Herb of the Week: Cinnamon

Cinnamon

One of the world’s oldest and most beloved spices, Cinnamon has been traded and revered across cultures for thousands of years — from ancient Egypt and the Mediterranean to China and Ayurvedic India. Far beyond its familiar role in the kitchen, cinnamon has a rich medicinal history as a warming digestive tonic, circulation stimulant, and blood sugar regulator. Its dual identity as both a culinary staple and a powerful herbal medicine makes it one of the most accessible and versatile herbs in any wellness cabinet.

Quick Facts

• Botanical Name: Cinnamomum verum (true cinnamon) / Cinnamomum cassia (cassia cinnamon) *Cassia is not associated with medicinal properties
• Common Name(s): Cinnamon, Ceylon Cinnamon, Cassia, True Cinnamon
• Energetics: Warming, Drying, Sweet, Pungent, Slightly Astringent

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Perspective

• TCM Name (Pinyin): Ròu Guì (肉桂) — inner bark; Guì Zhī (桂枝) — twigs
• Meridians Influenced: Heart, Kidney, Liver, and Spleen
• Therapeutic Actions: Warms the Kidneys and fortifies Yang, disperses interior Cold, warms and unblocks the channels, promotes circulation of Qi and Blood, and anchors floating Yang.
• TCM Diagnosis Patterns: Primarily indicated for Yang Deficiency patterns (presenting as cold limbs, low libido, frequent urination, and lower back weakness) and interior Cold patterns affecting the digestive system (presenting as abdominal pain, loose stools, and nausea).
• Common TCM Uses: Ròu Guì is a key ingredient in warming, Yang-tonifying formulas such as Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan (Kidney Qi Pill), one of the most famous classical formulas for Kidney Yang Deficiency. Guì Zhī, the twig form, is famously used in Gui Zhi Tang to release the exterior and harmonize Ying and Wei.

Allopathic Medicine (Western) — Cinnamon is not an approved prescription drug in Western medicine, but it has attracted significant scientific interest, particularly for its potential role in blood sugar regulation. It is widely available as an over-the-counter dietary supplement and is commonly studied for its effects on insulin sensitivity, type 2 diabetes management, and anti-inflammatory activity. The active compound cinnamaldehyde, as well as various polyphenols, are believed to be responsible for many of its observed effects.

Preparations — The inner bark is the primary part used medicinally, typically dried and sold as sticks (quills) or ground into powder. It can be prepared as a simple decoction or tea, added to warm beverages like golden milk or chai, or taken in capsule, tincture, or extract form. The essential oil is used topically and aromatically but should be used with great care and dilution due to its potency.

Commonly Grown Where?

• Country, Climate, Zone: Cinnamomum verum (Ceylon cinnamon) is native to Sri Lanka and southern India, thriving in tropical, humid lowland climates.
• Cinnamomum cassia originates in southern China and is widely cultivated throughout Southeast Asia. Both species grow in USDA Zones 9–11. Note that this is an inferior product and not associated with the research on medicinal properties of Cinnamon. Cinnamon Ceylon is the preferred herb and is considerably more expensive.

Final Thoughts / Fun Fact Cinnamon was so precious in the ancient world that it was considered a gift fit for kings and gods — Egyptian pharaohs received it as tribute, and Roman Emperor Nero reportedly burned a year’s worth of the city’s supply at his wife’s funeral as an act of extravagant mourning. In medieval Europe, the spice trade routes that carried cinnamon were among the primary drivers of the Age of Exploration. It’s a humbling reminder that the jar sitting in your spice rack was once worth more than gold.

Cinnamon is a featured ingredient in our Imperial Blend.