50 Uses for Cinnamon
Cinnamon is made from the bark of the Cinnamomum verum tree, which is grown in Sri Lanka. There are many other species of cinnamon, but this is called Ceylon cinnamon and is considered the “real” version and also the most beneficial, healthwise. In this article, we’ll look at the many uses for this amazing spice, besides just adding it to your baking.
1. Avoid UTIs
You can avoid UTIs with a daily cup of cinnamon tea. The antibacterial properties can help kill any bacteria that may cause an infection.
Fill a pot with water and a cinnamon stick. Pour 1 ½ cups of water into a medium saucepan. Add 1 cinnamon stick, and cover the pot with a lid before placing it on the stovetop.
If you want a stronger tea, break the cinnamon stick into several pieces
Optional: honey (or another sweetener) to taste.
2. Boost Your Antioxidant Levels
Many superfoods receive that title for their antioxidant powers, but cinnamon is stronger than most of them.
3. Boost Hair Growth
Mix 2 tablespoons of honey with 2 tablespoons of cinnamon.
Apply to your scalp, particularly in areas where the hair is growing poorly.
Leave for 15 minutes, then shampoo it out.
4. Clean Your House
You can clean your house with a mixture of 1.5 cups of vinegar, 1.5 cups of water boiled with 5 sticks of cinnamon.
Mix in a spray bottle and spritz the areas you need to be cleaned.
5. Create an Alert Atmosphere
If you find yourself drifting off in the office, you can use cinnamon oil or fresh ground cinnamon in a candle warmer to make you feel more alert.
6. Create Place Settings
Planning a holiday meal with friends and family?
Create your name cards and slip into the opening on a cinnamon stick for a bit of festive cheer.
7. Deodorize Your Carpet
You just need half a cup each of borax and baking soda mixed with a teaspoon of ground cinnamon.
Sprinkle where needed, let sit for 20 minutes, then vacuum up.
8. Ease Arthritis or Joint Pain
While cinnamon is good at reducing pain, it’s also an anti-inflammatory and increases blood circulation to aching joints.
Take 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon per day, in your food, coffee, or in capsules.
9. Ease Indigestion
If you tend to suffer from indigestion after eating, it’s a good idea to add some cinnamon to your meal.
You can also drink some cinnamon tea half an hour before your meal.
10. Ease Swollen Feet
After a long day on your feet, you may deal with swollen ankles.
Boil 10 sticks of cinnamon in 4 cups of water and cool slightly before soaking your feet in the mixture.
11. Get Rid of Athlete’s foot
Cinnamon is a good, natural antimicrobial, so it works very well on foot fungus.
Boil 10 sticks of cinnamon in a gallon of water for 5 minutes and then let cool enough to be comfortable.
Pour into a basin and soak your feet for 30 minutes. Repeat daily.
12. Get Rid of Bad Breath
Or rather, get rid of the bacteria causing bad breath.
Boil 5 sticks of cinnamon in one cup of water for 10 minutes, then use the cooled tea to swish around your mouth like mouthwash.
Related: How To Make A Natural Toothpaste At Home
13. Improve The Taste of Fish Oil
If you aren’t a fan of fish oil but want the benefits from it, try stirring in a little cinnamon.
The spicy flavor can make the oil bearable.
14. Improve Your Immune System
You can improve your immune system by drinking cinnamon tea daily, as well.
The antioxidants and antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal effects can give your immune system a nice boost.
15. Increase Muscle Mass
by eating a little cinnamon sprinkled in your food each day. It helps boost insulin sensitivity, which means your body handles carbs better.
The end result is better you’ll build muscle tissue.
16. Keep Moths at Bay With Spice Bags
Use a small mesh bag and add a cinnamon stick, a tablespoon of cloves, and a tablespoon of black peppercorns.
This can be kept anywhere you have a moth problem, including drawers or closets.
17. Lose Excess Weight
Heat water and stir in a teaspoon of ground cinnamon, plus a teaspoon of raw honey.
Drink this each morning to boost your metabolism and reduce cravings for sweets.
18. Lower PCOS Effects
Polycystic ovary syndrome has been shown to improve when you drink cinnamon tea with a little honey added.
