"Health Benefits of Cinnamon"
Cinnamon is most commonly used as a flavor additive in hot beverages, on oatmeal, sprinkled on top of French toast or used in baking pastries. What you may not know, is that Cinnamon's stimulating volatile oil is the prime reason for it being classified medicinally as a fungicide, antibacterial and antiviral spice/herb. The use of cinnamon has been known to relieve yeast and fungal infections, and when used as a general tonic, it can relieve digestive congestion, thereby raising one's vital energy. It helps remedy distention in the abdominal cavity and aids in relieving excess wind, as it provides a great relief from colic, and helps to relieve nausea and vomiting as well. Believe it or not, the strength of its volatile oil makes it very useful as a stimulant in fainting spells, or in oral hygiene as a dental antiseptic. Its warming, spicy flavor also has a sedative effect for nervousness as a warm tea or in warm milk. Other therapeutic properties of this spice/herb are in its effectiveness against persistent headaches, muscle pain and neuralgia in the body.
There are many different ways in which we can use herbs (foot baths, body washes, hot compress, etc.), which can be defined by the way the herb or spice is prepared. You can also make teas, grind spices to a powder to put in capsules, or boil them into decoctions, or let them sit covered in boiling hot water (off the flame) to make infusions. Different preparations allow us to use them in so many different ways. Because cinnamon is a bark, it needs to be boiled rigorously in order to release the therapeutic properties from its bark. Sometimes, during the holidays, people boil certain spices on the stove just to have that aroma infused throughout the house.
Infusions are one of the more common ways of preparing herbs and spices. We spoke of a number of ways the medicinal properties of cinnamon can help relieve so many conditions. The difference between a simple tea and an infusion is in how much spice/herb you put in how much water, and how long you let it boil or steep (to let sit in a cup or pot, covered, off the flame, for 10-20 minutes). People usually drink teas on a regular basis for good health (when the body may need specific herb/spice for an illness), and drink infusions on occasion for a more nutrient-packed drink (as a way to take in a higher concentration of a spice or herb's vitamin and mineral content. For example, a cup of nettle tea has 5-10mg of calcium, while a cup of infused nettle tea contains as much as 500mg of calcium. WOW. Here's the simple difference in preparation.
To make a tea, simply put 1-2tsp of the spice/herb (or mixture) in a cup and add boiling water. Let sit, covered, for 10-15min and then drink. Never use white sugar to sweeten. If the spice or herb is hard, like barks, roots or seeds, then boil 1-2tsp of the mixture for 5-10min, covered; remove from the flame and let sit for 5-10 more minutes. For adults, you can drink a cup or two of the tea daily, or if treating an illness, three times a day, at least. For children, half that amount.
To make an infusion, I'd take a cup of the spice or herb (or mixture) in a large (quart) jar, fill the jar with boiling water and cap tightly. Let the spice/herb sit overnight (or 4-10 hours) and then strain. Personally, I like the overnight method, and then the next day I have enough infusion to drink for the whole day. Whatever you don't finish, refrigerate. Infusions generally last for 1 to 1 ½ days.
This information is to help you balance your natural healing energies and is not intended as diagnosis or cure, nor as a substitute for medical supervision. Website: www.sacredhealing7.com; phone: 347-407-4312; Blog: www.herbsarenaturesmedicine.blogspot.com; to pre-order my book at a discount before release: booklaunch.io/Zakiyyah/theenergeticsofherbs; you can also send email to: zakiyyah@sacredhealing7.com to request my FREE “email” Newsletter.
