Cinnamon Seed

In Ayurveda, the tree’s fragrant bark is often used to enhance the bioavailability of other ingredients in traditional formulas; you’ll find it in many of our synergistic formulas. It can also be used on its own for therapeutic value, whether in teas, churnas (spice mixtures), tablets, or via aromatherapy diffuser.

Let’s explore some of cinnamon’s chief Ayurvedic uses.

1. It Stokes Digestive Fires
A warming spice with sweet, pungent, and bitter flavors, cinnamon is excellent at revving up the digestion. Because of its warming properties, it’s pacifying for Kapha and good for balancing Vata as well. Pitta types can consume cinnamon, too, but in relatively smaller quantities.

In Ayurveda, cinnamon is used in a variety of different ways to balance digestion and pacify the stomach. For a little digestion boost, you can sprinkle it on rice and vegetables, combining it with complimentary spices like ginger, cloves, black pepper, saffron, and nutmeg. It’s also delicious in smoothies (think coconut-vanilla), nut milkshakes, and desserts like pies and rice pudding. For your convenience, our Kapha Churna and Vata Churna spice mixtures contain cinnamon and other warming spices, plus they contain each of the six Ayurvedic tastes.

If you’d like a little more of a digestive boost, try our Organic Cinnamon tablets. Pure cinnamon taken in this form helps detox the GI tract while strengthening your digestion, improving absorption, and supporting healthy blood sugar. Cinnamon is also an ingredient in our Herbal Di-Gest and Flora Tone formulas.

2. It Helps Clear Respiratory Passages
There’s a reason cinnamon is so popular in cool weather! Its warming properties comfort, soothe, and help clear out the airways. Cinnamon can be combined with other warming botanicals like ginger and pepper and boiled into an herbal tea when you’re feeling under the weather. You’ll also find it in many traditional formulas that are designed to promote clear respiratory passages, such as Chyawanprash (a powerful respiratory tonic), Clear Breathe (an invigorating aroma blend), Clear Throat (a throat syrup that’s rich in antioxidants), and our Sniffle Free Aroma.

Not just for cold weather, cinnamon is an important ingredient in our year-round Aller-Defense and Aller-GI, both of which help build up allergen resistance.

3. It Promotes Healthy Circulation & Joints
Joint discomfort can sometimes be caused by the accumulation of ama (digestive impurities) around the joints. Because cinnamon strengthens digestion and absorption, it can help prevent ama from accumulating in the first place. It’s also very stimulating and helps promote healthy circulation. For these reasons, cinnamon is included in our Flexcel and Muscle Ease Balm, two traditional formulas that support healthy joints and bones.