Indian cuisine looks good with spices. Without spices and herbs, a faded portrait of Indian cuisine will appear in our minds. All the spices have a rich taste and health benefits, too. The aroma present helps to curb many forms of disorders and keeps them away. Here, we will discuss one spice plant called “Cinnamon (Dalchini in Hindi)” and the health benefits of cinnamon.
Many times, it is said spices are bad for health. Yes, this is true only if used in an excessive amount. As a fact, ‘Excess of everything is bad’—the same case relies upon this. Cinnamon is a well-known and commonly used spice.
Now, apart from taste, we will also be talking about its health benefits, it’s appearance and other essential details.
Appearance of Cinnamon plant:
Cinnamon(Dalchini) is an evergreen tree 20-25 feet tall. Its frontal, leathery, greenish-red leaves are 4-7 inches long. The whole plant has an aromatic and pungent flavour; even when the leaves are crushed, a pungent odour and bitter taste are released.
It also bears long, whitish-red flowers that grow in bunches and have a pungent smell. When the flowers are plucked, an odour similar to turpentine oil is released. The fruits are oval, dark purple, and bell-shaped, and they contain a seed.
The bark of trees is used as a spice. The bark of new trees is slippery and oily, whereas that of old trees is dry and brown. It is approximately 5 mm thick.
Chemical composition of Cinnamon:
As discussed, the bark of the cinnamon tree is the major use. The bark contains 1/2 to 1% oil, which contains cinnamaldehyde and eugenol. The oil looks yellowish when fresh and then changes to red when kept for some time. The seeds also contain 33% oil. The root also contains a colourless oil that smells like camphor.
Nomenclature of Cinnamon (Dalchini)
| English name | Cinnamon |
| Sanskrit name | Chonch, Twak, Gundatvak, Darusita |
| Arabic name | Darsini, Kiphra |
| Hindi name | Dalchini |
| Family name | Lauraceae |
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Botanical name | Cinnamomum zeylanicum |
Different types of Cinnamon plants:
Broadly, there are three types based on the countries of origin, it is categorized in three forms as listed below :
1. Cinnamomum cassia– It is found mainly in China, and its bark is thick.
2. Cinnamomum sp.– It is imported in India from Sri Lanka. The bark is thinner and sweeter in taste. This cinnamon variety is best if used for medicinal purposes.
3. Cinnamomum tamal—This cinnamon is very thick, less bitter, and sticky when ground with water. Its leaves are only called ‘tej pat‘. It is widely found in India and China. This form of cinnamon is used as a common spice in cooking.
Uses of Cinnamon:
Cinnamon has multiple usages, some of which are listed below
- The bark of cinnamon is widely used to provide an aromatic flavour to dishes like Biryanis, curries, kababs, non-vegetarian items, etc.
- You can use Cinnamon for pickling.
- Use it for many dessert recipes like pies, cinnamon candies, patties, Coffee, etc.
- Cinnamon is a basic ingredient in herbal teas and even milk tea.
- It is a popular flavouring ingredient in alcoholic beverages.
- The powder of cinnamon is also used to cook several curries and dry items.
- The intake of cinnamon with honey and water is the best combination to lose weight and to curb many disorders.
- Above listed were the uses and health benefits of cinnamon
Now, we will be moving to our most concerned point which is “Health benefits of cinnamon”. Here, we will be talking about how to use cinnamon in order to cure diseases.
15 Health Benefits of Cinnamon (Dalchini)
To cure Toothache
- Take a piece of cotton and cinnamon oil.
- Soak the cotton in oil and apply it to the aching tooth.
- To make your teeth shiny and white, use its 5-6 leaves to brush the teeth.
- It cleans the teeth and also protects them from bacterial effects.
Helps in Influenza
- Take 3 1/2 gm cinnamon, 600 mg cloves and 2 gm ginger root.
- Boil them in 1 litre of water until reduced to 250 ml.
- Strain the solution and give 50 ml of this solution to the patient thrice a day.
- It cures influenza fever.
Treats Deafness
- Put 2-2 drops of cinnamon oil in the ears.
- It cures the deafness.
Gifts you proper eyesight
- Apply the cinnamon oil on the eyes as kajal.
- Regular usage treats the flickering of the eye and improves eyesight.
Useful in cough
- Give one teaspoon of powder with two teaspoons of honey twice a day.
- It cures cough quickly.
Curbs Headache
- Take 8-10 leaves and grind them well to form a paste.
- Apply this paste to the forehead.
- It cures headaches due to excessive cold or heat.
- As the patient gets cured, wash off the paste.
Treats Tuberculosis
- Give a minimal quantity of cinnamon oil.
- It kills the worms and hence treats the disease.
Useful in Labor pain
- Give 5-10 gm with 1 gm peepal root and 500 mg of Indian hemp.
- It cures muscle fatigue during labor pain.
Treats Osteoarthritis
- Take 10-20 gm powder and 20-30 gm honey and form a paste.
- Use this paste to massage the affected areas.
- Along with this, give a cup of warm water with 1 teaspoon of honey and 2 gm cinnamon powder.
- Give this dose thrice a day.
Treats Cholesterol problems
- Give 2 teaspoon honey and 3 teaspoon of powder with a cup of water thrice a day.
- With the regular usage, it reduces the cholesterol level.
Helpful in stomach disorders
- Give 5 gm powder in 1 teaspoon of honey.
- Give this dosage thrice a day.
- It cures loose motions, swelling of the stomach, indigestion, diarrhoea and many more.
- In case of vomiting, give 10-20 gm decoction of cinnamon.
- Massage the oil on stomach. It cures intestinal spasm.
- Take equal quantities of cinnamon, cardamom and cinnamon leaves to prepare a decoction.
- Give this to the patient in order to cure cardio-spasm.
Curing effects in Skin problems
- Apply the paste of honey and cinnamon on the affected area.
- Within a few days, it cures diseases like eczema, itching, boils etc.
Helpful in communicable fever
- In case of communicable fever, give 1 teaspoon of honey with 5 gm cinnamon powder. Honey and cinnamon(dalchini) is a good combo to cure many disorders.
- Give this trice a day.
- It eradicates all the communicable infections.
Curbs Hiccoughs
- Give 10-20 gm decoction with 250 gm of Mastangi to .
- It cures hiccoughs due to cough.
As a face pack
- Try out a natural face pack of cinnamon.
- Take a teaspoon of powder and squeeze half a lemon in it.
- Mix 1/2 teaspoon of honey in it. Mix well to form a paste.
- Apply this on the whole face. Rinse after 15 minutes.
- It will make your skin shiny, bright and free from acne and wrinkles.
- Use this once a week.
So, we saw how Cinnamon’s (dalchini’) health benefits help to cure diseases. These are natural products that are very nice to use. Take care and live well!
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