants’ cognitive processing. Specifically, cinnamon improved participants’ scores on tasks related to attentional processes, virtual recognition memory, working memory, and visual-motor speed while working on a computer-based program. Participants were exposed to four odorant conditions: no odor, peppermint odor, jasmine, and cinnamon, with cinnamon emerging the clear winner in producing positive effects on brain function. Encouraged by the results of these studies, researchers will be evaluating cinnamon’s potential for enhancing cognition in the elderly, individuals with test-anxiety, and possibly even patients with diseases that lead to cognitive decline.
Calcium and Fiber Improve Colon Health and Protect Against Heart Disease
In addition to its unique essential oils, cinnamon is an excellent source of the trace mineral manganese and a very good source of dietary fiber, iron and calcium. The combination of calcium and fiber in cinnamon is important and can be helpful for the prevention of several different conditions. Both calcium and fiber can bind to bile salts and help remove them from the body. By removing bile, fiber helps to prevent the damage that certain bile salts can cause to colon cells, thereby reducing the risk of colon cancer. In addition, when bile is removed by fiber, the body must break down cholesterol in order to make new bile. This process can help to lower high cholesterol levels, which can be helpful in preventing atherosclerosis and heart disease. For sufferers of irritable bowel syndrome, the fiber in cinnamon may also provide relief from constipation or diarrhea.
A Traditional Warming Remedy
In addition to the active components in its essential oils and its nutrient composition, cinnamon has also been valued in energy-based medical systems, such as Traditional Chinese Medicine, for its warming qualities. In these traditions, cinnamon has been used to provide relief when faced with the onset of a cold or flu, especially when mixed in a tea with some fresh ginger.
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=68