You can take this daily to relieve some of the symptoms of PCOS.
19. Lower the Chance of Developing Respiratory Disorders.
If you are at risk for respiratory disease, try boiling 2 sticks of cinnamon in a cup of water for five minutes.
Add a sprig of mint and let it steep another five minutes, then drink.
Lighten your hair. Adding a couple of tablespoons of ground cinnamon to 2 tablespoons of conditioner and applying it to your hair overnight can help lighten it.
Rinse the hair thoroughly the next day.
20. Lower Your Blood Pressure
You can lower your blood pressure by adding half a teaspoon of ground cinnamon to your morning tea.
It can help reduce blood pressure and lower the risk of heart disease.
21. Lighten Your Hair
Add a couple of tablespoons of ground cinnamon to 2 tablespoons of conditioner and applying it to your hair overnight can help lighten it.
Rinse the hair thoroughly the next day.
22. Make a Healing Bath Oil
Mix ½ a teaspoon of ground cinnamon in half a cup of liquid coconut oil and shake well. Use a few drops in your bath to make it more soothing and to reduce inflammation.
23. Manage Type 2 Diabetes
Since cinnamon can regulate your blood sugar and boost insulin sensitivity, it’s a good idea to add some to your morning smoothie or oatmeal. A teaspoon a day will help.
24. Make Your Lips Look Lusher
Mix a teaspoon of ground cinnamon with just enough olive or coconut oil to make a paste. Apply to your lips for 10 minutes, then rinse away.
The cinnamon causes an increase in blood flow to the area and the end result is lush plump lips.
Related: DIY Honey-Infused Hair Oil
25. Make Your House Smell like Holidays
In a pot, put 2 sticks of cinnamon and a slice of orange, as well as 5-6 whole cloves.
Fill the pot with water and simmer over low heat, adding more water as needed.
This also humidifies your home in the winter.
26. Make Your Own Cough Syrup
Mix 4 cups of water with ¼ cup of grated ginger, 1 tablespoon of cinnamon, ¼ cup chamomile, ¼ cup marshmallow root and simmer until the mixture is reduced by 50%.
Strain out the herbs and stir in ¼ cup lemon juice, ¼ cup lemon juice, and 1 cup of honey. Take a spoonful as needed.
27. Make Your Own Diffuser
Add 20 drops of cinnamon essential oil to half a cup of almond oil and pour into a narrow container.
Add diffuser reeds to create your own diffuser.
28. Make Your Own Anti-inflammatory Massage Oil
Add half a teaspoon of pure vanilla extract and 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon to half a cup of almond oil.
Mix well before using for massaging affected areas of the body.
29. Possibly Stop Cancer
Cinnamon contains cinnamaldehyde, which has been shown to prevent abnormal cell growth. It may reduce the risk of getting cancer, as well as other diseases.
30. Prevent Food From Spoiling
Did you know that cinnamon was once used in the preservation of mummies?
It can be used today to keep food fresh for longer periods. This is due to its antimicrobial benefits.
31. Prevent Yeast Infections
For those who tend to get frequent yeast infections, it’s a good idea to mix a tablespoon of ground cinnamon into your meals each day.
Regular use should help prevent infections.
32. Reduce Anxiety
If you’re feeling anxious, take a whiff of cinnamon to help yourself feel calmer.
A mesh bag with a few pieces of broken up cinnamon stick can work well as a portable aromatherapy bag.
33. Reduce Bad Cholesterol
Drinking cinnamon tea each morning can have a drastic effect on your cholesterol levels.
It can reduce bad cholesterol while raising good cholesterol levels.
34. Reduce Cravings For Sweets
If you tend to overindulge in sweet foods, try adding a sprinkle of cinnamon to your coffee or tea.
It will help eliminate those cravings by regulating your blood sugar.
Related: 3 Fat Burning Plants You Aren’t Eating Right Now
35. Reduce Nausea With Cinnamon Tea
Just add a stick to a cup of water and boil for 10 minutes.
Remove the stick and drink the warm tea.
