Several varieties of cinnamon exist, with Ceylon cinnamon and Cassia cinnamon being the most commonly used. Cinnamon is derived from the inner bark of evergreen trees belonging to the Cinnamomum family, which is indigenous to tropical areas. Variations of cinnamon used in ancient herbal healing date back thousands of years, with a broad range of uses, including the treatment of digestive disturbance, bacterial infections and muscle tension. Cinnamon is not intended to cure medical ailments, and consultation with your physician is suggested before using cinnamon as a health treatment.
Active Components of Cinnamon
The essential oil of cinnamon contains organic chemicals such as eugenol and cinnamaldehyde, which account for the medicinal properties, notes the University of Michigan Health System. Eugenols are derived from plant phenols, which give cinnamon aroma and flavoring in addition to antioxidant properties. Antioxidants are important for protecting your body from damaging free radicals. Cinnamaldehyde also provide flavoring and has antibacterial properties that are helpful in reducing bacterial or fungal infections. The active components of cinnamon are linked to the health benefits of regulating blood sugar and lowering cholesterol. However, the mechanism of action is not fully understood, and research is inconclusive and ongoing.
Blood Sugar Regulation
Type 2 diabetes is characterized by the inability of a person's body to process glucose, the primary sugar used for energy. Glucose remains in the blood for too long, causing levels to rise while starving your cells of the needed amounts of glucose for proper functions. According to MayoClinic.com, a 2009 study on cinnamon and blood sugar concluded that taking cinnamon supplements twice a day for 90 days improved blood sugar levels in participants with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes. Cinnamon acts directly on insulin, the hormone your body produces to regulate blood glucose. However, the exact contribution of cinnamon to regulating insulin is inconclusive, and ongoing research continues.
Liver Steatosis and Pancreatitis
Cinnamon extract has a protective effect on a damaged liver, according to a 2009 study in the "Journal of Nutrition." The study used cinnamon extract on lab mice with alcohol induced fatty liver to simulate the mechanism of action of cinnamon in protecting from further progression of liver disease. In this clinical forum, cinnamon blocked the effects of ethanol and endotoxins in consistent trials. However, research to determine viability of cinnamon in protecting human liver damage is ongoing.
Treatment of pancreatitis with cinnamon bark is also promising as an alternative intervention. Individuals with a history of alcoholism or binge drinking are susceptible to developing pancreatic conditions, which alter the digestive process and insulin regulation. The University of Maryland Medical Center notes that preventing further pancreas damage with use of cinnamon bark is an option, although it has not been well researched. Consult your physician before choosing this form of intervention.
Hypertension and Cholesterol
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, and high cholesterol are risks for individuals with existing diabetes. According to the "Journal of the American College of Nutrition," using cinnamon to regulate blood sugar may also prove favorable in decreasing blood pressure in studies of hypertension. The 2006 study was conducted in a lab setting with mice and is ongoing for its effectiveness in humans. Because of the effect cinnamon has on glucose metabolism, this may also generalize to lowering cholesterol levels associated with co-occurring high blood pressure.
References
- "Journal of the American College of Nutrition"; Whole Cinnamon and Aqueous Extracts Ameliorate Sucrose-Induced Blood Pressure Elevations in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats; Harry G. Preuss, MD et al; February 2006
- MayoClinic.com: Can Cinnamon Lower Blood Sugar?
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Pancreatitis
- University of Michigan Health System: Cinnamon
- "Journal of Nutrition"; Cinnamon Extract Protects Against Acute Alcohol-Induced Liver Steatosis in Mice; Giridhar Kanuri et al; March 2009
- Holistic Online: Cinnamon
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