Cinnamon Essential Oil

Latin Name: Cinnamomum Zeylanicum

Part of Plant Used: Leaves & Twigs

Source: Sri Lanka

Extraction Method: Steam Distillation

Cinnamon Essential Oil is extracted by steam distillation from the Cinnamomum zeylanicum tree, also called Ceylon cinnamon or true cinnamon. There are two types of essential oils extracted - one from the leaves, which is milder, pale yellow to light brown in colour and most often used in aromatherapy, and the other from the bark, which is dark brown in colour and not commonly preferred in aromatherapy.

Cinnamon Oil is soothing with powerful antiseptic properties. When used in an oil burner, this oil is said to help with colds and bronchitis and relieve depression. It is used to help with bronchitis, diarrhoea, chills, infections, flu, rheumatism and arthritis when used in bath water or blended into a massage oil. It eases nausea and vomiting. It stimulates the glandular system and so reduces menstrual pain. Avoid leaf oil during pregnancy. Bark oil is very strong and should only be used diluted, under expert supervision.

The Cinnamon tree is native to the Indian subcontinent and has been an important trading commodity for centuries between India, China, and Egypt. The source of cinnamon was a mystery to the Western world for a long time. According to Herodotus and other authors, Arabia was the source of cinnamon. The story goes that giant cinnamon birds collected cinnamon sticks for their nests in a mysterious place where cinnamon trees grew. The Arabs then tricked the birds and got the cinnamon from them. This was the belief until 1310 in Byzantium.