36. Reduce Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease
A study quoted in the Journal of Neuroimmune Pharmacology shows that taking cinnamon may actually slow the progress of Parkinson’s.
37. Relieve Pain
When you have pain, cinnamon may help. It actually inhibits prostaglandin, which can help with muscle aches and pain.
Drink a cup or two of cinnamon tea to ease the discomfort.
38. Relieve Menstrual Cramps
Boil 2 sticks of cinnamon in a cup of water and add a pinch of turmeric.
Steep for 10 minutes and drink when you have bad cramps.
39. Reduce Tooth Decay
You can brush your teeth with toothpaste containing cinnamon.
You can also use a little cinnamon or cinnamon oil mixed into baking soda as a tooth brushing powder.
Related: Do This Before Going to Bed To Rebuild Your Gums
40. Scare Off Ants
Keep ants away from your home by laying a line of cinnamon powder where they’re coming in.
You’ll need to replace it if the line is wet or blown away.
41. Scrub Away Blackheads
Add 1 tablespoon of oatmeal and 1 tablespoon cinnamon with enough water to make a paste.
Rub in a circular motion over the face for five minutes, then rinse with cool water.
42. Sniff Cinnamon to Increase Your Study Impact
The scent of cinnamon can actually help you study and remember what you’ve studied better than without it.
Use cinnamon oil or just sniff a cinnamon stick.
43. Stimulate Labor
Once you’ve reached your due date, most pregnant women are more than ready to get the baby out.
Drinking cinnamon tea a few times a day can help stimulate uterine contractions and get things going.
44. Stop The Itch of a Bug Bite
When an insect bites you, mix equal amounts of cinnamon and honey to apply to the bite.
The itch or sting should ease up shortly.
Related: How to Make Black Drawing Salve for Boils, Wounds and Tick Bites
45. Treat Poor Circulation
Again, a daily cup of cinnamon tea will help you with increasing your circulation.
46. Treat Cold and Flu Symptoms
Add a thin slice of ginger and 2 sticks of cinnamon to a cup of water and bring to a boil.
Simmer for 10 minutes, cool, and sip. You can sweeten with some honey if desired.
47. Turn Cinnamon Into Incense
Just heap a spoonful of cinnamon powder on a metal dish and light for a spicy aroma.
48. Use to Banish Acne
If you struggle with acne, this natural homemade face mask might become your new staple skincare product.
With anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, raw honey is soothed for dry skin, eczema patches, and acne.
Cinnamon stimulates the blood circulation in your skin, helping your skin to look fresher and younger.
Create a simple mask for acne with 3 tablespoons of honey mixed with 1 tablespoon of ground cinnamon.
Apply to the skin and let it sit for 10 minutes, then rinse away with lukewarm water.
Related: What Happens If You Add Cinnamon To Your Honey Jar
49. Use for Decoration
A handful of cinnamon sticks can be placed in a small jar and set on the mantel to give your home a pleasant scent while looking homey.
You will benefit from the aromatherapy effect, as well.
50. Use the Oil to Kill Bacteria
Cinnamon oil has been shown to eliminate infections that are resistant to antibiotics, including E.coli, MRSA, and Streptococcus, among others. Add a few drops of the oil to your liquid hand soap to prevent contamination.
Remember, in order to get the benefits of cinnamon, you need the right kind. Look for Ceylon cinnamon to receive all the benefits.
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I didn’t know cinnamon had so many uses. I wanna try the swollen feet remedy.
Thanks
Will these recommendations work for Cassia cinnamon or just Ceylon?
Thanks
Hi Pamela,
Cassia: Also called “regular” cinnamon, this is the most commonly used type.
Ceylon: Known as “true” cinnamon, Ceylon has a lighter and less bitter taste.
Cassia cinnamon is more commonly found in supermarkets, given that it’s much cheaper than Ceylon cinnamon.
While Cassia cinnamon is safe to eat in small to moderate amounts, eating too much may cause health problems because it contains high amounts of a compound called coumarin.
God bless!
Some sellers are accused of sending customers Cassia in place of the Cylon that they think they are purchasing. What is a SURE way of distinguishing one from the other? Thank you.