Cinnamon Oil

Cinnamon is one of the most popular herbs for flavoring and medicinal uses. Although cinnamon oil has numerous health benefits, it often causes irritations and allergic reactions. Therefore people prefer to use cinnamon directly instead of using the oil. 

Cinnamon whose scientific name is Cinnamomum zeylancium, originated in tropical Asia and was widely used in Sri Lanka and India. Now, this shrub is grown in almost every tropical region of the world. It is one of the most popular herbs for flavouring and medicinal purposes. Cinnamon oil is obtained from bark and leaves of cinnamon tree, so you can get cinnamon leaf oil or cinnamon bark oil. The oil is extracted by steam distillation or hydro-steam distillation. 

 

It is considered to be one of the first spices to be traded in the ancient world. Ancient Egyptians used cinnamon for the ritual of embalming. In middle ages physicians used to cure cold, sore throats and hoarseness with the help of this spice.The inner bark of the new shoots from the cinnamon tree are gathered every two years and sold as sticks for use as domestic spice.

 

The cinnamon leaf of is used in aroma therapy. It is darkish yellow with warm, earthy and spicy aroma. Cinnamon oil produced from bark stems and roots are not recommended for home use. Cinnamon has a lot of health benefits. The scent of cinnamon has the ability to boost brain activity. Using cinnamon can improve the score on cognitive activities such as attention span, visual recognition memory, working memory and visual-motor response speed.  

 

Cinnamon has the ability to control blood sugar, so diabetes (type 2) finds it very useful. It also improves the health of the colon. Due to its antifungal, antiviral, antiseptic and antibacterial properties, it is effective on treating infections. It is often used in chewing gums, as it's a good mouth freshener and removes bad breath. It has a refreshing aroma and is extensively used in perfume making. It works great as a mosquito repellent.

 

Commercially, cinnamon oil extracted from both bark and leaf are used in production of toothpaste, mouthwashes, cough syrup and dental preparations. They are also extensively used in food flavouring, alcoholic and soft drinks. Cinnamon leaf oil is used in soaps, cosmetics and perfumes. 

 

Being strong in nature, cinnamon oil should be avoided for internal consumption. Furthermore, it can have adverse effects on skin if used topically in concentrated form. Therefore, it should be diluted using a carrier oil before use. Before using cinnamon oil, it should be tested to make sure it suits your skin. You should apply only a small quantity of cinnamon oil initially and check if you develop any allergic reaction symptoms. Do not use cinnamon oil on the face and other sensitive areas. Cinnamon oil should always be used in moderation.

 

It blends well with Bergamot, Cardamom, Carnation, Eucalyptus, Frankincense, Lavender, Lemon, Lemongrass, Orange, Palmarosa, Rose, Tangerine And Ylang Ylang.