Cinnamon As a Health Drug

According to Drugs.com, cinnamon has been used in traditional Eastern and Western medicine since 2000 B.C. Its medical uses are documented in the Bible. Early medical uses included preservation of the dead, anorexia, colic, rheumatism and antioxidant activity. In 2009, Richard Anderson of the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported that clinical research was being done on the medical effects of cinnamon on diabetes and heart disease.

History

Cinnamon is a multiple-use plant that was brought from China to Egypt for both medical and flavoring uses. Both cinnamon bark and volatile oils have been used to treat bacteria, gastrointestinal upsets, diarrhea, herpes, tuberculosis and rheumatism. Cinnamon has been also been used by traditional medicine in Korea, China and Russia to treat diabetes. Alam Khan and researchers reported in a small 2003 study in Diabetes Care that cinnamon reduced fasting blood sugar in diabetics 18 percent to 29 percent and cholesterol 12 percent to 26 percent.

Considerations

Cinnamon is classified as a food, not a drug. As a food, it is not required to prove its safety, effectiveness or claims to the Food and Drug Administration. Claims of effectiveness as a medical treatment have not been been supported by research, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center, although some positive effects have been noted. The Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, which rates herbal and non-herbal supplements based on data from scientific investigation and consensus, reported insufficient information to rate the medical effectiveness of cinnamon.

Effects on Blood Sugar

Cinnamon has been tested for its ability to reduce blood sugar in diabetics. Gregory Nichols, Ph.D., reported on a clinical study where cinnamon reduced blood sugar a small but insignificant amount. Researcher William Baker compared five randomized controlled trials of diabetic subjects receiving either cinnamon or a placebo. Cinnamon did not improve fasting blood sugar. Baker pointed out that the trials were small and results were not consistent.

Effects on Cholesterol

Cinnamon has also been tested for its ability to reduce cholesterol. Baker did a meta analysis of five clinical studies of the effect of cinnamon on cholesterol level of diabetics subjects. From Baker's literature search, he found conflicting results, small sample sizes and possible publication bias. The Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database indicated insufficient evidence to rate the effectiveness of cinnamon on reducing cholesterol.

Warning

Cinnamon has been used safely as a medicine for many years. There have not been interactions with foods but there are some with medications. If you have liver disease, cinnamon should not be taken in large doses. It also should not be mixed with drugs, which might hurt your liver. While studies have shown limited effect on lowering blood sugar, cinnamon should not be combined with anti-diabetic drugs. It should be discontinued two weeks prior to surgery to avoid problems. Consult your physician about diet changes.