Cinnamon: Not just for baking.

This time of year, cinnamon is a must in many homes. Gosh, I can't walk into a primitive's store without being hit in the face with the synthetic aroma of cinnamon wax melts.

The aroma and spice helps make for a cozy atmosphere, so it's no wonder that in the bitter winter, people fill their homes and taste buds with cinnamon related scents and foods. 

What if I told you that there is more to cinnamon than most realize?

Of course there is, or why else would I be blogging about it?
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Historical Uses

Cinnamon Cinnamomum zeylanicum ​was usually owned by only those who had a decent amount of money. It wasn't used for baking, either. 

The trade of cinnamon out of Venice benefited the economy and possibly was part of the reason it became a wealthy city. The Romans used it for flavoring wine and fragrances during funurals, and the Egyptians used cinnamon for the embalming process. 

But still, while cinnamon was being used for perfumes, wines, and embalming, it still wasn't being used for snickerdoodles and candies. Today, it could be argued that cinnamon can be used for all the above and more.
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I once used it to battle ants while we lived in the tent, it kept them at a distance from the cooler.
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Medicinal Uses

Here's something interesting: cinnamon Cinnamomum zeylanicum lowers blood sugar levels.  This may benefit those who have problems controlling their sugar levels and are diabetics. There have been many various successful studies held on cinnamon and its effects on blood glucose levels but there is still more testing needed to be done. This is also true for the possibility of it helping insulin levels.

Cinnamon also holds anti-inflammatory properties as well as it could be beneficial to the body's cardiovascular health and lowers cholesterol. It has the ability in some cases to effect the systolic blood pressure and lowers it. 

As amazing as cinnamon can be for your health, you can also use it for cleaning. It's a main ingredient in my mop water and household cleaning sprays. I add 10 drops to about gallon of soapy water. It's anti-viral, kills germs, and most bugs and insect hate it so you're also keeping those pests at bay!

Forms of Cinnamon

Cinnamon can used as an extract such as a water soluble extract as well as an essential oil.

The bark of cinnamon can be used, but some extracts are made from the leaf.

Adding cinnamon to your diet can be beneficial as stated above. Here are a few of the many available forms of cinnamon, all organic:
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Contraindications for Cinnamon

Cinnamon can be contraindicated in large doses. Be sure to discuss with your doctor if it is safe to be taking cinnamon as a supplement and if it may interact with any of your medications. Cinnamon may increase your heart rate in large doses.

Also! Cinnamon is a skin sensitizer, meaning you should not apply it topically as it can cash rashes and possible other dermal problems with the skin.

So next time you use cinnamon, think about trying something new with it like making it as a bug repellent, cleaning tool, or medicinally and let me know how it goes!

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Thanks for reading!

Maryland, B. U. (n.d.). University of Maryland Graduate School. Retrieved January 06, 2018, from https://www.graduate.umaryland.edu/gsa/gazette/November-2015/Health-Benefits-of-Cinnamon/

(n.d.). Retrieved January 06, 2018, from https://unitproj.library.ucla.edu/biomed/spice/index.cfm?displayID=5

Is Cinnamon Good For You? (n.d.). Retrieved January 06, 2018, from https://www.washington.edu/wholeu/2016/03/03/is-cinnamon-good-for-you/