{"id":1995,"date":"2013-12-11T17:16:50","date_gmt":"2013-12-11T17:16:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.integrativehealthcare.org\/mt\/?p=1995"},"modified":"2024-05-02T17:51:19","modified_gmt":"2024-05-02T17:51:19","slug":"bring-the-holidays-into-your-practice-with-cinnamon-massage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.integrativehealthcare.org\/mt\/bring-the-holidays-into-your-practice-with-cinnamon-massage\/","title":{"rendered":"Bring the Holidays Into Your Practice with Cinnamon Massage"},"content":{"rendered":"

It used to be that cinnamon was a rare commodity. Brought to the West from the exotic East it was treasured and used sparingly in holiday treats. There are references to it in the Hebrew Bible and it was used in Egypt as early as 2000 B.C. It was used in spiritual anointing oil, for perfuming the bed and clothing, and offered to the gods in the form of incense.<\/p>\n

Ancient Greek references to its use are found in seventh century B.C. poetry and, according to Herodotus (a fifth century B.C. historian), was so precious it was guarded by winged serpents. The mythical Phoenix was said to be reborn from the ashes of its fiery nest, which was built from cinnamon and cassia wood.<\/p>\n

So valued was this spice (derived from the inner bark of several types of trees from the genus Cinnamomum), that one pound of it could cost as much as seven months\u2019 wages in ancient Rome. For the common folk, cinnamon was much too expensive to be used on funeral pyres, but it is said that the Emperor Nero burned a year\u2019s worth of the city\u2019s supply at the funeral of his wife Poppaea Sabina in A.D. 65.<\/p>\n

It wasn\u2019t until the 16th or 17th centuries A.D. that cinnamon started coming to the European community as a routine commodity of trading. Today, anywhere from 7,500 to 10,000 tons of what is referred to as real cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum) are produced for trade each year for use around the world with about 80-90 percent of it grown in Sri Lanka.<\/p>\n

Healing Properties of Cinnamon<\/h3>\n

It may be that the ancient civilizations knew that cinnamon was good for something other than just the heady scent. Used internally, cinnamon has been shown to help balance blood sugar and to help reduce the symptoms associated with Irritable Bowl Syndrome (IBS). One study out of Germany shows it to help with memory and cognitive development as well as mental alertness.<\/p>\n

Cinnamon has antibacterial and antimicrobial properties, which makes it effective in such things as a food preservative, odor neutralizer and reducing tooth decay. Cinnamon tea is said to ward off an impending cold or sore throat. It has also been used in insect repellants for getting rid of anything from head lice to dust mites and cockroaches.<\/p>\n

Cinnamon is a common ingredient in Ayurveda. It is thought to be most helpful in individuals with either a kapha temperament (sturdy, heavy, calm, slow and moist) or veta (thin, cold and prone to nervousness) because of its heating and energizing effect on the mind and body. It is often given to reduce mucus, curb heavy bleeding and to protect the stomach against irritation and inflammation.<\/p>\n

Using Cinnamon in the Massage Session<\/h3>\n

Among the therapeutic qualities of cinnamon \u2013 as a stick, powder or oil \u2013 you will find that it has been shown to have the following properties:<\/p>\n