Benefits of Cinnamon

In Chinese herbal medicine, cinnamon, known as gui zhi, is a very commonly used herb in many traditional formulas for thousands of years. Recently, the western medical community has begun to take notice of many of its benefits. It is classified as a warm acrid herb that is chiefly used for releasing cold pathogenic factors from the interior of the body by inducing sweating, in the case of colds, influenza, allergies where there are more cold signs and symptoms.

It is to be used cautiously for patients or conditions where there are heat signs: fever, inflammation, hot flashes, night sweating, sore throat, dry mouth, bleeding disorders, heavy menstrual periods and pregnancy.

It acts strongly on the Lung and Bladder meridians, which play a major role in colds, influenza and allergies. Cinnamon can also be used to treat painful obstructions (i.e. arthritis) in the joints that are aggravated by cold damp weather. For women with painful menstruation due to “cold trapped in the uterus”, cinnamon can be used to move blood and energy in the uterus.

It is important for patients to know that to properly determine whether they are candidates for cinnamon, they consult with a physician of Chinese medicine to undergo traditional tongue and pulse diagnosis. Self-medicating with cinnamon, or any other herb, can be counterproductive to a patients condition, especially if the nature of the herb and the condition are not fully known.

Since cinnamon has a warm nature it can adversely affect patients with high blood pressure. Western medicine has recently discovered that cinnamon may improve glucose and lipid control in some patients with type 2 diabetes. It is important to note that not all patients will respond positively to cinnamon therapy.

Chinese medicine is all about restoring balance to the body’s organs and meridians. This can be achieved through acupuncture and Chinese herbs. When used together, the results can be very powerful.

Meridian Harmonics

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