Cinnamon oil is a widely used substance found in many household items. Some of the uses of cinnamon oil include mouthwashes, toothpastes, breath mints and chewing gum. Most people perceive cinnamon oil as a relatively benign substance with little or zero health consequence. It may be surprising to know that if large quantities of cinnamon oil are contacted, some health issues may arise.
Cardiovascular Issues
Increased heart rate may be associated with cinnamon oil poisoning. A person may describe this feeling as heart palpitations or heart racing.
Eyes, Ears, Nose and Throat
A variety of symptoms affecting the eyes, ears, nose and throat can arise from overexposure to cinnamon oil. Some of these include cheilitis (inflammation of the lips), gingivitis (inflammation of the gums around the teeth), glossitis (inflammation of the tongue), perioral dermatitis (redness of the skin around the mouth), and stomatitis (inflammation of the mucous lining of any of the structures in the mouth, which may involve the cheeks, gums, tongue, lips, throat and roof or floor of the mouth).
GastroIntestinal Issues
Increased gastrointestinal motility can arise from over ingestion of cinnamon oil. This simply means the function of the stomach is enhanced and the movement of stomach contents through the intestines is increased.
Respiratory Issues
If large quantities of cinnamon oil are inhaled, a person may suffer from acute dyspnea or shortness of breath. This symptom can be easily resolved if a person simply moves to an area with fresh, clean air.
Skin Issues
Several skin issues may also arise if concentrated cinnamon oil is contacted, including warmth, redness, swelling and even welts on the skin. The MSDS sheet for cinnamon oil is a very useful tool if any of these symptoms are suspected. MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheets) are a form that contains all the properties of a particular substance including, but not limited to, toxicity, health effects, first aid and handling procedures.
Allergic Reactions
There are a few issues associated with allergies to cinnamon oil These issues include contact dermatitis (inflammation of the skin caused by direct contact with an irritating substance), hand perspiration and drowsiness.
Extreme Issues
There have been a few extreme reactions to overexposure to cinnamon oil. In very few extreme cases, second degree burns have been noted. In one extreme case, squamous cell carcinoma was noted in a patient with a long term (several years) history of excessive chewing of cinnamon flavored gum according to the case study performed by Dr. William Westra in 1997. Incidentally, squamous cell carcinoma is the second most common type of skin cancer that is predominantly caused by overexposure to harmful ultraviolet rays.
Member Comments