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GUT HEALTH

Cinnamon

Cinnamomum verum / Cinnamomum cassia

also known as true cinnamon, cassia cinnamon

Moderate (blood sugar)
Cinnamon — Köhler 1887 botanical illustration

A warming spice from the inner bark of a tropical tree, central to cuisines and traditional medicines around the world. Two main varieties dominate the market — coumarin, making it preferred for daily supplemental use.">Ceylon cinnamon (the 'true' cinnamon) and cassia cinnamon (the more common, cheaper variety). They taste similar but are not nutritionally identical: cassia contains coumarin in amounts that matter at supplemental doses.

  • May modestly support healthy blood sugar in type 2 diabetes — best understood as part of a bigger picture of diet and lifestyle, not a stand-alone treatment
  • Antimicrobial action against several bacteria and fungi
  • Antioxidant action from cinnamaldehyde and related compounds
  • Long traditional use as a warming spice for digestion, circulation, and cold-weather support
  • coumarin, making it preferred for daily supplemental use.">Ceylon cinnamon (C. verum) is preferred for medicinal or daily supplemental use due to lower coumarin content
  • Both varieties are completely safe in normal culinary amounts
Cassia cinnamon (the common kind sold in most supermarkets) contains coumarin — daily high intake can affect liver function
Coumarin is a different compound from the prescription blood thinner warfarin (Coumadin), but at very high doses cinnamon coumarin can interact with the same pathways
Use caution with blood thinners — cinnamon has mild blood-thinning action of its own
May lower blood sugar — caution with diabetes medication
Cinnamon essential oil can irritate skin and mucous membranes — never apply undiluted
Inhaling cinnamon powder is dangerous (the 'cinnamon challenge' has caused lung injury and death)
Skip large medicinal doses during pregnancy
Children should not be given large amounts of cinnamon supplements
Research

NCCIH — Cinnamon · MedlinePlus Herbs & Supplements · NIH NCCIH Herbs at a Glance

Works with
Chromium Cinnamon (MHCP, insulin mimetic, GLUT4 translocation) and chromium (glucose tolerance factor) both target insulin signaling in blood sugar support.
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The curious few.
50 founding spots left

Know what you're putting in your body.

158 herbs, nutrients, and compounds. What the science says, what tradition knew, and what to watch for. Founding members keep this running.

$60 /year

Founding rate — locked for life. Regular price after launch: $96/year.

  • ✓ Full access to all 158+ entries
  • ✓ Print-ready reference card for every herb
  • ✓ Monthly curated set — 5 herbs, one body system
  • ✓ The Sunday Letter — weekly research digest
  • ✓ Bookmarks synced across devices
  • ✓ Founding rate locked forever
Become a founding member

Cancel any time. No questions asked.