The cinnamon plant is used in a few different ways to produce medicinally beneficial products. For example, you’re probably familiar with common cinnamon spice that’s sold in nearly every grocery store in the U.S. Cinnamon oil is a bit different because it’s a much more potent form of the plant that contains special compounds not found in the dried spice. There are two primary types of cinnamon oils available on the market: cinnamon bark oil and cinnamon leaf oil. While they have some similarities, they’re different products with somewhat separate uses. Cinnamon bark oil is extracted from the outer bark of the cinnamon tree. It’s considered very potent and has a strong, “perfume-like” smell, almost like taking an intense whiff of ground cinnamon. Cinnamon bark oil is usually more expensive than cinnamon leaf oil. Cinnamon leaf oil has a “musky and spicy” smell and tends to have a lighter color. While cinnamon leaf oil might appear yellow and murky, cinnamon bark oil has a deeper red-brown color that most people usually associate with cinnamon spice.
Benefits
According to research, the list of cinnamon benefits is long. Cinnamon is known to possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anti-diabetic.
Cinnamon oil can naturally help to boost heart health. An animal study published in 2014 demonstrates how cinnamon bark extract along with aerobic training can help to improve heart performance.
You can use a high grade, pure cinnamon oil in your food to reap its blood sugar benefits. Of course, don’t overdo it because you don’t want your blood sugar to be too low either. Inhaling cinnamon essential oil can also help to keep unhealthy food cravings away.
With it’s anti-inflammatory properties, cinnamon oil can be an effective natural remedy for inflammatory skin concerns like rashes and acne. You can mix cinnamon essential oil with a carrier oil (like coconut oil) and apply it to the skin to take advantage of its antimicrobial capacity. Cinnamon oil can be a benefit for hair, too, with many beauty magazines recommending this spicy essential oil to boost hair health and growth.
You can combine a few drops of cinnamon oil with a carrier oil such as almond oil for a quick homemade scalp treatment. Using warming cinnamon oil for lips is a natural way to plump them by boosting circulation to this area. Combine two drops of cinnamon oil with a tablespoon of coconut oil for a great DIY lip plumper.
Safety
Are there any potential cinnamon oil dangers? Cinnamon oil is generally considered safe, but there’s always the chance that some people might react to essential oils. It’s possible for sensitive people to experience allergic reactions when cinnamon oil is taken or applied topically. This might show up as skin irritation, such as itching and rashes spreading on the body. It’s best to do a skin test on a small patch of skin when using a new essential oil to make sure allergies aren’t a problem. And if you ingest cinnamon oil and experience issues like nausea, stomach pain and diarrhea, stop taking it right away.