Cinnamon oil – ideal for aromatherapy and aroma diffusers
Cinnamon – the typical scent of comfort and warmth provides energy and vitality. But cinnamon essential oil is not only popular as a winter scent. It has a stimulating and strengthening effect, stimulates appetite and digestion. Cinnamon oil is said to have antibacterial, antiviral, fungicidal (anti-fungal) and anti-inflammatory effects.
Cinnamon is one of the oldest and, at the time, most expensive spices in the world. If you believe the traditions, it is said to have been used as a spice in China and India 3000 years ago. It was used for embalming in ancient Egypt and as incense in ancient Greece. In the early Middle Ages, the Arabs brought cinnamon to Europe via trade routes.
Today, cinnamon essential oil is often used in aromatherapy. It provides energy and warmth, is said to protect against colds due to its strong antibiotic and antiviral effects and has an appetite-stimulating and digestive effect.
What is cinnamon oil?
There are different oils from the cinnamon tree: the real cinnamon oil is obtained from the bark and young shoots of the Ceylon cinnamon tree.
Cinnamon cassia oil (Cinnamomum cassia) from the cinnamon cassia, the Chinese cinnamon tree, has significantly less aroma than real Ceylon cinnamon oil and a high proportion of the toxin coumarin.
Cinnamon leaf oil from the leaves of the real cinnamon tree has a very strong scent and is often used for aromatherapy and cosmetics.
The essential cinnamon leaf oil is obtained using steam distillation.
More about cinnamon oil
The real cinnamon tree originally comes from Ceylon, now Sri Lanka. With a maximum height of 10 meters under favorable conditions, the cinnamon tree is a rather small representative of tropical trees.
Cinnamon oil is primarily used as a fragrance and flavoring agent. But it can also kill viruses, bacteria and fungi and inhibit inflammation. When taken orally, cinnamon can regulate blood sugar and cholesterol levels and relieve digestive problems. When you smell the scent of cinnamon oil, the cinnamaldehyde reaches the olfactory and taste buds in the nose and throat via the air you breathe and thus affects the autonomic nervous system and digestion. It is also said to increase memory and concentration - try it out!
Cinnamon oil contains numerous components. Only three typical ingredients are mentioned here:
- Cinnamaldehyde: the fragrance that is responsible for the typical cinnamon smell. This already has an appetite-stimulating and digestive effect through the nose. Caution: can irritate skin and eyes!
- Eugenol: is a strong disinfectant, kills bacteria and fungi, and is an insecticide (for example against worms and mites). It relieves pain and reduces inflammation. Eugenol is also present in clove oil, which explains its use in dentistry.
- Cineole: is a monoterpene that is also found in eucalyptus, tea tree, sage and rosemary oil and is used to relieve upper respiratory tract complaints. Cineole has an anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, expectorant effect.
What can cinnamon oil be used for?
We have now learned a lot about the properties of cinnamon oil. This allows us to draw direct conclusions about the areas of application. Cinnamon oil is very highly concentrated. That's why aromatherapy with a scent lamp or diffuser is the gentlest. Please never use the oil pure on the skin, but always in conjunction with a carrier oil, otherwise skin irritation may occur.
What exactly can cinnamon oil do? Cinnamon oil is known for its warming, digestive and disinfectant effects. When used aromatherapeutically, it not only improves the smell of the room air, but also fights bacteria, viruses and fungi that can be in the air. This can prevent the spread of infections, especially of the respiratory tract. If an infection catches you cold, cinnamon oil loosens stubborn mucus in the throat and throat, makes it easier to cough up and has a disinfectant effect to protect against reinfection. Cinnamon oil generally has a pain-relieving (analgesic) effect and is therefore included in rubs against rheumatoid arthritis and arthrosis. Cinnamon oil is also used as an antifungal against fungal infections such as athlete's foot and nail fungus.
The areas of application are summarized here:
- Colds and flu-like infections
- Indigestion, flatulence, feeling of fullness, cramps
- Loss of appetite
- Candida and other fungal diseases, including skin, nail or athlete's foot
- Chronic inflammatory diseases such as rheumatism, osteoarthritis, arthritis
- Inflammation
- Mood swings
- Improve memory and concentration
- Warming for body and soul
Conclusion of cinnamon oil
Cinnamon oil – known to many people as the warming scent of winter – can do so much more than just spread the Christmas spirit. It disinfects the air in the room and thus prevents colds and infectious diseases. Cinnamon oil has a positive effect on digestion and appetite and has pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory effects. If you are depressed, it can cheer you up and improve your memory and concentration. Try it!
Safety note:
To avoid skin irritation, cinnamon oil should never be used undiluted on the skin. Depending on the application, it should be diluted with a carrier oil (e.g. coconut, almond or wild rose oil). The ratio depends on what it is used for, for whom and over what period of time.
Pregnant women should avoid using cinnamon and cinnamon oil, as cinnamon in high doses could trigger contractions. It should also be avoided for small children up to 3 years old.
