Cinnamon

What are other names for this remedy?

Type of medicine: natural remedy

Scientific and common names: Cinnamomum verum, Cinnamomum Zeylanicum, Cinnamomum aromaticum, cassia cinnamon, true cinnamon

What is cinnamon?

Cinnamon comes from the inner bark of a tree that grows mainly in India, China, and Ceylon.

What is it used for?

Cinnamon has been used to:

• improve blood sugar control
• reduce high cholesterol
• prevent premature ejaculation
• treat urinary tract infections
• treat gas
• weight loss
• treat yeast infections

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not approve uses for natural remedies. The FDA does not inspect or regulate natural remedies the way they do prescription medicines.

How is it taken?

Cinnamon comes in the form of tea, tinctures, capsules, creams, ointments, or essential oil. Check the label on the package for the specific dose. Cinnamon oil may be taken by mouth or put on the skin. Do not use full strength oil as it may cause severe irritation.

What if I overdose?

Symptoms of an acute overdose have not been reported.

What should I watch out for?

Talk with your provider before taking cinnamon if you have:

• diabetes
• heart disease
• liver problems

Do not use cinnamon oil on the face of infants and children under age 12. Do not use cinnamon on open skin wounds.

Females of childbearing age: If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, do not take large doses of this remedy without your healthcare provider's approval. You may use the spice in normal amounts.

Diabetics: This remedy may affect your blood sugar level and change the amount of insulin or other diabetes medicines you may need. Talk to your healthcare provider about this.

Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist about any natural remedy that you are using or thinking about using. If your provider does not tell you how to take it, follow the directions that come with the package. Do not take more or take it longer than recommended. Ask about anything you do not understand. Remember:

• Natural remedies are not always safe.
• You should not take them if you are pregnant or breast-feeding without your healthcare provider's approval. They should not be taken by infants, children, or older adults without your provider's approval.
• They affect your body and may interact with prescription medicines that you take.
• Natural remedies are not standardized and may have different strengths and effects. They may be contaminated.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its desirable effects, this remedy may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the remedy. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Other: Stomach pain, rectal irritation, skin irritation, rash, nausea, vomiting, heartburn, flushing, dizziness, headache, mouth sores.

What products might interact with this remedy?

When you take this remedy with other medicines, it can change the way the remedy or the medicines work. Vitamins and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Before taking this remedy, talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• antibiotics such as demeclocycline (Declomycin), doxycycline (Vibramycin, Vibra-Tabs, Doryx, Doxychel), minocycline (Minocin, Vectrin), oxytetracycline (Terramycin), and tetracycline (Achromycin V, Sumycin, Panmycin, Tetracyn)
• diabetes medicines such as insulin, glyburide (DiaBeta, Micronase), glipizide (Glucotrol), repaglinide (Prandin), metformin (Glucophage), rosiglitazone (Avandia), and pioglitazone (Actos)
• herbal remedies such as chromium, St. John's wort, garlic, ginseng, ginger, fenugreek, and willow bark
• medicines that reduce stomach acid such as antacids (Maalox, Mylanta, Tums), cimetidine (Tagamet), ranitidine (Zantac), famotidine (Pepcid), omeprazole (Prilosec), lansoprazole (Prevacid), and pantoprazole (Protonix)

Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

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Keep all natural remedies and medicines out of the reach of children.

This advisory includes select information only. The information was obtained from scientific journals, study reports, and other documents. The author and publisher make no warranty, expressed or implied, as to the information. The advisory may not include all side effects associated with a remedy or interactions with other medicines. Nothing herein shall constitute a recommendation for the use of any remedy. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information.

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