Cinnamon Oil

(leaf vs bark?)

You’re probably familiar with common cinnamon spice that’s sold in nearly every grocery store in the U.S. but Cinnamon Oil is a bit different because it’s a much more potent “extract” form of the plant that contains special compounds not found in the dried spice.

There are two primary types of cinnamon oils available on the market: cinnamon bark oil and cinnamon leaf oil. While they have some similarities, they’re different products with somewhat separate uses. Cinnamon bark oil is extracted from the outer bark of the cinnamon tree. It’s considered very potent and has a strong, “perfume-like” smell, almost like taking an intense whiff of ground cinnamon. Cinnamon bark oil is usually more expensive than cinnamon leaf oil.

Cinnamon leaf oil has a “musky and spicy” smell and tends to have a lighter color. While cinnamon leaf oil might appear yellow and murky, cinnamon bark oil has a deeper red-brown color that most people usually associate with cinnamon spice. Both are beneficial, but cinnamon bark oil may be more potent.

Cinnamon oil is highly concentrated with antioxidants, which makes it effective as a natural digestive aid, blood sugar stabilizer and circulation booster. It’s also commonly used to combat cardiovascular diseases and fight infections.

According to research, the list of cinnamon benefits is long. Meanwhile, the oil itself especially has strong antiparasitic, anti-inflammatory, antiplatelet and antiviral properties, which makes it extremely useful for enhancing immunity. The major active ingredients in cinnamon essential oil responsible for its beneficial effects include: eugenol, cinnamaldehyde, phellandrene and methyleugenol. The main beneficial component of cinnamon oil is believed to be cinnamaldehyde, which comprises about 60 percent of the substance. 

Benefits of Cinnamon Bark Oil

Many of the benefits of cinnamon bark oil have to do with its ability to dilate blood vessels. Cinnamon bark can help enhance nitric oxide function, which causes increased blood flow and lower levels of inflammation.

Some of the most researched health benefits of cinnamon oil include:

• Decreases inflammation
• Increases circulation
• Fights viruses
• Fights free radicals
• Relieves depression
• Stimulates the immune system
• Stimulates libido
• Fights parasites

 

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9 Cinnamon Oil Uses

1. Heart Health-Booster

Cinnamon oil can naturally help keep arteries clear and free from dangerous plaque buildup thanks to its circulation-boosting abilities. The interior surface of arteries (called the endothelium) is where nitric oxide is normally produced, but when plaque builds up, the disease called atherosclerosis       forms, which means you have a decreased ability to produce nitric oxide.

Because cinnamon helps foster nitric oxide production, it’s beneficial for people with heart disease or who have suffered from a heart attack or stroke. It also contains antiplatelet compounds that further benefit arterial health.

2. Natural Aphrodisiac

Poor circulation also has negative effects when it comes to low libido and erectile dysfunction. A major cause of low libido is aged, clogged arteries since this makes it difficult for the reproductive organs to receive enough blood, oxygen and nutrients.

Compounds in cinnamon oil act like natural prescription drugs for erectile dysfunction; for example, Viagra works by influencing enzymes in the nitric oxide pathway to increase blood flow. This makes cinnamon oil a natural remedy for impotence.

3. Controls Blood Sugar and Insulin Release

Cinnamon has positive effects on insulin release, which means it can help keep blood sugar stable and prevent chronic fatigue, moodiness, sugar cravings and overeating. Inhaling cinnamon essential oil can also help keep cravings away and possibly make you feel full faster too.

Unstable blood sugar can lead to overeating, low energy and weight gain, but adding cinnamon oil to fruit, tea, oats, baked goods or smoothies helps slow the rate at which glucose is released into the blood.

4. Heals Skin

Effective at treating skin conditions such as rashes, acne and infections, you can mix cinnamon essential oil with a carrier oil (like coconut oil) and apply it to the skin to take advantage of its antimicrobial capacity.

5. Can Help with Weight Loss

Cinnamon is gaining a reputation for being a fat-burning food and valuable tool for weight loss. With its ability to balance blood sugar levels and improve the taste of foods without any added sugar, it’s effective for curbing a sweet tooth.Try using a diffuser at home and allowing cinnamon oil’s smell to waft through your dining room, or you can add a couple drops to your chest, wrists and clothes.

6. Reduces Ulcers 

Cinnamon essential oil holds a beneficial compound called eugenol that can help reduce ulcers. Eugenol is able to combat some of the gastric effects of a poor diet to reduce pain associated with ulcer symptoms, the number of ulcers that develop, and their intensity in terms of causing legions in the skin or mucous membranes that fail to heal.

7. Fights Parasites

Studies have found that cinnamon oil inhibits growth of certain harmful parasites, making with an excellent parasite treatment.

Along with other oils like thyme, oregano oil and cumin, cinnamon essential oil is considered one of the best oils for stopping mycelial parasite growth even when used in very small quantities.

8. Treats Sore Throats

Cinnamon oil can help prevent mucus buildup and clear nasal passages. Try drinking a combination of hot lemon water, honey and cinnamon oil first thing in the morning to curb cravings, give you a pick-me-up and raise immune function.

These ingredients also work together to fight inflammation and reduce pain, making them a perfect sore throat remedy or cure for mouth sores, toothaches or a cold.

9. Helps Treat or Prevent Headaches

Because the active compounds in cinnamon oil help increase circulation by expanding blood vessels, headache pain can be reduced by diffusing cinnamon essential oil in your home or inhaling it, making it an easy-to-use headache remedy.

 

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Cinnamon Essential Oil Recipes

Here’s how you can use cinnamon oil at home:

• Aromatically: Cinnamon oil can be diffused throughout your home using a diffuser. You can also directly inhale the oil by sniffing it right out of the bottle or applying some to your skin and clothes and smelling it that way, similar to a perfume.
• Topically: You should always dilute cinnamon oil with a carrier oil like coconut oil in a 1:1 ratio before applying it directly to skin. Coconut oil has its own long list of benefits for skin and immunity, so these make a good combination.
• Internally: The FDA recognizes cinnamon oil as safe for consumption, but ingesting any essential oil is ONLY recommended when you use a very high-quality oil from a reputable brand. This way you know exactly what you’re getting (and avoiding). Look for oil that’s organic, which ensures it’s been tested and meets all criteria, plus it will be free from chemical toxins, fillers or solvents. To use cinnamon oil internally, you can add a drop to water or take it as a dietary supplement by mixing it with honey or a fruit smoothie.

You can also add a small amount (several drops) of cinnamon oil to recipes, but avoid heating it to very high temperatures and cooking it for too long because that depletes its antioxidants and active ingredients. Because it tastes like a very strong version of cinnamon spice, you can use the oil wherever you’d use ground cinnamon.

references: 
http://draxe.com/cinnamon-oil/
http://www.experience-essential-oils.com/health-benefits-of-cinnamon.html