Cinnamon Bark Essential Oil

TOPICALLY:
Apply 1-2 diluted drops on area of concern, pulse points, abdomen, or back
Add several drops to skin or skin care products

AROMATIC:
Add 8-10 drops to a diffuser
Add a drop to palms of hands, cover nose and mouth and inhale
Add to water in spray bottle to spritz in room or on linens
Inhale scent directly from bottle, or put a drop on tissue and inhale

INTERNALLY: (see internal use safety recommendations)
Dilute with carrier oil & add to cold or hot beverage to benefit body systems
Add 1-10 diluted drops to capsule

CULINARY:
Add a drop to a wide variety of dishes to enhance the flavor of foods.
To maintain therapeutic benefits, add after heating food.

Hazards: Drug interaction; may inhibit blood clotting; embryotoxicity; skin sensitization (high risk); mucous membrane irritation (low risk).

Cinnamon Essential Oil must be diluted before topical application and before use in a bath.

Contraindications (all routes): Pregnancy, breastfeeding.

Cautions (oral): Diabetes medication, anticoagulant medication, major surgery, peptic ulcer, hemophilia, other bleeding disorders.  May cause irritation when diffused. Use caution with children 6 and under. 

Maximum adult daily oral dose: 200 mg

Maximum dermal use level: 0.07%

Our Recommendations:  If pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or if you have liver or kidney disfunction, consult your physician before use. Avoid eyes, mucous membranes, and sensitive skin. Keep out of reach of children. Do not attempt to replace prescription medications with essential oils.  

If applying an essential oil to your skin always perform a small patch test to an insensitive part of the body (If it is not already diluted, dilute with a carrier oil).

Store in a covered or dark, airtight container in the refrigerator or cool area for longest shelf life.

Anticariogenic (Tooth Decay Preventative)

Cinnamon and sweet basil essential oils with impressive in vitro anti-cariogenic bacteria and anti-plaque effects may be proposed as alternative and effective supplements to promote oral health status.

• Wiwattanarattanabut, K., Choonharuangdej, S., & Srithavaj, T. (2017). In Vitro Anti-Cariogenic Plaque Effects of Essential Oils Extracted from Culinary Herbs. Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research : JCDR, 11(9), DC30–DC35. http://doi.org/10.7860/JCDR/2017/28327.10668

Antibacterial & Antifungal (including drug resistant bacteria & fungi)

Cinnamaldehyde is a strong inhibitor of multidrug-resistant bacterial, molds, and dermatophytes (fungi that require keratin for growth and infect the skin, hair, and nails).

• Naveed R, Hussain I, Tawab A, et al. (2013) Antimicrobial activity of the bioactive components of essential oils from Pakistani species against Salmonella and other multi-drug resistant bacteria. BMC Complement Altern Med. Oct;13:265.
• Ooi LSM, Li Y, Kam SL, et al. (2006) Antimicrobial activities of cinnamon oil and cinnamaldehyde from the Chinese medicinal herb Cinnamomum cassia Blume. Am J Chin Med. 34(3):511.

Cinnamon Bark is a potent inhibitor of both gram-positive and gram negative bacterium that belong to the Staphylococcus, Enterococcus, Enterobacter, and Acinetobacter families, and the fungi Candida albicans.

• Urbaniak A, Glowacka A, Kowalczyk E, et al. (2014) The antibacterial activity of cinnamon oil on the selected gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Med Dosw Mikrobiol. 33(2):131-41.
• Miller AB, Cates RB, Lawrence M, et al. The antibacterial and antifungal activity of essential oils extracted from Guatemalan medicinal plants. Pharm Biol. Oct 21:1-7.
• Tempiery MP, Galuppi R, Macchioni F, et al. (2005) The inhibition of Candida albicans by selected essential oils and their major components. Mycopathologia. Apr;159(3):339-45.

Researchers concluded that cinnamon oil inhibited several Candida species and bacterium known to cause hospital-acquired infections according to in vitro research.

• Warnke PH, Becker St, Poschun R, et al. (2009) The battle against multi-resistant strains: Renaissance of antimicrobial essential oils as a promising force to fight hospital-acquired infections. J Craniomaxillofac Surg. Oct:37(7)L392-97.

Cinnamon oil increased the effectiveness of gentamicin (an antibiotic drug) against multi-drug-resistant Acinetobacter species in vitro.

• Guerra FQ, Mended JM, Sousa JP, et al. Increasing antibiotic activity against multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter spp by essential oils of Citrus limon and Cinnamomum zeylanicum. Nat Prod Res. 2012;26(23):2235-38.

Cinnamon was the most effective inhibitor of S. aureus, B. subtilis, K. pneumoniae, P. vulgaris, P. aeruginosa, and E. coli, of 21 essential oils tested.

