Scientific Name canelo cinnamomum zeylanicum blume TREE OF THE CINNAMON
Other Names:
Tree of the Cinnamon, Cinamomo
She was well-known and used by Chinese the 2,500 years before the Christian era, and so much was appraised as gold. Old the Egyptians used it to embalsamar momias. The cinnamon also was very appreciated in the town of Israel, and Moisés received the divine indication to use it, along with other spices, in the oil santo with whom they had to anoint the objects of the Sanctuary and sacerdotes.La cinnamon was one of the spices that the route indirectly contributed to the discovery of America, because Columbus started off for the west through the Atlantic, thinking that it would shorten towards India, of where the cinnamon was engaged in, among others appreciated Eastern products. During centuries XVII and XVIII, the cinnamon became the most lucrative spice for
Dutch. The cinnamon, that continues very being appreciated for culinarios uses, has remarkable medicinal effects. Some consider afrodisíaca, although, the lack of scientific evidences, takes to think that possibly it acts by suggestion.
Habitat: one occurs spontaneously and it is cultivated in Southeast Asia, specially in Sri Lanka (old Ceylon); also in India, Madagascar and in tropical regions of South America.
Description: tree of the family of the lauráceas, of up to 10 meters of height, from whose young branches an inner crust of brown color is obtained. Their leaves great and are made oval, and their flowers of white or yellow color. All the plant gives off a fragant aroma.
Used parts: the inner crust of the young branches, that once fermented is known like cinnamon.
Properties and indications: The crust of the cinnamon-coloured one contains essential oil, cinámico aldehyde, tannin, terpenos, oxalato of calcium, starch and indications of mucílago. The action of all these substances altogether grants properties to him digestive, of stomach tonic and aperitive: increase of the secretion of gastric and intestinal juice, as well as an increase of the motilidad of the stomach.
Like result of this tonificante action of the cinnamon on the digestive apparatus, one altogether takes place an increase of the appetite and an improvement of the digestive function. Its use favors specially to which they suffer of: heavy lack of appetite, digestions by gastric atony (expanded stomach), and flatulencia by insufficiency of gastric juice.
On the contrary, the use of the cinnamon does not agree to those who suffers gastroduodenal peptic ulcer, because in this disease an excess of acid gastric juice takes place, that determines the formation of the ulcer.
By its tannin content, the cinnamon presents/displays in addition a slight effect astringent.
Use: as much the cinnamon in branch (crust of the young branches of the cinnamon-coloured one), like crushed in dust, is used like condimento in diverse culinarias preparations. If it is desired to obtain a more intense effect, can become an infusion with 1-2 about 10 palitos of cms. each one of cinnamon in branch, by each water cup. To this infusion they are possible to be added rodajas to him of lemon. Its effectiveness is greater if it is not sweetened. To take a cup after each food.