November at Amazingy is all about the health benefits of different plants and herbs. With fall on its way out and winter approaching, we’d like to introduce you to some of the lesser known spices and herbs that aren’t just great in the kitchen, but can also be incorporated into your beauty routine. After all, true beauty comes from the inside out! Until the 1800’s, super spice cinnamon was an expensive and rare product, even considered more valuable than gold. In the middle ages, tall tales were told about the origins of cinnamon to justify its exorbitant price. According to one of these magnificent stories, cinnamon could only be found hidden in deep canyons, guarded by horrific snakes.
Fortunately we don’t have to go through such ordeals to get our hands on some cinnamon goodness. But who knows, in ancient times the battle of the fictional snakes might have been worth it. High time to learn more about what this spice can do for you.
Different types of cinnamon Cinnamon has been used as a traditional remedy for centuries for numerous ailments, and is believed to possess anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial and a whole bunch of other benefits.
Nowadays you can typically find two types of cinnamon: Cassia and ceylon cinnamon. Cassia cinnamon is primarily produced in Indonesia and has the stronger smell and flavour of the two varieties. This is the cheaper variety that you can usually buy in grocery stores. The more expensive Ceylon cinnamon, most of which is still produced in Sri Lanka, has a milder, sweeter flavour and is popular in use for both baking and flavouring hot drinks such as coffee or hot chocolate.
Digestive conditions Cinnamon has been used medicinally to treat gastrointestinal problems and to help calm the stomach due to its excellent digestive and anti-inflammatory properties. Because of this cinnamon can offer relief with a variety of stomach conditions, one of them being IBS (irritable bowel syndrome). Drinking cinnamon tea two to three times on a daily base can reduce pain associated with IBS, and can also aid in reducing bloating, one of the symptoms of IBS. In addition, cinnamon contains compounds called catechins, which help relieve nausea.
Pain relief Honey and cinnamon combined have been found to relieve arthritic pain. In addition, cinnamon is also considered to be an effective natural remedy for eliminating headaches and offers migraine relief.
The sniffles For cinnamon to show what it’s worth, you need to act fast in the case of a cold; at the first sign of noticing an itch in your throat or an impending case of the sniffles, try drinking some cinnamon tea. This could mean the difference between walking around all snotty for a week, or getting rid of your sniffles within a day. Cinnamons ability to stop impending illness in its track is related to its antibacterial and warming properties, and to its blood flow increasing capacity, thereby improving blood oxygen levels to fight illness. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) commonly recommends cinnamon for coughs producing phlegm.
The lady blues Because of its anti-spasmodic and anti-inflammatory properties, cinnamon tea gives a lot of women relief from the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Bye bye cramps!
Yeast infections Cinnamon oil and cinnamon extract have anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, and anti-parasitic properties. Several studies have shown that cinnamon has been found to be active against candida albicans, the fungus responsible for vaginal yeast infections and thrush (oral yeast infection).
The list doesn’t end there.
Antiseptic Because of its antiseptic properties, cinnamon is great for disinfecting open wounds or cuts. By dusting a pinch of cinnamon over an open wound, the bacteria causing infection gets killed and thus helps heal the wound faster.
Reduce signs of aging Collagen levels in skin decrease with age, unfortunately. This makes skin lose its elasticity, allowing skin to sag and fine lines to deepen. Cinnamon contains cinnamaldehyde (the organic compound that gives cinnamon its flavour and colour), which increases collagen levels. This means that when cinnamon is applied on skin and consumed through the diet, collagen levels will increase again.
In addition, cinnamon stimulates the blood vessels, bringing blood to the surface of the skin, adding a plumping effect and thus reducing lines. Alas, this effect lasts only for around six hours after application, but it’s still a pretty wonderful way to naturally rejuvenate your skin!
Make it glow By including cinnamon in foods you can also improve your skin tone. A good way to do this is by adding a tablespoon of cinnamon to various foods in a day. This will provide you with an excellent source of fiber, which will help eliminate waste from your body. Getting rid of these toxins prevents them from clogging your skin, and ultimately will help improve skin tone, as well as help fight the bacteria which cause acne and other skin conditions. You can start by adding a teaspoon of cinnamon to a smoothie for instance.
Eczema treatment Eczema can be a very irritating skin condition that leaves behind light coloured patches in affected areas. Some people have found that using 1 tsp cinnamon and 1 tsp honey on these patches could provide relief. When it comes to using honey in any DIY recipe, always choose an organic, raw honey.
Acne and spots Cinnamon can help you get rid of acne on the body by both drying out the skin and by bringing blood and oxygen to the skin surface.
Mix 3 tbsp. of honey with 1 tbsp. of cinnamon and apply the paste to pimples. Leave this on overnight. You could also apply a thin layer to the face as a mask and leave it on for about 20 minutes before rinsing with warm water. As cinnamon masks can irritate the skin, they should not be applied more than once a week.
May Lindstrom’s Clean Dirt also uses cinnamon as one of its main ingredients to increase blood flow, leaving your skin with a healthy glow.
Lip plumper To add that little extra oomph to your lips, simply apply a lip balm for a glossy shine, and dab a bit of cinnamon on top. Rub the mixture in for a few seconds and allow it to sit for a minute or so. You’ll feel a bit of a tingle due to the tannins in cinnamon, which have an astringent effect. A great balm to try this with is the organic fragfrance free Lip Balm from Balm Balm.
Scrubbing it off: dry skin treatment To get rid of dead skin cells and restore shine and softness, consider this do-it-yourself scrub made out of sea salt, almond oil, olive oil, honey and ground cinnamon. What you need:
1/2 cup coarse salt or sea salt or a mixture of the two 1/4 cup almond oil 1/8 cup olive oil 2 to 3 tablespoons of raw honey 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
What are your experiences with cinnamon? Share your DIY tips and tricks in the comments below.
Resources:
Csilla is a huge book nerd, and would talk your ear off about her favourite author for hours if you let her. Even though she works with online media, she secretly longs for the days when people spent time reading real books and real magazines printed on real paper instead of staring at various screens all day. But technological development stops for no one, so instead of fighting it, she decided to embrace the whole thing: she's now a published author on multiple websites, owns a Kindle named Jinx (after her favorite drag queen), and can frequently be seen bumping into trashcans, people and traffic lights around Berlin, reading and walking at the same time.
Listening to the Heart When I went through premature menopause…
First things first: your skin is just as unique as…
I always thought of myself as someone who had “her…
