Cinnamon, Cinnamomum zeylanicum, with its warm, spicy, sweet, scent, has been used for centuries. It was the most sought-after spice of the 15th and 16th centuries and at one time it was more valuable than gold. It is great for circulation and sore muscles.
We love cinnamon in coffee cake and apple cider, but it is also loaded with antioxidants that help fight skin damage. Studies have shown that cinnamon has more antioxidants than blueberries and that it also helps ease many skin and hair problems. Thanks to its antifungal and antibacterial properties, cinnamon helps enhance the complexion.
Cinnamon can help decrease acne by drying excess skin oil and increasing circulation to the skin's surface. A simple paste, made by mixing three tablespoons of honey with one tablespoon of cinnamon, can be applied once a week to the acne areas for 20 minutes before washing. Cinnamon powder can be a gentle exfoliant that helps remove dead skin cells.
In hair care, cinnamon may help promote hair growth because it stimulates scalp circulation and helps cleanse the scalp.
Click here to read about the difference between "true cinnamon" and "cassia"
