5 Cinnamon Oil Benefits and Uses That Will Totally Change Your Life
Cinnamon is best known as a popular spice used to add an extra dash of flavor to all sorts of foods. The benefits of cinnamon oil, however, far outweigh what its cheaper, powdered counterpart has to offer.
Cinnamon oil is considered to be “true cinnamon” (and is referred to as Cinnamomum verum to distinguish from the powdered variety). Referred to as cassia, powdered cinnamon is the cheapest type of cinnamon that often comes from China and is what you find in most spice aisles in your supermarket. Cinnamon essential oil, on the other hand, typically comes from Sri Lanka and parts of India.
Here are just a few of the major cinnamon oil benefits you’ll reap once you make the switch from the powdered kind to the potent spice as an essential oil.
Cinnamon Oil Benefits
1. Its antibacterial properties may aid in relief from certain physical ailments and conditions.
Cinnamon oil could help decrease the severity of pain or infection from certain injuries and skin conditions as its potent antibacterial properties may help fight the infection naturally. In fact, some experts say you can use it to treat some of the most stubborn conditions, like athlete’s foot, nail fungus, and even tooth decay.
How to Use It
- Before you apply cinnamon oil anywhere on your body, you mustproperly test for irritation, sensitization, and inflammatory response.
- For outer body treatments, such as skin infections or conditions, dilute a very small amount (less than a drop to start) in a generous amount of lukewarm water and apply directly to disinfect the area.
- To help protect yourself from cavities and gum disease, apply a drop of cinnamon oil to your toothpaste or use as a mouthwash by gargling with 1 or 2 drops added to about a quarter cup of warm water — making sure to spit it out afterward.
2. It’s been shown to improve cognitive function.
The brain may benefit just by catching the scent of cinnamon. A study published in the North American Journal of Psychology found that volunteers who agreed to complete a set of computer-based tasks while chewing gum flavored with cinnamon experienced boosted cognitive performance and attention.
How to Use It
- Pour water into an aromatherapy diffuser along with 2 to 3 drops of cinnamon oil to add a nice scent to any room.
- Avoid inhaling undiluted cinnamon oil directly. (See the Aromatherapy Registered Council’s essential oil safety uses for more.)
3. It can be used as a natural disinfecting cleaner.
Scientific research has shown that cinnamon oil is potent enough to eliminate more than 20 different types of bacteria, so if you’re serious about going green but would prefer a cheaper alternative for household cleaning products, cinnamon oil is a great option.
How to Use It
- Mix 10 to 12 ounces with several drops (as many as 5o to 100) of cinnamon oil of water in a spray bottle to wipe down everything from the kitchen sink to the bathroom toilet.
4.It can be used as a cleansingair freshener around your home.
Cinnamon oil offers the best of both worlds naturally in terms of scent and cleansing ability, so for anything that needs both, you can use it as a natural air freshening alternative to Febreze or regular candles.
How to Use It
- Using the same mixture and spray bottle in the last example, give a couple sprays to any room or object that could use an antibacterial boost of freshness — like your shoes, your closet, your clothing hamper, your gym bag, or anywhere else.
5. It can be used as a natural insect repellent.
Finding chemical-free insect repellents that actually work isn’t always easy, but research from the U.S. Department of Agriculture has shown that cinnamon oil can be used quite effectively to prevent mosquito larvae, cockroaches, fruit flies, and other insects from infiltrating your home.
How to Use It
- Use a mixture of water and cinnamon oil (detailed in point number three) with a spray bottle to spray any room where you’ve noticed insects before, or use a cloth to wipe down any surfaces.
Warning
Always bear in mind that cinnamon oil is very potent, so even small amounts could cause skin or nasal irritation if touched or inhaled directly. Consider wearing gloves when handling the oil, and stick to either diluting it with water first or using an extremely small amount (such as a single drop or less) at a time. The Alliance of International Aromatherapists advises not to consume cinnamon oil internally without speaking to a trained health care professional first.
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Image of cinnamon oil via Shutterstock
