Properties:

Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antifungal, carminative, circulatory stimulant, warming agent

Dosage:

1-6 grams daily of dried bark powder or as an infusion/decoction. (Note: Cinnamomum cassia contains higher levels of coumarin; if consuming long-term or in larger amounts, Cinnamomum verum / Ceylon cinnamon is generally preferred). Break for at least 2 weeks after 12 weeks of continuous daily usage.

Benefits:

Supports healthy digestion, reduces gas and bloating, provides strong antimicrobial action, and warms the digestive tract and extremities. Highly valued for its rich polyphenol content, which offers robust protection against oxidative stress.

Hormonal Benefits:

Significantly supports healthy blood sugar balance and improves insulin sensitivity, helping to regulate glucose metabolism. Can also help modulate inflammatory pathways and ease symptoms associated with dysmenorrhea (menstrual cramping).

Avoid if:

You have active liver disease or compromised liver function (especially when using high-coumarin Cassia cinnamon), severe stomach ulcers, or a known allergy to cinnamon or Balsam of Peru.

Cautions:

Avoid large therapeutic doses if pregnant or breastfeeding (culinary amounts are generally safe, but high-dose supplements can act as a uterine stimulant). Can occasionally cause allergic skin reactions, mouth irritation, or heartburn if taken as a dry powder.

You should also be cautious if you are taking any of the following:

Antidiabetes drugs (cinnamon enhances insulin sensitivity and can lead to additive blood-sugar-lowering effects), Anticoagulant / Antiplatelet drugs, or Hepatotoxic medications (due to coumarin content in certain species).

References

American Botanical Council (ABC). (2000). Herbal Medicine: Expanded Commission E Monographs. Integrative Medicine Communications.

British Herbal Medicine Association (BHMA). (1996). British Herbal Compendium: Volume 1. BHMA.

European Medicines Agency (EMA). (2011). European Union herbal monograph on Cinnamomum verum J.S. Presl., cortex. EMA/HMPC/592398/2010.

Health Canada. (2025). Natural Health Products Ingredients Database (NHPID): Cinnamomum verum / Cinnamomum cassia (Cinnamon). Government of Canada.

Mills, S., & Bone, K. (2005). The Essential Guide to Herbal Safety. Churchill Livingstone.

World Health Organization (WHO). (2007). WHO Monographs on Selected Medicinal Plants (Volume 4). World Health Organization.