Cinnamon Essential Oil Information

Cinnamon oil’s ability to do more than flavor toothpaste and gum continues to be uncovered. The oil’s active compounds, including eugenol and cinnamaldehyde, appear to contain germ- and fungus-fighting abilities. Massage therapists prize cinnamon oil for its “warming” qualities, while the scent itself is universally welcomed in potpourris and candles. Always check with your doctor before attempting any herbal treatment or aromatherapy. Cinnamon oil can irritate some people's skin.

Production

Cinnamon essential oil, extracted from the tree Cinnamomum zeylanicum, comes from either the leaf or bark. The tree grows up to 45 feet tall, but commercial growers keep it pruned to much shorter heights. The tree is native to Sri Lanka and India, but farmers now cultivate it in other warm-climate countries, notably Madagascar.

Producers extract the oil from the leaves or bark through steam distillation. The leaf oil is lighter in color with a sweeter aroma, while the bark oil is red-brown and more robust. Opinions vary on which oils work best for various applications.

Benefits

Aromatherapist Jeanne Rose recommends using circulation-boosting cinnamon oil in massages to warm a chilled or flu-stricken patient, as well as to fight off the illnesses themselves. To 8 oz. almond or olive oil, add 10 drops cinnamon oil and up to 30 drops of other pleasing, therapeutic oils, such as sandalwood, rose or orange oil.

Try a small patch test first to rule out allergies to cinnamon oil. You can apply this oil to yourself during times of chill or illness or ask your partner to give you a therapeutic massage. As an inhalation for vaporizers, cinnamon oil can encourage sweating in people retaining water or who need to rid themselves of environmental impurities according to Rose.

Potential

The New York Times cites studies indicating that cinnamon essential oil’s antibacterial qualities can help protect people against illnesses caused by bacteria like MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) , streptococcus and E. coli. Add 2 drops each cinnamon, lemon and eucalyptus oil to 8 oz. of either water or liquid soap and pour into a pump-style hand soap dispenser. Test this formula on a small part of your body first to make sure the cinnamon oil does not irritate your skin.

Additional Applications

According to potpourri expert Louise Gruenberg, the traditional message sent by the inclusion of cinnamon bark and cinnamon oil in potpourri was “esteem and favor.” She includes ¾ tsp cinnamon oil to 16 cups dried plant materials in her spice-based potpourri. Other essential oils used include allspice, clove and tangerine; dried materials include cinnamon sticks, cloves, calendula flowers, feverfew flowers and yarrow flowers. Add a few drops of cinnamon oil to harvest-themed autumnal wreaths or to a small saucepan of water simmering in the kitchen. Use caution when handling cinnamon oil; it can cause rashes in some people.

Warning

Never use cinnamon oil undiluted; add no more than 2 drops for every ounce of liquid, including body, bath or massage oil. Cinnamon oil can irritate your skin in undiluted form. Additionally, it may cause rashes in sensitive people even while diluted. Therefore, it is important to test the diluted oil on a small patch of skin. Although some food-grade cinnamon oils exist for flavoring mouthwashes and foods, it is best not to experiment with internal use of cinnamon oil at home, warns the Herbal Safety program of University of Texas at El Paso. Instead, use powdered cinnamon.