Known for its tonic and stimulating properties, cinnamon bark essential oil is one of the most versatile oils in aromatherapy. It has a very characteristic woody aroma and is commonly found in India and Sri Lanka. Cinnamon oil can be extracted from both the distillation of the leaves and the bark of the branches.
It is a powerful anti-inflammatory and acts against all types of infections, whether bacterial, viral, parasitic or fungal. It has abrasive characteristics due to its composition rich in aldehydes.
Product Details
Name: Cinnamon Bark
Scientific Name: Cinnamomum cassia
Method of extraction: Steam distillation
Part of plant: Bark
Country of origin: Sri Lanka
Main Components: Cinnamaldehyde (68.28%)
Health
Despite being widely used as a condiment, there is still much room for research into the therapeutic properties of cinnamon bark essential oil. In addition to the most common uses, cinnamon oil has shown potential activity against the effects of neurological disorders such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's [1].
General anti-infective
Cinnamon bark oil has strong effects against bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli [2]. It is often indicated in respiratory, skin and urinary infections and also intestinal disorders with bacteriological origin.
Anti-inflammatory
It is widely used in therapeutic massage. It reduces stress, offers pain relief as it is a 'hot' oil. It is anti-inflammatory, helps with circulatory problems and can be combined with ginger, turmeric or mint oils to enhance the action. It must always be diluted with caution, using pure cinnamon oil directly on the skin will cause irritation.
Contraindication
It is not recommended for pregnant women or women who are breastfeeding. Not recommended for children under 5 years old. It is a caustic oil and must be diluted before use. It is not recommended to use pure in a flavour diffuser as it may cause respiratory irritation.
How to use
Always dilute with a maximum of 1% (maximum one drop of essential oil for every 100 drops of carrier oil). Carry out a test before using the diluted oil, if there is irritation, do not use it. Never use pure oil directly on the skin.
References
[1] Ramazani, E., YazdFazeli, M., Emami, S.A. et al. Protective effects of Cinnamomum verum, Cinnamomum cassia and cinnamaldehyde against 6-OHDA-induced apoptosis in PC12 cells. Mol Biol Rep 47, 2437–2445 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-020-05284-y \n \n
[2] Huang, D. F., et al. "Chemical constituents, antibacterial activity and mechanism of action of the essential oil from Cinnamomum cassia bark against four food-related bacteria." Microbiology 83.4 (2014): 357-365.