Great News! Recent studies have determined that consuming as little as one-half teaspoon of Cinnamon each day may reduce blood sugar, cholesterol and triglyceride levels by as much as twenty percent in Type-2 diabetes patients who are not taking insulin. Most people are familiar with the sweet, but pungent, taste of the oil, powder or sticks of the bark from the Cinnamon tree. Cinnamon is also a primary ingredient in our highly-successful Blood Sugar Support Blend.
Disclaimer:
The information presented herein by Viable Herbal Solutions is intended for educational purposes only. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent disease. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.
History and Uses:
Cinnamon comes from
the bark of a small Southeast Asian evergreen tree, and trees grow in a number of tropical areas, including parts of India, China, Madagascar, Brazil and the Caribbean. It is an ancient herbal
medicine mentioned in Chinese texts as far back as four thousand years, and the parts
of this plant used medicinally are the dried inner bark of the shoots and
the oil distilled from the bark and leaves. In ancient times, Cinnamon was added to food
to prevent spoiling, and it was
used in Egypt for embalming. During the Bubonic Plague, sponges were soaked in Cinnamon and cloves
and placed in sick rooms, and it has also been burned as an
incense. During the explorations of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, Cinnamon was the most sought-after spice. The fragrance of Cinnamon is pleasant; stimulates the senses; yet it calms
the nerves, and it is reputed to attract customers to a place of business.
Most Americans consider Cinnamon a simple flavoring, but in traditional Chinese
medicine, it's one of the oldest remedies, prescribed for everything from
diarrhea and chills to influenza and parasitic worms. It is closely related to Cassia (Cinnamomum cassia) and contains many of the same components, but the bark and oils
from Cinnamon have a better flavor. Cinnamon has a broad range of historical
uses in different cultures, including the treatment of diarrhea, rheumatism
and certain menstrual disorders. Traditionally, the bark was believed best
for the torso, the twigs for the fingers and toes. Recent research has highlighted
hypoglycemic properties, useful in diabetes. Cinnamon brandy is made by soaking
crushed Cinnamon bark a "fortnight" in brandy. Chinese herbalists tell of
older people, in their seventies and eighties, who develop a cough accompanied by frequent
spitting of whitish phlegm. A helpful remedy, they suggest, is chewing and
swallowing a very small pinch of powdered cinnamon. This remedy can also help
people with cold feet and hands, especially at night. Germany's Commission
E approves Cinnamon for appetite loss and indigestion. The primary chemical
constituents of this herb include cinnamaldehyde, gum, tannin, mannitol, coumarins
and essential oils (aldehydes, eugenol, pinene). Cinnamon is predominantly
used as a carminative addition to herbal prescriptions. It is used in flatulent
dyspepsia, dyspepsia with nausea, intestinal colic and digestive atony associated
with cold and debilitated conditions. Cinnamon relieves nausea and vomiting, and,
because of its mild astringency, it is particularly useful in infantile diarrhea.
The cinnamaldehyde component is hypotensive and spasmolytic and increases
peripheral blood flow. The essential oil of this herb is a potent antibacterial,
antifungal and uterine stimulant. The various terpenoids found in the volatile
oil are believed to account for Cinnamon's medicinal effects.
Research has shown that Cinnamon can augment the action of insulin, and recent studies have determined that consuming as little as one-half teaspoon of Cinnamon each day may reduce blood sugar, cholesterol and triglyceride levels by as much as twenty percent in Type-2 diabetes patients who are not taking insulin. Topical applications of Cinnamon include
use as a hair rinse for dark hair, and as a toothpaste flavoring to freshen
breath. As a wash, it is said to prevent and treat fungal infections such as athletes
foot. It is also used in massage oils, and Cinnamon can be included in sachets
to repel moths. Its prolonged use is known to beautify the skin and promote
a rosy complexion.
Cinnamon Spice Produces Healthier Blood November 24th 2003 - Cinnamon significantly reduces blood sugar levels in diabetics, a new study has found. The discovery was initially made by accident, by Richard Anderson at the US Department of Agriculture's Human Nutrition Research Center in Beltsville, Maryland. "We were looking at the effects of common foods on blood sugar," he told New Scientist. One was the American favorite, apple pie, which is usually spiced with cinnamon. "We expected it to be bad. But it helped," he says.
Sugars and starches in food are broken down into glucose, which then circulates in the blood. The hormone insulin makes cells take in the glucose, to be used for energy or made into fat. But people with Type 1 diabetes do not produce enough insulin. Those with Type 2 diabetes produce it, but have lost sensitivity to it. Even apparently healthy people, especially if they are overweight, sedentary or over 25, lose sensitivity to insulin. Having too much glucose in the blood can cause serious long-term damage to eyes, kidneys, nerves and other organs.
