Cinnamon is for more than just adding to your favorite dessert recipes, it can be used to heal ailments, clear blemishes and so much more.
Since beginning this World War II series I’ve really come to appreciate how resourceful people were during this era. However these posts have raised the question, Why don’t we use them today? The only answer that I could come up with is that we’re to busy. It’s so much easier (and more expensive) to purchase a cleaning solution, or headache medicine off of the shelves than it is to stir up your own.
There is one thing that I’ve discovered through this series and that is, our grandmothers were geniuses. I’ve been testing out several of the uses, as I’ve needed them, like the earwax removal and I can’t believe how well they work, most of the time better then the commercial products. To think that I’ve been wasting my money on commercial products all of these years when I had the solution in my own cupboard, it makes me want to kick myself.
A few weeks ago I thought that I was beginning to run out of ideas to continue this series when out of the blue a complete stranger offered me a tip to help on my weight loss journey. This tip has lead to a whole new avenue of posts and I should be able to keep it going for several more weeks.
Cinnamon Facts & Uses
- Cinnamomum verum
- Ceylon or True cinnamon” is grown in Sri Lanka
- Commercial cinnamon is called Cassia and is not a “true cinnamon”
- It comes from the inner bark of the tree
- Mentioned several times in the Bible (Exodus, Proverbs, Song of Solomon)
- Ancient Egypt – cinnamon was used in embalming
- Highly prized among ancient nations, regarded as a gift fit for monarchs
- Used in traditional medicine
- Health benefits for: diabetes, arthritis, high cholesterol, memory function, leukemia and lymphoma
- Increases blood flow
- Anti-micobial properties
- Increases collagen production
- Anti-oxidant
- 2 teaspoons = 12 calories
- Acne and Blemishes – to treat, mix 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon with 3 tablespoons of honey, apply to the skin before bed. Wash with warm water.
- Blackheads – to banish, mix equal parts oatmeal and ground cinnamon, add water to make a thick paste. Scrub face with the mixture and rinse with cold water.
- Breath – to freshen, chew on a piece of cinnamon bark or gargle with cinnamon water.
- Hair – to lighten, mix equal parts ground cinnamon and conditioner. Evenly distribute the mixture throughout your wet, untangled hair. Leave on your hair overnight. In the morning wash hair.
- Lips – to plump, wet a cinnamon stick with warm water and rub it over your lips. Your lips will tingle and begin to plump.
- Arthritis – to reduce pain, drink a glass of cinnamon tea. (see recipe below)
- Bladder Infections – to avoid, drink a glass of cinnamon tea daily. (see recipe below)
- Circulation – to boost, drink a glass of cinnamon tea. (see recipe below)
- Cold and Flu – to relieve symptoms, drink a glass of cinnamon tea with a little ginger. (see recipe below)
- Indigestion – to avoid, add a little cinnamon to the dish you are serving or drink a glass of cinnamon tea 1/2 hour before eating. (see recipe below)
- Insect Bites – to treat, make a mixture using equal parts ground cinnamon and honey and apply to the bite.
- Menstrual – to ease pain, drink a glass of cinnamon tea. (see recipe below)
- Pain – to relieve, drink a glass of cinnamon tea. (see recipe below)
- Stomachache – to soothe, drink a glass of cinnamon tea with some honey. (see recipe below)
- UTI Infections (urinary tract infections) – to avoid, drink a glass of cinnamon tea daily. (see recipe below)
- Weight – to reduce or curb hunger and sugar cravings, drink a glass of cinnamon tea. (see recipe below)
- Yeast Infection – to fight, add cinnamon to your diet.
- (JUST ADDED) Diabetes – to lower your numbers, add cinnamon to your daily diet or use cinnamon capsules found in the vitamin section of your favorite pharmacy.
- Air Freshener – to make your own, display a bowl filled with ground cinnamon.
- Ants – to keep them at bay, sprinkle their trail with cinnamon.
- Incense – to make your own, place a mound of ground cinnamon in a heat resistant dish (ashtray), and light it with a match.
- Moths – to repel, break up 3-4 cinnamon sticks, combine them with 1/2 cup of whole cloves and 1/2 cup of peppercorns. Fill satchels with 1-2 tablespoons of the mixture and place them in the area where you want to repel moths.
- Stovetop Potpourri – to remove odors from your home, fill a saucepan with water and add 1-2 tablespoons of ground cinnamon or 1-2 sticks. Simmer, add water when needed.
- 2 quarts water
- 1-2 cinnamon sticks
- sugar or honey
- Place the cinnamon stick(s) and water in a saucepan. Bring to a boil and allow it to boil for 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat, stir in sweetener. Serve hot or allow it to cool and pour it into a pitcher to refrigerate and serve cold.
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This is one of the most interesting ingredient USES I have seen in a long time, Robin! Especially regarding the health benefits {my daughter & myself are struggling with High Blood Cholesterol} Thank you for sharing – pinned !
Really interesting uses here! I'm a holistic nutritionist and I've heard of some, but not all. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Wow, who knew there were so many uses for cinnamon. This is an awesome series, great work!
I love this idea for a series. I have such respect for the wisdom of our elders.
Who knew? Thanks so much for linking up at All My Bloggy Friends – sharing on FB 🙂
Great Information thanks for compiling and sharing w us-
Jonell
I always love your lists Robin! Thanks for sharing this at the party this week. I will be featuring it on my Facebook page this afternoon and have pinned it to the You're Gonna Love It Tuesday board on Pinterest 🙂
I love this series! I also drink cinnamon water. Just toss a stick in about 20 oz of water and refill throughout the day.
There's a few suggestions here that I'll give a try! This is marvelous! I am delighted that you shared with Home and Garden Thursday,
Kathy
Who knew that cinnamon did more than make cinnamon bears so yummy? lol! One of my favorite treats I might add. Love to put cinnamon and cloves in a pan and simmer at Christmas. Such a wonderful scent! Thanks for sharing with SYC.
hugs,
Jann
Here's another great use for cinnamon: crafts and Christmas ornaments! Found out about this when my now-26-year-old son was a preschooler. He was enrolled in a tiny tots recreational program, and they made crafts from cinnamon "clay." Put cinnamon in a zip-lock plastic bag along with enough applesauce to create a paste. Your ration would be about 1 c. cinnamon to 1 t. applesauce. Knead and continue adjusting the consistency by adding more of the two ingredients until pliable clay is formed. Roll it, ball it, press it…whatever strikes your fancy! Set aside in a dry area for two days while the clay dries out and sets up. Can be painted, glittered or whatever after it hardens. This is still one of my favorite memories of that time in my little boy's life. It's not just the memory of that time spent making things together, but also the wonderful fragrance released in our home.