Botanical Name : Cinnamomum zeylanicum.

Family : Lauraceae

Identification No.: SDACH/HG/222

Introduction :

It used for the food more taste. Cinnamon, common name for several related trees of the laurel family, and for a spice made from the dried bark of the trees. The best-known species is native to Sri Lanka; it is cultivated in many other tropical countries in Southeast Asia and elsewhere, but that grown in Sri Lanka is superior in taste. The tree, which usually grows up to 12 m (40 ft) high, is cultivated to grow four to five stems. When the bark begins to turn brown, the stems, which may be about 2.5 m (about 8 ft) tall and 5 cm (2 in) in diameter at the base, are harvested and new ones are trained to grow in their place. After the tree is stripped of leaves and twigs, the inner and outer bark is removed. As the bark dries, it forms rolls (quills), the smaller of which are inserted into the larger, and when fully dry, these are tied in bundles for shipment.

Names in different Indian languages :

English : Cinnamon,Ceylon Cinnamon

Hindi : Dalcini

Kannada : Dalcini

Malayalam : Ilavangam, karuva, vayana, elamangalam

Sanskrit : Tvak

Tamil : Ilavagam,karuva

Telugu : Dalcini,dasini cekka

Unani : Daarchini (bark).

Synonyms :

त्वक्स्वाद्वी तु तनुत्वक्यस्यात्तथा दारुसिता मता ॥६६॥

उक्ता दारुसिता स्वाद्वी तिक्ताचानिलपित्तहृत् ।

सुरभिः शुक्रलाबल्या मुखशोषतृषापहा ॥६७॥

Cocam,darusita, daaruchini, Chochaa, Choncha, Varaanga, Utkata, Daarusitaa (bark).

Cinnamomum verum Persl.

Classification according to Charaka, Susrutha & Vagbhata :

Charaka

Susrutha

Elãdi

Vagbhata

Elädi, Trijataka

Varieties & adulterants – (CV – controversy, AD – adulterants) :

1. C. tamala   – [AD]

2. C. cassia  -[AD]

3. Dãrusitã (sweet variety)

4.  C. cassia

5. C. jamala

6. C. verum

Morphology :

A small evergreen tree, 6-7.5 m high.

Bark— brown and rough (in aged trees); inner surface of commercial bark is somewhat darker than the outer and finely striated longitudinally.

Leaves—coriaccous, glaucous green above, with spicy odour when bruised, 3-5 veined, 10-20 cm. long.

Flowers— small, with disagreeable smell.

Fruits— ellipsoidal, 1-seeded, dark purple berry, 1.5-2.5 cm long. Flowers and fruits during the spring.

Habitat & Distribution :

Found wild in the southern costal region of western India. The main source of cinnamon is Srilanka. Also grows in Brahmadesha, China, Southern.India and Himalayas.

Chemical Constituents :

Cinnamaldehyde, eugenol, benzaldehyde, methyl amyl ketone, phellandrene, pinene, cymene, linalool, cumic aldehyde, caryophyllene, safrole, methyl evgenol, borneol, cinnamyl alcohol, cinnzeylanin, cinnzeylanol, epicatechin, cinnacassiol D1 etc.

Properties :

Rasa Katu, Tikta, Madhura

Guna Laghu, Ruksa, Tiksna.

Virya Usna

Vipãka Katu

Karma : Vãta-pittahara, Sukrala, Balya, Varnya, Grãhi ,depana,pachana

carminative, digestive, astringent, antispasmodic, expectorant, haemostatic, antiseptic

Indications :

Kandü, Amãjirna, Aruci, Hrdroga, Bastiroga, Vãtãrsas, Krmi, Pinasa, sukradosa

diarrhoea and dysentery; gastric irritation,nausea and vomiting, toothache, neuralgia,rheumatism, cough

Part Used :

Stem bark, oil and leaves

Dosage :

Powder 2-4 g, oil 2-5 drops

Chemical composition :

It contains 2% volatile oil which is called as oil of cinnamon, It also contains cinneric acid, resin, tannin, sugar, starch, mucilage and ash. Like bark, oil is also derived from leaves and root. Leaf oil is dark in colour and has clove-like aroma. Root oil is yellow coloured and water insoluble.

Amayika Prayoga / Therapeutic Uses

External use :

It is stimulant and analgesic. It is used for mouth wash in bad breath and keeps teeth healthy, This is done by chewing of cinnamon. Chewing of cinnamon helps in nausea. The paste is applied in skin diseases like moles and skin tags etc. It is applied locally in headache and also in inflammation. In dental cavity cotton wool soaked in 2-3 drops of cinnamon oil relieves pain. In a chancre, oil or paste is locally applied on penis. Cinnamon oil relieves pain and inflammation caused due to scorpion bite. It is also used for cleaning and healing of tuberculosis ulcer.

Internal uses :

Nervous system : Cinnamon is used in neural debility and paralysis.

Digestive system : It is an appetizer, digestive, carminative, liver stimulant and astringent by bitter, pungent and ushna properties. Hence it is useful in anorexia amadosha, abdominal pain and haemorrhoids.

Circulatory system : It is a cardiostimulant, blood purifier and promotes white blood count. Therefore, it is used in cardiac debility and blood disorders caused due to bacterial infection.

Respiratory system : It is an expectorant and antitubercular drug. Cineremic acid seems to have an antitubercular property. It acts as a hemostat, ulcer healer and foul smell scavenger in lungs. Urinary system : Its ushna and tikshna properties stimulate the bladder and act as a diuretic. Effective in disorders induced by kapha and meda.

Reproductive system: it shows aphrodisiac properties. Hence it is useful in amenorrhea and infertility. Ashoka + cinnamon used in uterine laxity. Fever : It reduces intestinal foul smell in enteric fever. Oil is also used.

Important Yogas or Formations :

Elãdi rasayana, Sitopalädi cürna,Samasarkara curna.

Therapeutic Uses :

(1) Kãsa— Powders of Tvak, Elã, Pippali, Tavaksiri and sugar (each double than the other in quantity) are mixed together and taken with honey (A.H.).

(2) Sirasula— Nasya with Tvak Kalkã, Patra and sarkarã along with ice-water is useful in Pittaja sirasula (C.S.Ci. 26! 178)

(3) Prayãhikã– Tvak powder is given in 1 g dose (T.N. ghosh).

IUCN Status

Least Concern (LC)

Research Updates

• Blood sugar regulation: Cinnamomum zeylanicum has shown promising effects in improving insulin sensitivity and lowering blood glucose levels in type 2 diabetes.
• Antimicrobial efficacy: Cinnamaldehyde and essential oils display strong antibacterial and antifungal properties, especially against oral and respiratory pathogens.
• Cardioprotective effect: Animal studies suggest cinnamon helps reduce LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, supporting its traditional use as a hridya (cardiac tonic).