Molecular Mimic - The active ingredient in cinnamon turned out to be a water-soluble polyphenol compound called MHCP. In test tube experiments, MHCP mimics insulin, activates its receptor, and works synergistically with insulin in cells. To see if it would work in people, Alam Khan, who was a postdoctoral fellow in Anderson's lab, organized a study in Pakistan. Volunteers with Type 2 diabetes were given one, three or six grams of cinnamon powder a day, in capsules after meals. All responded within weeks, with blood sugar levels that were on average 20 per cent lower than a control group. Some even achieved normal blood sugar levels. Tellingly, blood sugar started creeping up again after the diabetics stopped taking cinnamon. The cinnamon has additional benefits. In the volunteers, it lowered blood levels of fats and "bad" cholesterol, which are also partly controlled by insulin. And in test tube experiments it neutralized free radicals, damaging chemicals which are elevated in diabetics.
Cinnamon Helps Type 2 Diabetes - Also Helps Cholesterol December 5th, 2003 - A spicy tip: Cinnamon can improve glucose and cholesterol levels in the blood. For people with type 2 diabetes, and those fighting high cholesterol, it's important information. Researchers have long speculated that foods, especially spices, could help treat diabetes. In lab studies, cinnamon, cloves, bay leaves, and turmeric have all shown promise in enhancing insulin's action, writes researcher Alam Khan, PhD, with the NWFP Agricultural University in Peshawar, Pakistan. His study appears in the December issue of Diabetes Care.
Botanicals such as cinnamon can improve glucose metabolism and the overall condition of individuals with diabetes - improving cholesterol metabolism, removing artery-damaging free radicals from the blood, and improving function of small blood vessels, he explains. Onions, garlic, Korean ginseng, and flaxseed have the same effect. In fact, studies with rabbits and rats show that fenugreek, curry, mustard seeds, and coriander have cholesterol-improving effects. But this is the first study to actually pin down the effects of cinnamon, writes Kahn. Studies have shown that cinnamon extracts can increase glucose metabolism, triggering insulin release - which also affects cholesterol metabolism. Researchers speculated that cinnamon might improve both cholesterol and glucose. And it did!
The 60 men and women in Khan's study had a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes for an average of 6 1-2 years but were not yet taking insulin. The participants in his study had been on anti-diabetic drugs that cause an increase in the release of insulin. Each took either wheat-flour placebo capsules or 500 milligram cinnamon capsules.
- Group 1 took 1 gram (two capsules equaling about one-quarter of a teaspoon) for 20 days.
- Group 2 took 3 grams (six capsules, equaling a little less than one teaspoon) for 20 days.
- Group 3 took 6 grams (twelve capsules, equaling about one and three-quarters teaspoons) for 20 days
Blood samples were taken at each level of the study.
Cinnamon made a difference! Twenty days after the cinnamon was stopped, there were significant reductions in blood glucose levels in all three groups that took cinnamon, ranging from 18 to 29%. But these was one peculiar finding that researchers don't understand at this point. Only the group that consumed the lowest level of cinnamon continued with significantly improved glucose levels - group 1. The placebo groups didn't get any significant differences.
Taking more cinnamon seems to improve the blood levels of fats called triglycerides. All the patients had better triglyceride levels in their 40-day tests - between 23% to 30% reductions. Those taking the most cinnamon had the best levels. In groups taking cinnamon pills, blood cholesterol levels also went down, ranging from 13% to 26%; LDL cholesterol also known as "bad" cholesterol went down by 10% to 24% in only the 3- and 6-gram groups after 40 days. Effects on HDL ("good cholesterol") were minor.
Recommended Dosage:
Take two (2) Capsules, two (2) to three (3) times each day with water at mealtimes.
Contraindications:
Pregnant women or those allergic to Balsam of Tolu should not use Cinnamon. Men with prostate problems, diabetics and those taking blood thinners should consult a health care provider before using Cinnamon. This product is not recommended if you have a tendency toward excessive menstrual bleeding. Taking Cinnamon and antibiotics together may make the antibiotic not work for you. Increased heart rate (pulse), feeling dizzy, shortness of breath and redness of the face may occur if you take too much Cinnamon.
Capsule Information:
Our Cinnamon supplements are encapsulated in 100% Gluten-free, Vegetable Cellulose, Certified Kosher, size "00" Capsules. (click here for size comparison) Each capsule contains approximately 600 mg. each. |