• Prabuseenivasan S, Jayakumar M, Ignacimuthu S. (2006) In vitro antibacterial activity of some plant essential oils. BMC  Complement Alter Med. Nov;6:39.

This review describes the antibacterial effects of cinnamon and its constituents, such as cinnamaldehyde and cinnamic acid, against pathogenic Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.

• Vasconcelos NG, Croda J, Simionatto S. (2018) Antibacterial mechanisms of cinnamon and its constituents: A review. Microb Pathog. Jul;120:198-203. doi: 10.1016/j.micpath.2018.04.036. Epub 2018 Apr 24.

Cinnamon and clove essential oil exhibited the best results showing a significant activity against all the tested bacteria. Concerning biofilm, results suggest that Cinnamomum zeylanicum oil may be a useful approach to impair the biofilm produced by the tested Gram-negative bacteria.

• Condò C, Anacarso I, Sabia C, Iseppi R, Anfelli I, Forti L, de Niederhäusern S, Bondi M, Messi P. (2018) Antimicrobial activity of spices essential oils and its effectiveness on mature biofilms of human pathogens. Nat Prod Res. Oct 13:1-8. doi: 10.1080/14786419.2018.1490904. [Epub ahead of print]

Anti-diabetic (and other blood sugar related research)

Cinnamon bark decreases blood glucose levels and stimulates pancreas beta-cells to produce insulin in animals.

• Verspohl EJ, Bauer K, Neddermann E, (2005) Antidiabetic effect of Cinnamomum cassia and Cinnamomum zeylanicum in vivo and in vitro. Phytother Res. Mar;19(3):203-06.

Cinnamon Bark essential oil improves glucose tolerance, stimulates pancreas function, lowers blood sugar levels, reduces triglycerides, and increases HDL cholesterol.

• Ping H, Zhang G, Ren G. (2010) Antidiabetic effects of cinnamon oil in diabetic KK-A mice. Food Chem Toxicol. Aug-Sep;48(8-9):2344-49.
• Kim SH, Hyun SH, Choung SY, (2006) Anti-diabetic effect of cinnamon extract on blood glucose in db/db mice. J Ethnopharmacol. Mar;104(1-2):119-123.

Animal research suggests that cinnamon bark oil may protect kidneys from damage associated with diabetes and uncontrolled blood sugar.

• Mishra A, Bhatti R, Singh A, et al. (2010) Ameliorative effect of Cinnamomum zeylanicum upon early stage diabetic nephropathy. Panta Med, Mar;76(5):412-17.

Anti-Inflammatory

Significantly inhibited the production of several protein biomarkers that are involved in inflammation and tissue remodeling in a human skin disease model.

• Han, X., & Parker, T. L. (2017). Antiinflammatory Activity of Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) Bark Essential Oil in a Human Skin Disease Model. Phytotherapy research : PTR, 31(7), 1034-1038.

Cancer Research

Cinnamon Bark essential oil effectively killed prostate, lung and breast cancer cells in vitro.

• Zu U, Yu H, Liang L, et al. (2010) Activities of ten essential oils towards Propionibacterium acnes and PC-3, A-549 and MCF-7 cancer cells. Molecules. 15:3200-10.

Fertility

Cinnamon bark may increase sperm motility and quality according to animal research.

• Yuce A, Turk G, Ceribasi S, et al. (2013) Effects of cinnamon (cinnamon zeylanicum) bark oil on testicular antioxidant values, apoptotic germ cell and sperm quality. Andrologia. Aug;45(4):248-55.

The administration of 75 mg/kg/day cinnamon significantly increased the sperm population, motility and viability, which supports the theory that in mammalians, cinnamon has a beneficial effect on spermatogenesis.

• Khaki A. (2015). Effect of Cinnamomum zeylanicumon on Spermatogenesis. Iranian Red Crescent medical journal, 17(2), e18668. doi:10.5812/ircmj.18668

Immunity

Inhalation of cinnamaldehyde significantly increase survivability among mice infected with influenza A virus, and inhibited virus growth in vitro.

• Hyashi K, Imanishi N, Kashiwayama Y, et al (2007) Inhibitory effect of cinnamaldehyde, derived from Cinnamoni cortex on growth of influenza A/PR/8 virus in vitro and in vivo. Antiviral Res. Apr;74(1):1-8.

Skin

The main compound in cinnamon bark, cinnamaldehyde, may reduce the production of melanin and whiten skin.

• Chou ST, CHang WL, Chang CT, et al. (2013) Cinnamomum cassia essential oilinhibits a-MSH-induced melanin production and oxidative stress in murine B16 melanoma cells. Int J Mol Sci. Sep 18;14(9):19186-201.